Printed in sheets and fitted onto the robot's arms and chest, the sensors enable high-precision tactile guidance and allow RIBA-II to quickly detect a person's weight from touch alone, guaranteeing patient safety.

ENGADGET: RIBA-II healthcare robot now stronger, smarter -- still a bear

Then, as soon as plastic trays and silver foil have been spirited off to kitchen quarters unknown, our attendant transforms our chairs into two neat - if narrow - bunks, fitted with crisp white sheets and jaunty tartan blankets.

BBC: Travel with children: The night train to Luxor