Why would people from future hire someone from past to control some robot in future instead just hiring local to do it without robot or to control the robot locally?

Why would they just not give robot better superhuman features like not feeling any pain or super strength for instance, why impose human body limitations?

Also why does London 70 years into future looks exactly same as now besides display roads and few big statue buildings? Are we to believe there was zero progress in car design, fashion and other tech?