Some embodiments of the invention include a robotic patient system including a computer system including a processor and a coupled sensor, and a control system configured to receive control data. The robotic patient system also includes a synthetic patient robot including a feature detector and action selector configured to actuate the robot based at least in part on the control data. Some further embodiments of the invention include a computer-implemented method of providing a robotic synthetic patient by providing a synthetic patient robot, configuring a control system to receive control data, extracting and converting a feature from the control data, and converting to an actuator command to move the robotic patient system. Some embodiments include a robot including a computer system including a processor, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and a control system configured to be coupled to a source of control data to control the robot substantially autonomously.