The humanoid robot wakamaru

The robot, wakamaru, can recognize 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 in a statement Aug. 29.

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 coexist," it said.

According to the company, it will start taking orders for Wakamaru from Sept. 16 and plans to sell 100 of the 1-meter-tall, 30-kg robots at about ¥1.58 million to 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.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 3, 2005
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