New robots that think and act for themselves are set to be deployed to some of the most hazardous places on Earth and outer space. As well as being sent across the universe, the AI-powered machines will be deployed in nuclear fusion power, the offshore energy sector and agriculture closer to home. The University of Manchester team developing them say the super machines will "need to act independently" of humans to carry out highly complex tasks in danger zones. The team says the technology, which they call "hot robotics", will help the United Kingdom maintain its competitive advantage in automation technologies. They also hope robots will become more autonomous so they can decommission old nuclear power stations more cheaply, quickly and safely than they can do at present.