Interact with robots from around the world at Chicago's 'Robot Revolution'

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction: robots that can mimic human facial expressions, play soccer together and even learn new skills. But a new exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago highlights just such robots, as well as many others that are changing the way we live and work.

At the "Robot Revolution" exhibition, visitors can interact with about 40 robots from across the globe.

The best time to visit is July 18-19, when the museum will host a robot-themed block party with live robotics demonstrations and activities. But the exhibition itself continues through January.

Many of the robots featured in the exhibition are still in development, so they are making their first public appearances.

"Robotics is a truly fascinating field — and it's one that is growing exponentially," said David Mosena, museum president and CEO, in a statement. "This exhibit, in a fun and engaging way, helps answer questions like 'How do robots work?' 'How will they potentially change our lives?'"

"Robot Revolution" is divided into four areas — cooperation, smarts, skills and locomotion.

The cooperation section focuses on humans and robots working together, especially in medical settings. Examples include the Da Vinci surgical system and Ekso GT, a robotic exoskeleton that can support people with mobility impairments.

Visitors can also experiment with swarm robots, which work together to accomplish goals. The designers were inspired by animal groups, such as schools of fish and swarms of insects.

In the smarts section, the exhibition explores how robots think and learn. Visitors can play tic-tac-toe with a robot named Baxter or ride in a simulated self-driving car.

The skills section highlights robots' physical skills, such as gripping objects.

Finally, the locomotion section explores how robots move. It is highly interactive. Visitors can guide robots through dance routines, drive them over rough terrain and maneuver them through narrow pipes.

As part of the exhibition, the museum is offering demonstrations of flying drone robots. And children can assemble their own robots using Cubelets construction kits.

Afterward, guests can explore "Materials Science," another of the museum's temporary exhibitions. It explores the history and properties of manmade materials, such as plastics and metal alloys. It also closes in January.

'Robot Revolution'

• Where: Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago

• When: Through January. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Info: Entry to "Robot Revolution" is $11 for adults and $9 for children, plus standard museum admission ($18 for adults; $11 for children).

• Contact: (773) 684-1414, msichicago.org