Robots of the future revealed

By Jonathan Blake
Newsbeat's US reporter

A look at the robots of the future

They can make your video gaming more realistic, help clean your house and make it easier for you to park your car.

And soon robots could be finding their way into your life in ways you might not even notice.

Companies are exhibiting cutting edge technology at a major robot exhibition in the USA.

On show at RoboBusiness in Boston are machines used by the American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, gadgets to help with the house work, and the world's "most advanced robotic arm".

Organiser Dan Kara told Newsbeat: "I don't know if people realise how much it is changing.

Robots are sent in to keep soldiers at safer distances Charlie Vyder iRobot

"What you're going to see is more robots in every day life, but people might not know it.

"Many of the devices are also used in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Tony Didarto, from CCS Robotics who design and build the machines, said: "They often escort patients and we have a lot of courier applications that will deliver pharmaceuticals and specimens throughout a hospital."

The military are using machines like a PackBot which has two fixed cameras and a fully remote control robotic arm.

It is designed to go places soldiers can't.

Charlie Vyder, from iRobot which created the robotic arm, said: "These robots are used for bomb disposal missions.

"They can also be used by the infantry for reconnaissance and investigating suspicious objects.

"So robots are sent in to keep soldiers at safer distances."