Gallery: This Robot Baby Factory Is the Stuff of Nightmares

  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    01

    161208-RealityWorks-00914.jpg

    A RealCare Baby lies on the repair desk.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    02

    161208-RealityWorks-00842.jpg

    Realityworks also sells scientific models, like this one showing a pregnant torso.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    03

    161208-RealityWorks-00688.jpg

    Baby heads fill a box at Realityworks.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    04

    161208-RealityWorks-00715.jpg

    An employee hits a baby with a padded mallet to ensure it's functioning properly.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    05

    161208-RealityWorks-01166.jpg

    Circuit boards fill a bin. The guts of each doll contain a circuit board, a rechargeable battery pack and sensors.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    06

    161208-RealityWorks-00796.jpg

    Julie Nyhus is the company's manufacturing and operations manager. Behind her, a window offers a view into the factory.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    07

    161208-RealityWorks-02169.jpg

    Babies sit atop a shipment box at Realityworks.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    08

    161208-RealityWorks-00978.jpg

    Employee Nate Puzio likes to call himself the Supreme Overlord of Repairs. He sits at his station, where he fixes broken dolls.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    09

    161208-RealityWorks-00610.jpg

    An employee builds a tower of baby heads.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    10

    161208-RealityWorks-00952.jpg

    An employee repairs the speaker inside a doll.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    11

    161208-RealityWorks-00829.jpg

    A baby painted to look like Avatar sits atop a file cabinet.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    12

    161208-RealityWorks-01235.jpg

    Terri Lokken holds a completed RealCare Baby. She assembles the dolls and also tests them for quality control.
  • Reality Works
    Ackerman + Gruber
    13

    161208-RealityWorks-00646.jpg

    Realityworks has a trade-in program that allows users to send in old versions of the RealCare Baby for new ones. The vinyl dolls are disassembled and send to a recycling plant. The company has recycled 60,000 pounds of vinyl since 2008.
Read More
Get the Most Out of Your iPad With These Accessories
Kit out your Apple tablet with our favorite stands, cases, keyboards, and styli.
Julian Chokkattu
Finally, Some Affordable Laptops That Won’t Fail You in College
Laptops for college should be portable, offer long battery life, and remain reasonably affordable. Based on testing hundreds of laptops, these are my top picks.
Luke Larsen
Soccer Fans, You’re Being Watched
From anti-drone tech to face recognition, 2026 World Cup stadiums in the US, Canada, and Mexico are subjecting fans to an array of surveillance tech. Here’s what you need to know.
Vas Panagiotopoulos
The Other Major Soccer Event of 2026? The Shake-Up in the World of Video Games
The 48-team World Cup is not the only historic soccer event this year. Four titans are vying for control of video game soccer in the fiercest battle the industry has ever seen.
Javier Rodríguez
This World Cup, You Can Watch the Game From a Ref’s Point of View
Referees for the 2026 World Cup will be wearing cameras positioned at their temples, allowing TV audiences to see a live view of the pitch from a vantage point they never have before.
Ben Dowsett
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup
The games start June 11 and end with a grand finale in New Jersey on July 19. There are 104 of them. Here’s how to watch ’em all.
Boone Ashworth
Artificial Intelligence Sneaks Into the World Cup Thanks to Google Gemini
The Argentine national team will be Google’s test bench and technological showcase during the World Cup.
Rosa Jiménez Cano
Amnesty International Warns That World Cup Fans Face Potential Human Rights Violations
The organization claims that the FIFA tournament could have impacts on the rights of local people and visiting soccer fans in all three host countries.
Fernanda González
Mapping Every Flock License Plate Reader Near US World Cup Stadiums
Most US World Cup stadiums are surrounded by surveillance cameras. Want to know if you’re being watched on your way to a match? These maps will help you.
Maddy Varner
The World Cup’s Trionda Ball Challenges Traditional Aerodynamics
According to new research, Trionda would show less unpredictable movements in actions such as corner kicks or free kicks. However, in powerful and long-distance clearances it would lose range.
Fernanda González
Litter-Robot Promo Codes: $150 Off Bundles, $50 Off the Starter Bundle, and More
Get the latest Litter-Robot Discounts on Litter-Robot self-cleaning litter boxes, accessories, and more.
Molly Higgins
Top Lenovo Coupon Codes and Deals in June 2026
Whether you’re shopping for a ThinkPad, Yoga laptop, or Legion gaming PC, these Lenovo discount codes and promotions can help you save big on your next tech upgrade.
Luke Larsen