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Tyrannosaurus Rex

Which child doesn't hold a fascination for the monstrous T Rex, a carnivore that roams through the realms of pre-history, science fiction and nightmares? The Natural History Museum brings this beloved creature of terror to life - in the form of the world's most advanced robotic Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Lurking in the Dinosaurs exhibition in the Ronson Gallery, with 15 dinosaur skeletons and life-size robotic models of three vicious Deinonychus for company, the monster looks, sounds and even smells like a dinosaur. According to Dr Angela Milner, dinosaur expert at the Natural History Museum, "Whenever Tyrannosaurus Rex opened its huge mouth, a strong aroma of rotting flesh would certainly have filled the air. Its breath would have smelt of the remains of decaying meat, trapped between its huge teeth."

The museum sensibly opted for a slightly more savoury alternative and recreated a similar smell to that of the environment in which Tyrannosaurus Rex roamed - a "boggy" or "swampy" smell, reminiscent of overdone cabbage.

The Natural History Museum's robotic dinosaur project dates back to 1991, when the Kokoro Company in Japan was invited to work in partnership with the museum to develop animatronic creatures. The three-quarter size Tyrannosaurus Rex model, standing an intimidating four metres high and nearly seven metres long, is the latest example of the technological advances that Kokoro have made in recent years.

Be prepared to be scared!