Domestic technology business Dyson is to invest £5 million in developing robotics technologies for use in the home.

The business, created and fronted by British tech star Sir James Dyson, will invest the money in a robotics laboratory at Imperial College in London.

Sir James said: "My generation believed the world would be overrun by robots by the year 2014.

“We now have the mechanical and electronic capabilities, but robots still lack understanding - seeing and thinking in the way we do.

He added: "Mastering this will make our lives easier and lead to previously unthinkable technologies."

The money will go towards improving robots awareness of the world and create better ways for them to adapt to changes in conditions.

It will power research in robotics as well as automated vacuum cleaners.