Robots take over at MSI

CHICAGO (WLS) -- As a rule at many Chicago area museums, visitors get to study the past. However, at the Museum of Science and Industry, they're delving into the future of robots.

The MSI's new exhibit is called Robot Revolution. Gone are the days of those Flash Gordon clumsy tin-man robots. Welcome to our next best friends.

"It presents more than 40 of the most advanced, contemporary robots in the world in a way they've never seen before," John Beckman, MSI director of exhibit design, said.

Robots come from nine different countries, including China, Japan and the U.S., and from university labs from industry. And of course all of them from highly creative minds.

"We have four sections: co-operation, smarts, skills and locomotion. We look at the attributes of robotics and their endless possibilities rather on focusing on what they're doing right now," Beckman said.

As always at the Museum of Science and Industry, it's hands on learning. The robots teach and play at the same time. Tic-tac-toe against robotic X's and O's.

How smart are these things?

"you'll see lots of robots do amazing things but they can only do one thing well. And so it's going to be awhile before they combine all those skills and still people are going to be the ones in control," Beckman said.

The exhibit brings joy and smiles to faces of little kids. The soccer game is much more realistic than it looks.

"There's no one controlling them. They've been programmed with soccer strategy with the rules of the game. They know where the other players are, where the balls are and they're going for the goal," Beckman said.

The exhibit, which requires an additional entrance fee, runs through January.