Phobot is a robot that exhibits behaviour that mimics fear and overcoming it by graded exposure.
The robot was voted the public's favourite at a conference on human–robot interaction in Amsterdam.
When Phobot sees a larger robot, it retreats, and spins around, making high pitched noises, seemingly in panic.
[1] When it is gradually exposed to smaller robots, and is coached by holding its hands and talking to it in a soothing manner, it learns to overcome its fear.
[3] It was designed as a low cost proof of concept for an affective robot, coaching children to deal with phobias and anxieties.