A robotic dog that can learn points to the future

First the dog is kicked over, then pushed over, then shoved with a stick. Each time it gets back to its feet.

But don't rush to call the animal welfare authorities - it's a robotic dog undergoing training at Edinburgh University.

Alex Li is the Head of the Advanced Robotics Lab at the university and is among those leading the way in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to robotics.

The AI that controls his dog can cope with situations it has never seen before, like slippery surfaces or stairs.

And if you have ever watched internet footage of robots falling over, then you will appreciate how difficult that is to achieve.

So how did Mr Li and his team train their dog, called Jue-ying, or at least the AI that controls it?

Mr Li likens the process to the way young children are taught to play football. First, they will probably be taught individual skills like passing, dribbling and shooting.