A third of people in the UK are open to using robots, survey says

A new national survey commissioned by the EPSRC UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS) Network has shed light on the UK population's current attitude towards robotics technology.

The research revealed many Brits are still unsure about what exactly constitutes a 'robot', and the potential ways in which the technology could aid our everyday lives.

“This year’s survey has uncovered some quite surprising responses about what people consider to be robots and robotic technology, and raises some really interesting questions about our relationship to this technology as it develops,” said EPSRC UK-RAS network chair Professor Robert Richardson.

Robots are defined as automated machines that can successfully execute specific tasks with little or no human intervention.

When asked to name a type of robot, 41 per cent of survey respondents correctly listed an automatic hoover, with 40 per cent identifying a drone. However, many respondents also...