Android robots are humanoid machines designed to resemble and mimic human behaviour and appearance. They are often made with flesh-like materials, which is not the case in our book. Roby has a metallic and plastic body. Human-like androids may be equipped with features such as natural language processing for conversation, facial recognition and expression capabilities, and the ability to walk and perform physical tasks.
Android robots are being developed for various purposes. Examples are research into human-robot interaction, customer service roles (e.g., receptionists or guides), assistance in healthcare and elderly care, and entertainment and educational roles.
Notable examples:
Sophia by Hanson Robotics is known for ‘her’ conversational abilities and public appearances.
Erica by Ishiguro Lab is designed to study human-robot interaction with natural language understanding and facial expressions.
T-HR3 by Toyota is a remote avatar robot controlled by humans for potential household assistance.
While android technology is advancing rapidly, most current androids still have limited capabilities compared to humans and cannot fully replicate human intelligence and behaviour. Our fictional android Roby stands out because he can understand and reproduce language easily, assist with various domestic tasks, and even develop creative ambitions like becoming a poet. Roby is a product of fiction and is far more evolved than any existing androids. For more details, please read “The’Why’ Behind Roby” in the “The Science Behind” section at the end of the book. Roby makes significant progress in his abilities throughout the story. Initially, he speaks like a machine. Everything is grammatically correct, but he struggles with colloquial language. Over time, his speech becomes as fluent as any other family member. Throughout the book, Roby learns new tasks very quickly, a feat that real robots cannot achieve today. Additionally, he is capable of multitasking and truly understanding and reasoning. By the end of the third part of the book (“August”), Roby is referred to as a ‘knowledge creator.’
We want our readers to perceive Roby as a real character! As robots become more human-like, we all face questions about how humans and robots will interact, whether robots might replace some jobs, and if it is ethical to create robots that seem so human at all. In the next book, “Romy, Roby and the Power of Healing,” you will see these topics explored through conversations about robotics and AI ethics.
It is important to note that while android robots have made significant progress today, they are still primarily research platforms or specialised demonstration units. The technology continues to evolve, with ongoing efforts to improve its capabilities and potential real-life applications across industries, in schools, and in private households.
We recommend videos and articles offering a mix of technical information, practical applications, and future perspectives on humanoid robots:
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