Robots will need emotional capabilities if they are to cooperate smoothly and flexibly with humans in our residential environments, says Shuji Hashimoto, director of the humanoid robotics centre at Waseda University.

One method: sensors worn by their owner to spot signs of stress. These could include galvanic skin sensors that detect sweat by measuring the conductivity of the skin, and pulse monitors. Neural networks will then be able to decide how best to react to the person.

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