In any case there is an intense modern interest in machines that imitate life. The great difference between magic and the scientific imitation of lif… - William Grey Walter

Some of these patterns of performance were calculable, though only as types of behaviour, in advance; some were quite unforeseen.

[E]xperiments with a simple little machine, designed to mimic certain elementary features of animal behavior... Consisting only of two vacuum tubes, two motors, a photoelectric cell and a touch contact, all enclosed in a tortoise-shaped 'shell, the model was a species of artificial creature which could explore its surroundings and seek out favorable conditions. It was named Machine speculatrix.

[A]n electro-mechanical creature which behaves so much like an animal that it has been known to drive a not usually timid lady upstairs to lock herself in her bedroom, an interesting blend of magic and science.