7 human-like robots – in pictures

  • Han is super expressive. Unveiled to the public in 2015, he can also read emotions like Sophia. Photo: Hanson Robotics
    Han is super expressive. Unveiled to the public in 2015, he can also read emotions like Sophia. Photo: Hanson Robotics
  • Shaped like a human, Ameca is genderless. Seventeen motors control its life-like movements and expressions. It has cameras in its eyes that allow a person to speak remotely to the people interacting with it. Photo: Engineered Arts
    Shaped like a human, Ameca is genderless. Seventeen motors control its life-like movements and expressions. It has cameras in its eyes that allow a person to speak remotely to the people interacting with it. Photo: Engineered Arts
  • In 2017, Bina48 was the first robot to complete a philosophy course at California’s Notre Dame de Namur University. Photo: Hanson Robotics
    In 2017, Bina48 was the first robot to complete a philosophy course at California’s Notre Dame de Namur University. Photo: Hanson Robotics
  • Nikola, an android child, has skin made of silicone and a face that can express six emotions – happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. Photo: Riken Japan
    Nikola, an android child, has skin made of silicone and a face that can express six emotions – happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. Photo: Riken Japan
  • This robot head is called Adran and is a type of Mesmer, a system that helps build realistic humanoids that are cost-effective. Footage of this robot moving its head, yawning and smiling went viral last year. Photo: Engineered Arts
    This robot head is called Adran and is a type of Mesmer, a system that helps build realistic humanoids that are cost-effective. Footage of this robot moving its head, yawning and smiling went viral last year. Photo: Engineered Arts
  • Sophia is perhaps the most viral robot there is. Since her debut in 2016, the humanoid has travelled around the world, entertaining people with her witty comments, facial expressions and movement. Reuters
    Sophia is perhaps the most viral robot there is. Since her debut in 2016, the humanoid has travelled around the world, entertaining people with her witty comments, facial expressions and movement. Reuters
  • Sophia's advanced artificial intelligence allows her to hold a real conversation with humans. She can recognise human faces, see emotional expressions and recognise hand gestures. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Sophia's advanced artificial intelligence allows her to hold a real conversation with humans. She can recognise human faces, see emotional expressions and recognise hand gestures. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Before Han and Sophia, there was Philip K Dick. He is a humanoid lookalike of sci-fi author Philip K Dick, who died in 1982. Photo: Hanson Robotics
    Before Han and Sophia, there was Philip K Dick. He is a humanoid lookalike of sci-fi author Philip K Dick, who died in 1982. Photo: Hanson Robotics