Designing anthropomorphic machines

Drawing on two case studies, this article examines the interrelations between the theoretical and technical approaches used in robotics to design relational interfaces. Investigating robotics engineers’ interest in biology and theatre, it examines the ways in which they attempt to facilitate humans’ relationships with robots. In particular, it focuses on a process of transference whereby robotics researchers integrate behaviours into their robots. It thus provides a complementary perspective to the anthropology of human-machine interactions that takes design practices into account.