Shanghai: Futuristic robots might seem a bit passé but they're making a comeback at this week's CES Asia.

Your own personal humanoid robot has been the Next Big Thing for so long that they seem a bit quaint alongside the latest in smart gadgets and virtual reality.

Many of us might be resigned to the fact that Apple HomePod or Google Home are the closest thing we'll have to a smart butler in the next few years, but that hasn't stopped robot makers dreaming big.

The latest in personal robotics is on show at this week's CES Asia in Shanghai, from cute children's toys and DIY kits to personal carers and servant droids which look like they should be serving drinks on Jabba's barge.

The popularity of robots at CES Asia is partly a cultural thing, but it's also a sign that robots seem finally ready to step out of the pages of science fiction and play a bigger role in our lives.

Rather than owning a robot butler or babysitter, it looks like we're first likely to encounter robots in public, from robot rubbish bins which follow you down the street to robot waiters which bring your meal to your table.

You'll also find little droids like Keenon Robotics' Peanut range, one of whom is holding a screen so he can roll around dishing out information, perhaps the perfect addition to a museum or hotel foyer.

Of course all these robots are potentially out to steal someone's job, which is part of what's holding them back. It's not just a matter of the technology being ready, we also need to be ready to accept robots into our lives and deal with the consequences.

Robots are also aiming to get a foothold in our homes, although they're still walking that fine line between life-like and creepy.

You'll find plenty of cute robot toys which do little more than sing and dance, but also more educational robots like the impressive MU SpaceBot kits which let you build a programmable droid based on an Arduino board (CORRECTION: It's not an Arduino board, the board was designed by Morpx and is called the MU Sensor Board).

Then there are the personal carer-style robots, some of which are little more than a glorified MP3 player, but others really want to establish a connection with us.

The Qihan Sanbot service robot certainly has a nurturing, non-threatening appearance with a happy face and big love heart on her chest. Assisted by IBM Watson artificial intelligence, she responds to voice commands and touch.

Standing three feet tall with flippers for arms and slightly cartoonish features, Sanbot might find a job as an in-home personal carer or customer service droid on the retail floor.

Meanwhile the AvatarMind iPal is designed to be a childhood companion but its child-like features and blank expression make it feel more like something from a Doctor Who invasion horror story, especially when you see a bunch of them lined up on a trade show stand waiting to come to life.

They might look friendly to a child, but the thought of one being your child's best friend is rather disturbing.

For now a talkative smart speaker on your kitchen bench might be where you draw the line on robots and artificial intelligence in your home, but the rise of the machines is not far away.

The author travelled to CES Asia in Shanghai as a guest of CES.