Japan's electronics giant Toshiba introduces the prototype housekeeping robot "ApriAttenda" which is able to open the door of a refrigerator and pick up a bottle during a demonstration at a lab in Tokyo on March 11, 2009. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Toshiba "ApriPoko" Robot
Researcher for Japanese electronics giant Toshiba, Daisuke Yamamoto, displays the prototype model for the new desktop-sized robot called the "ApriPoko", which can recognize human voices and operate electronic devices, on March 31, 2008. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Baby Robot
An engineering student soothes a baby robot during a presentation at a laboratory in Tsukuba University, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan on Feb 12, 2010. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images)
Child Robot
A child robot, equipped with 51 air actuators, 5 motors and with 197 tactile sensors under soft silicone skin, sits in a laboratory in Osaka University in Japan on March 10, 2009. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Dentist Robot
A dentist operates on a humanoid dental patient robot, named Hanako Showa, during a demonstration of dental treatment at Showa University on March 25, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan. (Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)
HRP4C Cybernetic Human
Japan's government sponsored research laboratory AIST unveils the new humanoid robot, "HRP-4C". Also called a Cybernetic Human, it has 42 actuators and several sensors on its body. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
HRP4C Cybernetic Human
A humanoid robot, HRP-4C, developed by Japan's Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) shows off her skills during the Digital Contents Expo in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 2009. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
'Geminoid-F' Robot
A model, right, pokes the face of a humanoid robot called "Geminoid-F" shaped to resemble the model at a press conference in Osaka, Japan on April 3, 2010. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Hitachi Emiew 2
Japanese electronics giant Hitachi unveils the company's new humanoid robot, Emiew 2 (Excellent Mobility and Interactive Existence as Workmate), at its Hitachinaka City laboratory in Japan on Nov. 21, 2007. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
KOBIAN
Humanoid robot KOBIAN shows an emotional display of "disgust" during a demonstration at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, on June 23, 2009. (Shizuo Kambayashi/AP)
Motoman
Japanese giant Yaskawa Electric's industrial robot Motoman turns over a Japanese pancake on a hot plate for a demonstration at a exhibition in Osaka on Nov, 26, 2008. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Transformer
An employee for Japanese toy giant Tomy displays a robot toy called the "Transformers Sports Label" in Tokyo on Aug. 14, 2007. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Receptionist Robot
A receptionist robot, produced by Japan's robot maker Kokoro poses during a demonstration at the company's factory in Tokyo on March 2, 2009. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Fire Breathing Robot
A "Giant Torayan" robot shoots fire from its mouth during "Roppongi Art Night" in Tokyo on March 27, 2009. Made of aluminum and standing 23.6 feet tall, the robot was created by Japanese artist Kenji Yanobe. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
'Twendy-One' Robot
The new humanoid robot "Twendy-One", developed by Japan's Waseda University professor Shigeki Sugano (behind robot), carries a food tray during a demonstration at Waseda's laboratory in Tokyo, Nov. 27, 2007. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
Toyota Violin Robot
Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor unveils their new violin-playing robot at the company's showroom in Tokyo on Dec. 6, 2007. (Yoshizaku Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)
