An inventor hopes to make millions from the sex dolls that he says saved his marriage.

Robotics expert Dr Sergi Santos and his wife Maritsa Kissamitaki, from Catalonia, Spain, created 'Samantha' – an artificial intelligence-driven doll that he says can enjoy sex.

Dr Santos. who studied nanotechnology in Leeds, says the robot rescued his relationship as his desires were met even when his wife, who he has been with for 16 years, wasn't in the mood for sex.

Samantha has three sexual personas, including shy and raging nymphomaniac, which Dr Santos says has helped him when his sex drive has been higher than his wife's.

Robotics expert Dr Sergi Santos and his wife created 'Samantha' – an artificial intelligence-driven doll that he says can enjoy sex

Maritsa Kissamitaki, from Catalonia, Spain, says she doesn't have a problem with her husband using the dolls

'A man wants to feel in general that the woman is desperate to have sex with him,' Dr Santos told Barcroft TV.

'And if a man feels like the woman will not enjoy it fully, most men do not like sex.'

He claims that couples with incompatible libidos are more likely to divorce.

'So if I have the doll, I'll not divorce because of sex – in my case, I think that's good enough.'

The couple now run their business, Synthea Amatus, together – where a range of doll are priced from around £2,000 up to £5,000

Dr Santos, who is an electric engineer by day, says it was his wife's idea to implant his artificial intelligence network into a doll

Samantha has three sexual personas, including shy and raging nymphomaniac

Dr Santos, who is an electric engineer by day, says it was his wife's idea to implant his artificial intelligence network into a doll.

'We started researching it and found out – before anyone was making the robots – that wives were buying them for their husbands because they understand the kind of need that their husbands have, and how this could benefit their relationship,' Ms Kissamitaki said.

The couple now run their business, Synthea Amatus, together – where a range of doll are priced from around £2,000 up to £5,000.

Over time, they made improvements - adding in-built vibrations that make the dolls sensitive and reactive to touch.

They believe Samantha will be 'capable of enjoying sex' and will remember previous conversations – even going to sleep.

And although Ms Kissmitaki doesn't have a problem with her husband using the dolls, he says he would feel jealous if she slept with a male doll.

Nevertheless, he is planning to build a male sex robot.

The couple now run their business, Synthea Amatus, together – where a range of doll are priced from around £2,000 up to £5,000

One of the couple's sex robots sits wearing headphones and a scarf in Catalonia, Spain

Dr Santos says the robot rescued his relationship as his desires were met even when his wife wasn't in the mood for sex. Pictured, a skeletal model in a wig

Dr Santos claims that couples with incompatible libidos are more likely to divorce. Pictured, parts for the company's sex robots

They believe Samantha will be 'capable of enjoying sex' and will remember previous conversations – even going to sleep

There are two front-runners vying to be the first firm to release a sex robot.

Rival firm RealDoll has a model called 'Harmony' which will blink, talk and smile.

Meanwhile, an expert has predicted that high-tech sex robots will be owned by hundreds of people in the UK within a year.

The machines will have facial expressions and the ability to move their heads and hold conversations with their owners.

While they might be popular with single people, Dr Kate Devlin, from Goldsmiths, University of London, thinks they may be bought by couples as well.

Dr Devlin gave a talk on the future of human sexuality at Edinburgh International Science Festival on Saturday.

Speaking before the event, she said: 'These robots will be bought by people who have a fetish but also by people who have a relationship but their partner is not willing or able to have sex with them.

A number of Synthea Amatus' sex robots in various positions and states of development

And although Ms Kissmitaki doesn't have a problem with her husband using the dolls, he says he would feel jealous if she slept with a male doll

'They will also be popular with single people seeking companionship. A manufacturer has described having a sex doll as like having a pet and the companionship is a very important part of it.

'These robots are something to talk to, as well as a sex toy of sorts.'

The robots will remember facts about their owners such as names and birthdays. Dr Devlin, a computing expert, said: 'The first sex robots will be quite rudimentary.

'They will have an AI [artificial intelligence] 'personality' and the ability to chat with you. The race is on to produce them first and they are coming soon.'

The robots are being designed to interact with people – making them different from sex dolls that are already available.

Dr Devlin believes they will be purchasable online within a year, and predicts they could be bought by hundreds of people.