Dr Marina describes a "reversal" of societal change, moving away from marriages being tied to sexual intimacy, and instead to relationships where each person can provide in other non-sexual ways.

We've already seen examples of sex robots that can hold conversations and even load the dishwasher.

Some experts fear that the growing popularity of these dirty droids will lead to a slump in marriage rates – as randy men turn to sex robots, rather than getting partners.

But Dr Marina argues that sex-bot tech will "actually increase the rate of lifetime marriage".

She explains how marriages will no longer suffer the pressure of sex, and can then be improved in other ways.

"If sexual access through sexbot technology is a complement to household production, then we could observe an increase in the quality of marriages and, as a result, a reduction in rates of divorce," she wrote.  Read more