Japan's advanced humanoids can now serve tea and wash the cup afterwards. But they still need to learn from their mistakes if they are to become real household helpers.
A Tokyo University team this week showed their latest robots which can perform more complicated tasks, but there is still a lot to learn.
In a room full of robotic items including two humanoids, Professor Tomomasa Sato plopped himself down on the sofa, making a reading lamp turn on automatically.
He then raised his hand and the HRP-2W - wearing an apron and kitchen gloves - rolled over and asked: 'Do you need help?'
'I'd like a cup of tea,' Professor Sato said.
The wheeled robot went to the kitchen counter, where a two-legged fellow humanoid grabbed a plastic bottle to pour tea into a cup.