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Hyper Evolution: Rise of the Robots

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Series exploring whether machines built to enhance our lives could become our rivals.

Evolutionary biologist Dr Ben Garrod and electronics engineer Professor Danielle George explore whether machines built to enhance our lives could one day become our greatest rivals.

BBC Four

Hyper Evolution: Rise of the Robots: Series 1

Danielle George

Ben Garrod

Windfall Films Ltd

Dan Kendall

Leesa Rumley

Matt Cottingham

Sue Learoyd

Sabrina Burnard

Steve Clark

Tony Hirst

Hyper Evolution: Rise of the Robots: Series 1: Episode 1

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Episode 1

Series 1

BBC Four - Hyper Evolution: Rise of the Robots, Series 1, Episode 1

Ben Garrod meets one of the most humanlike robots in the world, Erica.

Ben Garrod and Danielle George explore whether machines built to enhance our lives could become our greatest rivals. Ben meets one of the most humanlike robots in the world, Erica.

Professor Danielle George MBE, an electronics engineer from Manchester University and a robot supporter, and Dr Ben Garrod, an evolutionary biologist from Anglia Ruskin University and robo-sceptic, uncover whether the rise of the robots will enhance the progress of humanity or ultimately threaten the survival of the human race.

With extraordinary access to the world's leading robot-makers, they meet the trailblazing machines who pioneered key evolutionary leaps for robot-kind, and their most advanced descendants - to uncover just how far we've really come.

Ben is unashamedly unnerved by the tremendous rate that robots are evolving, whilst Danielle is welcoming them with open arms. To make sense of Ben's fears and Danielle's optimism, they set out to investigate the evolution of robots - treating them as if they are an emerging 'species'.

Ben meets one of the most humanlike robots in the world - the disarmingly charming Erica - who might be warm to the touch, but whose sense of humour falls decidedly flat. Their encounter seems weird enough until he meets her creator, who has made a robot twin of himself, and even has cosmetic enhancements to ensure they continue to look the same. He also finds out why it's so difficult for robots to walk like us.

This episode uncovers the roots with our obsession with robots in human form, with a visit to the fearsome Eric - the UK's first robot - to unpack the deep distrust of robots inherent in western culture.

Danielle meets an early pioneer of robotic movement, who led the way for robots to take over the workplace, and ends up in a sea of robot arms, working in beautiful robotic harmony at a car plant. She also meets the latest breed of robots at Boston Dynamics, who combine biology with technology. Videos of their extraordinary robots - inspired by humans, animals and machines in form - have spawned millions of hits on the internet.

The series explores questions over what happens when robots learn to think for themselves, and what that will mean for
the future of humankind.

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Exploring whether machines built to enhance our lives could one day become our rivals.

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