And can we trust them? The best way is to try them out for yourself, and the team from the National Robotarium in Edinburgh have brought several of their favourite robots to Orkney for the Festival.

It’s an opportunity to try out some of the latest robot technology, and enjoy activities and discussions to explore how humans interact with robots and meet some of the people developing the technology for the future. It’s aimed at people of 18 and over, and numbers are limited to 25, so booking is essential.

Through special arrangements, admission is free, and we would ask everyone who books to let us know if for any reason they are unable to turn up, so that we can make the space available for others who may be on a waiting list.

The National Robotarium is the UK’s centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence based at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus, in partnership with The University of Edinburgh.

The venue is the Charles Clouston Building at the Orkney Research and Innovation Campus. The building is on the site of the former Stromness Academy, with parking available on site. Further details of the venue are in a site map online.

Tickets can be booked through this LINK.