CAN a robot tell the difference between a pinch, a punch or a stroke?

Science students at Whitecross have been finding this out by taking part in a unique research project to teach a robot to understand touch through its artificial skin.

The cutting edge project is being run from the Cognitive Robotics Research Centre at the University of Wales, Newport, and involves former Whitecross and Wyedean student, Owain Jones, which is why it has come to his former school.

Science teacher, Dave Childs, said: "They came to the school to gather lots of data. They needed to teach a robot to understand the difference between a pinch, punch or poke. It's all part of a programme to prepare robots for being within a human environment, learning to interact with humans in a domestic setting.

"The students came in one at a time and were shielded from seeing other people as this might invalidate the data. Behind the screens they were asked to pinch, punch, poke, grab, push and stroke the robot. We had students of all different ages and both sexes because it is important the robot experienced warm hands, cold hands, thick and thin fingers and bigger and smaller people.

"What was most disconcerting is that the robot turns to look at you as you come in. It has face recognition and if you move, it follows you."

The data from Whitecross is now being compiled back at the university, although the team are set to return to Lydney in September.