Man has been building robots from as long ago as the 4th century BC. One of the very first records of a robot is a machine called ‘The Pigeon’, which was built by Greek mathematician Archytas.

From as far back as that, man has recognised the need to build machines that will help them in their daily lives and for their entertainment. Machines, if well maintained, can sometimes venture where man cannot, and do skilful and precise work that man may not be able to do.

In today’s highly industrialised world, robots have been tasked with doing mundane repetitive tasks. This frees up a company’s staff to do the more complicated tasks which require more thinking and creativity. Robots are used daily in many factories worldwide today to do everything from building car parts to packing products and checking inventory in warehouses.

In space exploration, robots are used to get soil, plant and water samples from planets. This is safer if the air or the atmosphere is not safe for humans to venture in.

Another use for robots is in war where aircraft without pilots can search terrain and fire on specific targets. This use of robots can help save lives of pilots.

In the home, the robot is gaining popularity. In the early 2000s, the robot dog Aibo was quite popular. It offered companionship to people who didn’t want the hassle of taking care of a real dog - like having to feed it, take it for walks and pick up its poo. Although mechanical and made of metal, Aibo nonetheless had its charm. Sony, the company that manufactured Aibo, discontinued it in 2006. However, the technology used in Aibo is being further developed for use in consumer products.