Mvc\Model::assign

$robot->assign(array(
'type' => 'mechanical',
'name' => 'Astro Boy',
'year' => 1952
 ));

 //assign by db row, column map needed
 $robot->assign($dbRow, array(
'db_type' => 'type',
'db_name' => 'name',
'db_year' => 'year'
 ));

 //allow assign only name and year
 $robot->assign($_POST, null, array('name', 'year');