Remarkable robot images provide a vision of the future - New Scientist

These photographs of humanoid robots by Henrik Spohler are part of his project Tomorrow Is the Question

By Carissa Wong

12 November 2025 We have long been fascinated with our own image. In the 1920s play Rossum’s Universal Robots, Czech writer Karel Čapek coined the term robot to describe human-looking creatures forced to work in factories. Since then, we have built many humanoid robots that can move and interact with the world in anthropomorphic ways. Award-winning photographer Henrik Spohler at photo agency laif explores such endeavours in his project Tomorrow Is the Question. The main image, above, shows a metallic creation by the German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics in Oberpfaffenhofen. The 200-kilogram robot, called Rollin’ Justin, can travel long distances on wheels. Using cameras to take in its surroundings, it can avoid obstacles and carry out tasks such as serving drinks. It could potentially be developed