Complex instincts

Not so long ago robots were considered the stuff of science fiction. But now robots are well into the realm of science fact.

Robotics is a growing industry, and United Nations estimates suggest that by the end of 2007 there will be more than four million robots in use around the world. Robots already play a vital role in defence and security, space exploration and on the production line. They are also becoming increasingly important for entertainment applications and as human companions. But their usefulness doesn’t end there.

According to Dr. Tony Prescott of the Department of Psychology at Sheffield University, robots can also play an important role in the search for answers to one of the most fundamental mysteries of life: The workings of the vertebrate brain.

‘Robots are a kind of physical model,’ explains Dr. Prescott. ‘We are simulating and building robots as a tool to gain a better understanding of what the brain is doing and how it is operating.’