Meet the little robot at the University of Bedfordshire who won our reporter’s heart

And as this cute little character glided across the floor to me at a meeting at the University of Bedfordshire - where I was taking part in a fascinating emonstration to showcase her abilities - she was a million miles removed from what I imagined a typical robot to be.

Her head cocked to one side, she said hello and asked me how I was feeling today. And I engaged immediately.

Now I understand similar robots are to be used in restaurants in an attempt to solve the many Corona conundrums, especially relating to social distancing. This is one little cutie who’ll carry no threat of spreading Covid-19.

And I bet everyone warms to this strange little creature with her big eyes and benign appearance, just the way I did.

But back to my initial introduction to Pepper... she wasn’t in my face, didn’t appear mechanical (although obviously she was) and I marvelled at the ingenuity of the people who created her.

She could read me the news if I asked, or chat about some of my favourite things. And - even more amazing - remember them the next time she came to see me.

Pepper is part of the Caresses project - a unique global coalition aimed at designing the first culturally aware robots to provide care for the elderly.

Caresses - short for Culture Aware and Environmental Sensor Systems for Elderly Support - was funded by the European Union and Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The team behind her have built in ‘cultural competence’ so that these clever little automatons can interact with people from different ethnic backgrounds, customs and etiquette. Something of serious importance in Britain with its diverse multicultural population but even more so globally.

I’m of the generation who will most probably benefit from Pepper and her subsequent reincarnations. And I can’t help thinking - in light of the current pandemic - what an absolute Godsend she would be for elderly people forced to self-isolate. They would surely love a visit from this endearing little robot-person who is programmed to ask them about themselves and their families... and who can even help call specific relatives, friends, carers and medics.

She completely changed my attitude to robots. Before meeting her, I had them mentally indexed as mechanical, box-shaped and/or angular and that if they spoke at all, it would be in barking Dalek monotones.

This clever and adorable android opened up all sorts of other areas for discussion. It was obvious she would be a dream service provider and companion to the elderly... but she could be equally useful in prisons, mental hospitals, children’s homes. The list is endless.

And as she grows and develops, the horizons really are limitless.

I was particularly interested in the Caresses Pepper and her wider implications and applications because of my age (73 last birthday) and also because I’m a trustee of Age Concern Luton.

One of the biggest problems with many older people who have no family nearby - or no family and friends at all - is isolation and loneliness. What a bonus a Caresses Pepper would be.

I felt enormously privileged to be involved in the project and to meet the hugely intelligent but immensely humble international team who are behind her creation.

And now it looks like she could be brought on stream even sooner - in yet another groundbreaking capacity.

Pepper - I’m ready to order now!