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WE ARE CLOSING FOR AN UPGRADE!

The MNACTEC will be closed for improvement work until 17 September 2026.
We will still be busy with activities for schools,, online resources and on social media!

Robots. From da Vinci's automata to the humanoids of the future

An interactive, visual exhibition about the challenges raised by robotics, and the possibilities it offers to transform the future

From 18 September 2026

The exhibition allows visitors to discover, understand and experience the history, evolution and uses of robotics in the service of society. It draws on a selection of nearly 50 robots to reflect on the challenges faced by humanity in the light of the unstoppable development of these machines, and the possibilities they offer to transform the future.

“Robots. From da Vinci's automata to the humanoids of the future" approaches the phenomenon of robotics through a selection of robots, accompanied by audiovisual and interactive elements, models and info graphic presentations. Visitors step inside the world of robotics through exhibits including a life-size reconstruction of the "Mechanical Knight" devised by Leonardo da Vinci, original exhibits from the late 19th century, some of the key robotic characters from science fiction, and examples of the latest humanoids.

The different sections of the exhibition feature dynamic elements explaining how each type of robot works, along with technical devices allowing visitors to interact.

The exhibition is organized by MNACTEC, with the executive direction of Casual Robots, and with the collaboration of PAL Robotics, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), and the College of Industrial Engineers of Catalonia.

It is made up of the following sections:

  1. Historical automata. The creation of machines capable of imitating life in different civilisations.
  2. Science fiction. Imagined technology and the world of the most iconic robots on the big screen.
  3. The first robots.  Background and historical evolution of the technology.
  4. Professional robots. An interactive presentation of the different uses of robots in the professional sphere.
  5. Training and laboratories. The emergence of the robotics laboratory and classroom uses.
  6. Robotics for health. Robotic technology in the service of health, and its application to medicine and rehabilitation.
  7. Robots in the home. A journey through the most advanced social and companion robots in the world.
  8. Humanoid robots. Robots capable of communicating, interpreting their environment and interacting with people.