Robo-relationships are virtually assured: British experts

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — David McGoran cradles his baby in his arms. As he looks down into its big, dark eyes, it turns its head towards him and blinks, looking contented as it curls a bony white finger around his hand.

But the "baby" is not human. And it looks more like the evil Gollum from "The Lord Of The Rings" movies except in a hemp romper suit with cloth ears than a gurgly infant.

Meet Heart Robot, a flexible, plastic puppet with robotic features that has been programmed to react to sound, touch and nearby movements.

Heart Robot, so called because its red "heart" is visible on the left side of its body and beats at different rates, is certainly getting more attention than its menacing-looking counterpart, iC Hexapod, nearby.

The six-legged creature,...