A robot is a mechanical device that can perform preprogrammed physical tasks. A robot may act under the direct control of a human (eg. the robotic arm of the space shuttle) or autonomously under the control of a pre-programmed computer. Robots may be used to perform tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans to implement directly (e.g. the space shuttle arm) or may be used to automate repetitive tasks that can be performed more cheaply by a robot than by the employment of a human (e.g. automobile production).

The Robosapien is the first affordable intelligent entertainment humanoid of its kind. Developed by robotics physicist Dr. Mark W. Tilden, Robosapien is the first robot based on the science of applied biomorphic robotics, enabling him to act more like a human.

From Probotics, Inc. comes a new smart and affordable personal robot. Called Cye, the compact personal robot can do a wide variety of tasks such as carry dishes, deliver mail, lead guests to a conference room and vacuum the carpet. Using wireless communications technology, Cye is controlled by Map-N-Zap, a highly intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) loaded on any PC with a 133 MHz Chip or higher.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, working in the toy and entertainment area, have developed an easy-to-build, autonomous robot controlled by a Palm handheld computer. The system,originally built with off-the-shelf components, has been commercialized by Acroname, Inc., of Boulder, Colo., which is selling it in a kit.