General Motors and NASA through Space Act Agreement are developing the next generation robonaut, the Robonaut2 or R2. The robonaut, short for robot astronaut, is different from any other robots for it is the most dexterous robot in the planet. It is created in human-like shape because it is designed to work side by side with humans. The hands of this robot can handle skillfully many tools designed for human hands. Its ability to efficiently maneuver hand tools for human is one of the greatest leap in the design of R2. No other robot achieves such competency.

In 1942 Isaac Asimov, a prolific science fiction writer, outlined the Three Laws of Robotics. Although written to entertain, his work becomes the "ideal" foundation of how today's scientists should design a robot. The laws are outlined as follows,

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Asimov's ideal robot is equipped with positronic brain, its primary purpose is for robots to detect and identify humans. Unfortunately, no scientific field are developing such type of fictional technological device.