World’s first robotic personal trainer guides gym goers through exercise programme

Researchers at Bristol Robotics Laboratory have created the world's first socially intelligent robot fitness coach.

The robot companion can give motivational voice prompts and make physical gestures to guide its pupils through an exercise regime on a treadmill. The support is personalised based on the runner's heartrate, speed, personality type, mood and fitness level.

Humanoid robot Pepper can tell jokes, show sympathy, lean in towards the runner and even change its eye colour to express different emotions.

Pepper gained its social intelligence by being 'trained' by a fitness instructor on how to be an encouraging coach. It learned when to offer praise during a workout and which cues can successfully motivate a runner to improve their performance.