A robot as opposed to the dog may become man's new best friend if Dr Tony Belpaeme at the University of Plymouth has anything to do with it. Research is underway to build a robot capable of forming memories and engaging in social interaction. One use for such a robot would be in hospitals where they'd replace the animal (for hygiene reasons) as a way of lifting morale and improving a child's recovery speed.

Credit : Research Councils UK (RCUK) and Universities UK, ‘Big Ideas for the Future’ report