There are currently four manufacturers making life-like robotic dolls worldwide, but experts predict that in coming decades they could become widespread, used not just as a fetish, but for sexual therapy and as companions for lonely, disabled or older people.
 Engineer-inventor Douglas Hines adjusts the head of his company's "True Companion" sex robot, Roxxxy Engineer-inventor Douglas Hines adjusts the head of his company's "True Companion" sex robot, Roxxxy Credit: AFP/Getty Images Noel Sharkey, Emeritus Professor of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Sheffield, and co-founder of the FRR, said it was time for the government and the public to decide whether to regulate pleasure-bots.
 “I can tell you that robots are certainly coming,” he said at the launch of the new consultation report in central London.
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 Probably not"Patrick Lin, Philosophy professor and robot ethicist The report found that up to two thirds of men and about 30 per cent of women were in favour of using sex robots, which currently cost between £4,000 and £12,000 and can be customised by sex, height, hair colour, eye colour and even personality.
 Companies are also starting to incorporate artificial intelligence so robots can communicate and respond to human emotions.
 Doll brothels already operate in South Korea, Japan and Spain, while the first robotic oral sex coffee shop opened in Paddington, west London, last year.
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