Imagine if you will: a small robot dressed as a trapeze artist. He is almost 3 feet long. Behind him stands a simple swing. His handler places him on the brass bar and asks the mechanical figure, “Antonio, you are so very high up, are you afraid?”

Antonio shakes his head—for Antonio is very much not afraid.

“Antonio, will you entertain us with a little routine?” his handler queries. Antonio nods his head—for Antonio is very accommodating. The handler swings the bar gently, but reminds Antonio that he must keep the bar going on his own. With a few perfectly timed kicks from his legs, Antonio pushes the bar higher and higher. Suddenly, he shoots forward, his body flipping beneath the bar and back around again.

“Antonio, can you swing from your hands?” his handler asks.

Antonio again slips off the bar and swings from his hands before pulling himself up again. Antonio spins around again before pulling himself into a perfect hand stand. The handler slows the bar. Audience members are permitted to ask questions of this amazing android. Antonio nods in response to each one. The handler requests a final demonstration. This time, however, Antonio is left on his own to begin the trapeze motion. In no time he has the bar swinging. He flips over and back and then sweeps his legs over the bar.

“Antonio, can you let go with your hands?” his handler asks.

The bar swings silently as Antonio ponders. First one, then the other hand releases its grip. Antonio hangs only by his knees, silently swinging. As quick as a wink, Antonio grabs the bar, spins over and through, and then lets go—leaping into the arms of his handler.