BROADCASTS.com

It\u2019s hard enough to make a functional, reliable robot. Many people also want to make those robots in our image. That\u2019s a tough needle to thread. Often, the most efficient design isn\u2019t the most human-like one. But that isn\u2019t stopping us from reaching for those humanoid robots. \n\nProfessor Shigeki Sugano argues in favor of creating human-shaped robots. But it\u2019s such an enduring challenge, we\u2019ve come up with a name for it: the uncanny valley. Evan Ackerman walks us through the uncanny valley\u2019s treacherous terrain. Deanna Dezern shares how she\u2019s connected to her robot companion. And Dor Skuler explains how he deliberately avoided making his robots look like humans.