One aspect is a robot system comprising a flexible artificial skin operable to be mechanically flexed under the control of a computational system. The system comprises a first set of software instructions operable to receive and process input images to determine that at least one human likely is present. The system comprises a second set of software instructions operable to determine a response to a perceived human presence, whereby the computational system shall output signals corresponding to the response, such that, in at least some instances, the output signals cause the controlled flexing of the artificial skin.