All Neurotic Machines are part of an Internet of Things: a network of smart objects embedded with electronics, software and sensors exchanging data to communicate with each other and with us. Rayns wonders what might happen if these smart objects had personalities. Their main responsibility is to nurture their gardens, but what if they doubt their data and worry about the results?

Rayns invites us to take an active role in this network of machines. Experiment with your preferred parameters for life via the control desk; strike up a conversation with the hydroponic garden; or join in from home via the website - coming soon.

In addition to the mother machine here in the gallery, Rayns has distributed smaller robotic kits to groups such as Liverpool’s FarmUrban, who use modern science to develop urban farms for local food production; and Norwich Farmshare, a community farm growing seasonal vegetables.