http://www.technologyreview.com/view/542791/what-dancing-lizards-can-teach-us-about-human-robot-interaction/
There’s a lot to be learned between robotic animal, animal, and human interaction, and how that is affected by the social status we give them. Animals could be tricked to believe that a robotic machine is one of their own, and thus will interact with them similarly. However, in some monkey species, babies will be emotionally damaged for life if not raised by a real life mother. This brings into question whether these interactions constitute animals as lower or higher on the totem pole, and whether humans will place on such a scale. A preeminent question that the articles asks is whether a robot in scrubs can facilitate the same warm, comforting human-patient relationship that a doctor can.