London museum celebrates 500 years of robots

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A special robot show is underway in London Science Museum, showcasing the 500-year history of making robots.

The museum’s new robot exhibition opens its door to the public on February 8, exploring humanity's obsession to recreate ourselves.

A robot produced by Japan's Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories called "Kodomoroid" is on view at the robot exhibition at the Science Museum in London on February 7, 2017. /CFP Photo

Robots have been a part of popular culture since the word ‘robot’ was first used in the 1920s. But the first robot was created long before that, around the year 1560. From antiques to the smartest learning robots, the museum celebrates people's obsession to make humanoid robots.

An animatronic baby is displayed during the press preview for the robot exhibition at the Science Museum in London on February 7, 2017. /CFP Photo

Robots are affecting human life. Humanoid robots are built for entertainment. And topic of robots is always a huge part of science fiction, literature and drama.

Anna Darron, curator of the robots show at the London Science Museum, regards building robots as a direct way of helping people understand their own bodies. “We have a lot to learn about human bodies.”

A man takes a selfie with "RoboThespian" at the robot exhibition at the Science Museum in London on February 7, 2017. /CFP Photo

Practically, Darron says the manufacture of robots is like making a machine, and operating it in the real world which is designed for human beings.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, more than 1.4 million new industrial robots will hit factories worldwide by 2019, and the focus of automation will be on the cooperation between the human and the machine.

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