Japanese produce humanoid robot

A child-shaped humanoid robot that can recognise about 10,000 words and work as a house sitter will go on sale in Japan next month.

The “Wakamaru” robot can recognise the faces of up to 10 people and talk to them.

When linked to mobile phones, it can also work as a monitor to check situations at home, such as a burglary or someone falling ill, Mitsubishi-Heavy Industries Ltd. Said today.

Mitsubishi-Heavy said it would be the first time a robot with communication ability for home use has been sold.

“This is the opening of an era in which human beings and robots can co-exist,” it said.

Mitsubishi-Heavy said it will start taking orders for ”Wakamaru” from September 16, and plans to sell 100 of the one meter (3.3 ft) tall, 30 kilogram (66 pounds) robots at about 1.58 million yen (€11,628) for residents in central Tokyo.

The owner’s schedule can be programmed in advance and Wakamaru can give a wake-up call and remind them of the day’s events.