A team of five students from a Turkish university have designed a robot which can work as a babysitter, a watchman or even a personal alarm bell.

Ankara-based Bilkent University students Muhammed Akbulut, Huseyin Furkan Bozkurt, Suleman Aijaz Memon, Hamed Mohammadi and Fahrettin Omer Uyar, named their creation Arbo.

Arbo uses a simple technology; it communicates with its owner via a mobile phone app, connected through Bluetooth wireless technology.

The robot can recognize voices, sense temperature, and avoid hitting objects while moving.

It can look after pets and children at home, and also keep security checks on the house. According to the robot's creators, the main areas of use would be hospitals and houses.

"Arbo can measure humidity and temperature. It can notify of gas leaks or a possible fire, and work as a CCTV camera, sending video footages of the house to its owner," Bozkurt said.

Speaking of hospital use, the students said Arbo can recognize nurses and patients, and may give a warning when it sees someone who may be a security threat. In addition, Arbo can be used in emergency situations, or during stationary care of patients. The robot can also be used to transport cups, medicines, etc.

For now, Arbo, can only understand 12 commands in the Turkish language, "but it can be customized and many more features can be added to it."

"In the near future Arbo will able to carry glasses at home, or files and medicine in hospitals," Bozkurt said.

The student's project was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).