We all have a fascination with robots, perhaps dread and fear too. But in our popular culture, robots are now part of life, but we still haven't have a consensus on how robots will evolve as improvements in technology and artificial intelligence continue a constant speed. Robots are all around us now, from the UAVs up in the air, to those flat single-purpose vacuum cleaners at home.

But what if robots now get artificial intelligence and the ability to have sense of touch? From the famous to the obscure sci-fi authors, these is very much a very relevant subject. Should they be allowed to evolve and be their own "person" such as in the Bicentennial Man? Or to be subordinate to humans and be governed by the "Three Laws of Robotics" as written and refined by Isaac Azimov?

One famous director, Neill Blomkamp of District 9 and Elysium fame, will be the latest director to tackle robots in Chappie. My initial reaction when watching this trailer was that "Chappie" is like the reincarnation of "Number 5/Johnny 5" from the movie "Short Circuit" which was done in the 1980s. The 1980s had some of the best sci-fi movies, and robots (or androids or cyborgs) were very much at the centre of these movies such Short Circuit, Terminator, Blade Runner, DARYL, Aliens, RoboCop, and Batteries Not Included.

For Blomkamp, his movies always show a grimy future world where high-tech and the dirty depths of human civilization come together just like in District 9 and Elysium. In the case of C", the South African director draws from his previous work Tetra Vaal in which a rabbit eared robot patrols the streets of Johannesburg and Chappie's design looks like the Briareos Hecatonchires of Appleseed, the Japanese Manga released in 2004. The story of Chappie is really like Number 5/Johnny 5, which gained humanlike intelligence after being struck by lightning. Chappie seems to be a rejected Police Robot that was upgraded with artificial intelligence and feelings by the genius Deon played by Dev Patel.

Sharlto Copley (District 9, Elysium and Hardcore) is the voice of Chappie and provided the animatronics for the movements of the robot in the various scenes. Hugh Jackman plays Vincent, who is determined to take away  the gifts given to Chappie. Sigourney Weaver also plays a still unmentioned role in the movie. The trailer then shows how Chappie, whilst developing his own person, is pursued by the South African Police and Military for reasons that still needs to be revealed as more information about the movie is released. Here's a further description of the movie:

Every child comes into the world full of promise, and none more so than Chappie: he is gifted, special, a prodigy. Like any child, Chappie will come under the influence of his surroundings – some good, some bad – and he will rely on his heart and soul to find his way in the world and become his own man. But there’s one thing that makes Chappie different from anyone else: he is a robot. The first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. His life, his story, will change the way the world looks at robots and humans forever.

Chappie is seen to be released in Spring 2015. Just like the last two Blomkamp's movies, this one will generate great interested among movie goers.