Robot chores may be a class act

WATCH films like Back to the Future and you may laugh about what people predicted the future to hold, but every year something happens that seemed like it would never be a reality.

Self-driving cars? Check. Hoverboarding across the channel? Check. Robots in schools? Maybe.

Robozuna asked London children if they could imagine robots helping them out at school in the next six years, and 35 per cent said ‘yes.’

The four to 11-year-olds surveyed could see robots being useful in the canteen, as teaching assistants and as school caretakers, and over a quarter said robots would be good at patrolling the school zebra crossing.

Parents are also seemingly on board with the idea, with 55 per cent said they’d like a robot to support teaching their child STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills, and over a third saying they’d like robots to teach their child how to protect their online identity.

But teachers need not fear for their jobs just yet.

Children didn’t think the robots would be very good at human interaction and so wouldn’t be able to help if they were sad or worried, or know how to make them laugh.

Kids also were concerned the robots may be a little too strict!

The research was commissioned by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, to mark the second season launch this week of Robozuna, its futuristic kids’ animation.

Steve Green, EVP Kids content and distribution, said: “Robots are already beginning to take on supportive roles within schools around the world, helping to teach languages, coding and STEM skills.

“Just like the relationship between Robozuna’s main characters, living, learning and working side-by-side with robots could become reality in the near future.”