Two 70 kg humanoid robots walk among visitors at Copenhagen's Planetarium

Planetarium in Copenhagen has bought two humanoid robots, each weighing about 70 kg, and they now walk around among visitors. The purchase follows growing interest in humanoid robots. The planetarium wants the robots to build public interest in the technology and to show how robots might one day help astronauts in space.

The background is that robots are already a regular part of space flight and planetary exploration. The planetarium presents the two humanoids as machines that could, at some point in the future, help humanity in space.

The planetarium does not normally name the objects in its exhibitions, but it is making an exception here. Visitors can suggest names for the two robots on the planetarium's website.

The story was published by the Danish engineering outlet Ingeniøren on 16 October, written by journalist and engineer Bjørn Godske. Only the opening portion of the report is available, so details such as the robots' make, price, capabilities or how they will be used in the exhibition are not covered here.

One reader comment under the story takes a dark view of the technology, predicting that within a few years "burner robots" could be programmed to carry out contract killings.