Recent developments from robotics research are also on show, with visitors able to explore how and, more importantly, why roboticists are building robots that resemble us and interact in human-like ways. The exhibition encourages you to imagine what a shared future with robots would be like, with visitors able to see the latest humanoid robots in action. Whether at home or on the go, just ask the ball a question, shake it well, turn it over, and watch the answer reveal itself before your very eyes. Simulate the movement of a human hand using this incredible Hydraulic Cyborg Hand Kit. Made from 203 easy-to-assemble pieces, this robotic hand comes in kit form – so there’s lots of fun to be had building it, and even more fun playing with it! Coming face to face with a mechanical human has always been a disconcerting experience. Over the centuries, each generation has experienced this afresh as new waves of technology heralded its own curiosity-inducing robots. That sense of unease, of something you cannot quite put your finger on, goes to the heart of our long relationship with robots." This particular cyborg hand is powered by hydraulics alone, allowing children to learn all about mechanics and engineering from a young age. A handy gift indeed!

Each of the 5 models moves in a unique and highly amusing way! A different challenge each time that will delight children as they explore and imagine possible solutions and how to assemble the parts. Pepper is a humanoid companion created to communicate with humans through voice and touch and movement. This robot will invite visitors to touch its hands and fist bump while sharing a story using the screen on its chest. Robots is open daily until 3 September 2017, with late opening until 22.00 each Friday (last entry 21.00) and at Lates on the last Wednesday of each month. In late 2017 Robots will embark on a five-year UK and international tour, visiting the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester to open the 2017 Manchester Science Festival, the Life Science Centre in Newcastle (2018) and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh (2019).Robina (Robot as Intelligent Assistant) is on display in the Museum's main entrance, where it will be seen by thousands of visitors to the Museum each day. Robina was developed to promote Toyota's vision of the personal robots we might one day own. From 2007 to 2009, this Robina model was used as a museum tour guide. It was then used for research before retiring in 2012. Zeno R25 is one of the most expressive humanoid robots commercially available. Visitors can see what Zeno 'sees' on a screen and the robot will direct you to move if not standing in the correct place to interact with it. This robot replicates visitor's facial expressions. Robots, a major new exhibition at the Science Museum, explores humanity’s 500-year quest to reimagine ourselves as machines. Visitors to Robots will see the greatest collection of humanoids ever assembled. This stunning exhibition explores the fascinating question of why, rather than how, we build robots. To look through the eyes of those who built, commissioned or gazed upon these mesmerising mechanical creations over the past 500 years, reveals so much about humanity's hopes, fears, dreams and delusions."

The first robot visitors to the exhibition will encounter is an incredibly life-like mechanical human baby, recently acquired for the Museum's new robotics collection. Usually made for use on film sets, this baby has no intelligence, making only pre-programmed movements (sneezing, breathing and moving its arms and legs) yet many visitors will feel strong emotions towards it. A Science Museum exclusive, the Alien Kids Christmas Jumper is an out of this world, seasonal sensation! Robots have been at the heart of popular culture since the word 'robot' was first used in 1920. In the exhibition, visitors will come face-to-face with Eric, a modern recreation of the UK's first robot, as well as Cygan, a 1950s robot with a glamorous past, and a T800 Terminator used in the film Terminator Salvation. The challenges of recreating human abilities, such as walking, in mechanical form is also explored, with visitors able to study the intricate mechanisms of the Bipedal Walker—rescued by curator Ben Russell from a forgotten basement cupboard—and Honda's P2, two of the first robots in the world to walk like humans. The Relativity Watch is the first watch where the numbers rotate around the face of the watch, proving unequivocally that time is relative! Baxter was the first dual-arm robot designed to work with people. When used in manufacturing, Baxter directs its gaze to indicate what it is about to do, using facial expressions to show its state of operation. This robot will move while on display, learning how to handle unknown objects.Animatronic baby: This mechanical human baby was commissioned for the exhibition and is now part of the Museum's new human robotics collection. It was made by a special effects company, which make animatronic machines for films. The baby makes only pre-programmed movements (sneezing, breathing and moving its arms and legs) yet we feel strong emotions towards it. This intriguing exhibition features a unique collection of over 100 robots, from a 16th-century mechanical monk to robots from science fiction and modern-day research labs. Set in five different times, Robots explores how religious belief, the industrial revolution, popular culture and dreams about the future have all shaped society through the incredible robots on display. There's the robot that skis, one that collects, another one that drags, the one that walks and one that is a completely crazy one. Each robot moves in an entirely unique way.