Of humanoid robots and futuristic classrooms

Students in Dubai will soon get to meet a new friend in their classrooms - a humanoid robot. Combining sophisticated intelligence with good looks, NAO perfectly fits the educational needs of schools and universities, Khaleej Times reports.

Blinking its blue eyes and moving its head across the room, the robot makes use of high-definition cameras to see people. A simple tap on its head brings the humanoid to life as it stands up on its feet.

French company, Aldebaran Robotics, in partnership with Intel, has showcased the power of humanoid NAO robots in the teaching process in the classrooms of Middle East educational institutions, The Economic Times says.

Powered by Intel Atom technology, NAO is the first versatile and programmable humanoid robot to be used as a standard research platform and an educational tool for science, technology, engineering and mathematics students.

Students at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, in Abu Dhabi, are already using the humanoids to work with autistic children, TMCnet states. In a few weeks, the first shipment of humanoids will make their presence at other educational institutes in the UAE.

Complete with WiFi connectivity and internal memory, the sensory functions and movement of the humanoid offer a sneak peek into the future classroom.