# Episode 126: Why are we building humanoid robots? - Robot Talk Live

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2025-06-20
- Length: 51m
- Episode: 126
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live

## Summary

Ben Russell, Curator of Mechanical Engineering at the Science Museum, traces the history of humanoid robots from 18th-century automatons to modern research, highlighting the psychological drive of anthropomorphism. Maryam Banitalebi Dehkordi, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, discusses the use of humanoid robots in healthcare and education, noting the 'uncanny valley' effect and the importance of natural interaction for patients with dementia or autism. Petar Kormushev, Director of the Robot Intelligence Lab at Imperial College London, explains how his lab uses reinforcement learning and imitation learning on robots like 'De Niro' to enable autonomous skill acquisition in unpredictable environments.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=7) Introduction: Claire Asher and the Great Exhibition Road Festival
- [1:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=98) Ben Russell on the history of humanoid robots and automatons
- [4:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=261) Discovery of early walking robots and Echibot
- [6:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=392) The psychology of anthropomorphism and vanity in robotics
- [7:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=451) Maryam Banitalebi Dehkordi on assistive and social robotics
- [12:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=733) Petar Kormushev and the 'De Niro' robot's sensor suite
- [15:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=916) Reinforcement learning and imitation learning for skill acquisition
- [19:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=1146) Panel discussion on healthcare applications and safety concerns
- [22:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=1379) Audience Q&A: Militarization, ethics, and population decline
- [34:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live#t=2056) Robots in dementia care and long-term societal integration

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Science Museum (company)
- Shadow Robot (company)
- Echibot (product)
- De Niro (product)
- iCub (product)
- COMAN (product)
- Asimo (product)
- Honda (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Pepper (product)
- Carebots (product)
- Baymax (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head) (Embedded.fm)
- [Practical Applications of Embodied AI and Humanoid Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-10-23-practical-applications-of-embodied-ai-and-humanoid-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-03-12-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [171. Finally! A Humanoid Robot You Can Trust](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [490: Wait Until Physics Has Happened](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-11-28-490-wait-until-physics-has-happened) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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