Japanese open their hearts and homes to robo-pets

Robo-mania is reaching a new pitch in Japan as technological advances, economic necessity and cultural change drive automatons out of the factory and into people's day-to-day lives.

For decades Japan has been seen as the robot capital of the world. Despite its relatively small size, the country has 58 per cent of the planet's robots, most of which are used to boost the efficiency of car, microchip and home electronics factories.

But in recent months many new robots with entertainment and welfare applications have been unveiled by a generation of engineers who grew up on a cultural diet of robot manga (comic books) and anime (cartoons).

Sony, the maker of the Walkman and the PlayStation, led the way in June with the launch of Aibo, a floppy-eared cyber puppy which uses artificial intelligence to interact emotionally with its owner. Although it has no practical application, the robo-mutt proved a huge hit with the Japanese. Within 20 minutes of going on sale over the Internet, all 3,000 units were snapped up.

"The last 10 years have been the Internet decade, but we feel that the next 10 will belong to the robot," said Mr Toshitada Doi, a vice-president of Sony.

Other electronics makers have rolled out robot pets this year. To provide company for the elderly, Matsushita unveiled Tama, a mechanical cat linked to the Internet which reminds its owner about health checks and wriggles with delight when stroked behind the ears.

Mitsubishi, a company better known for building nuclear power plants and fighter planes, has produced a robot fish. It says the remarkably lifelike sea bream will have a variety of applications, including providing practice for anglers.

New robot announcements have come thick and fast and in all shapes and sizes.

In June the government's science and technology agency produced a 6ft (1.8-metre) humanoid robot capable of drumming and dancing.

Around the same time Matsushita unveiled an ant-size micro-robot which will be used for examining pipes.

In the past few days there have been reports of research into robot guide-dogs and robot rubbish collectors.

While robots have often been seen in the west as a threat to jobs, experts say they have always been welcomed in Japan.

"We are more open-minded about technology because of a lack of natural resources," explains Tatsuya Matsui, of the Kitano Symbiotic Systems Project, which aims to build a humanoid robot.