Want a Trip to the Uncanny Valley? Check Out These Service Robots

These strange and surprising machines are designed to help humans, whether it’s for comfort or to put our fires.

Rob Spiegel

July 14, 2021

12 Slides
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The uncanny valley is a term for robots that are so humanoid they give you the creeps. Yet we may be getting over that now. Looks like we might come to love these cuddly machines.

Many of these odd robots are actroids, a type of android (humanoid robot) with strong visual human-likeness. Others are designed to help humans, emotionally or otherwise.

This collection includes service robots. Look for a coming collection of strange industrial robots.

Rob Spiegel has covered manufacturing for 19 years, 17 of them for Design News. Other topics he has covered include automation, supply chain technology, alternative energy, and cybersecurity. For 10 years, he was the owner and publisher of the food magazine Chile Pepper.

About the Author

Rob Spiegel

Rob Spiegel

Rob Spiegel serves as a senior editor for Design News. He started with Design News in 2002 as a freelancer and hired on full-time in 2011. He covers automation, manufacturing, 3D printing, robotics, AI, and more.

Prior to Design News, he worked as a senior editor for Electronic News and Ecommerce Business. He has contributed to a wide range of industrial technology publications, including Automation World, Supply Chain Management Review, and Logistics Management. He is the author of six books.

Before covering technology, Rob spent 10 years as publisher and owner of Chile Pepper Magazine, a national consumer food publication.

As well as writing for Design News, Rob also participates in IME shows, webinars, and ebooks.

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