World's first talking robot is sent into space by Japan

34-cm, 1kg Kirobo and its creator. 

Japan has launched the world's first talking robot into space to serve as companion to astronaut Kochi Wakata who will begin his mission in November. Measuring 34cm, Kirobo took off from the island of Tanegashima in an unmanned rocket also carrying supplies including water, clothes and food for six permanent workers based at the International Space Station, and is due to arrive on 9 August. The name Kirobo derives from the Japanese words for "hope" and "robot". The creation is part of a study to see how machines lend emotional support to people isolated over long periods. Kirobo has been programmed to communicate in Japanese and keep a record of its conversations with Mr Wakata, who will take over as commander of the Space Station later this year. The android has a wide rang of physical motion, is expected to relay messages from the control room on earth to the astronaut and be able to remember Mr Wakata's face so it can recognise him when they reunite in space. Its creator, Tomotaka Takahashi said: "I wish for this robot to function as a mediator between a person and a machine, or a person and the internet, and sometimes even between people".