Japanese Humanoid - Twenty One

Japanese scientists have developed a robot that can pick up a loaf of bread without crushing it, serve toast, help lift people out of bed and even lend a hand with the housework.
They claim the 4ft 10ins robot, which has soft hands and fingers, can become even more like its human inventors.
The Japanese humanoid - called Twenty one - has enough strength to support humans as they sit up and stand, and can make supple movements that respond to human touch.
Shigeki Sugano, professor of mechanical engineering at Waseda University, Tokyo, said: "In our super-ageing society, both strength and delicacy are required for robots. Twenty-One is the first robot that can meet those conditions." The Japanese team aims to have the robot on sale by 2015.