Robots have descended on Tokyo today as part of the biannual International Robot Exhibition.

From superhero suits to realistic 'actroids', the futuristic machines were this year focused on disaster relief, entertainment, assisting the elderly and farming.

Disaster relief was a major theme as Japan, a country, prone to earthquakes, prepares for the next catastrophe.

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HRP-2 Kai (right) and red-and-yellow coloured Jaxon (left) walk through fake debris to extinguish a fire during a demonstration. The two disaster- relief droids were developed in a project under the New Energy and Industrial Development (NEDO) that started after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan in 2011

Simulating work in a tunnel after a quake, two slender robots with tiny heads attached with sensors walked through fake debris to extinguish a fire during a demonstration.

The two disaster-relief droids were developed in a project under the New Energy and Industrial Development (NEDO) - a national research organisation - that started after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan in 2011.

But unlike in Hollywood movies where bots can run, jump and fly at high-speeds, these droids are the slow and steady type.

HRP-2 Kai and red-and-yellow coloured Jaxon - named after the late singer Michael Jackson - were on today focused on more serious tasks.

Baxter is a 3-foot tall, two-armed robot with an animated face. Rethink robots displayed its machine in Tokyo today, demonstrating how it can safely work alongside humans on a production line

Robots descended on Tokyo today as part of the biannual International Robot Exhibition. From superhero suits to robot 'actroids' such as Kokoro (right), the futuristic machines were this year focused on disaster relief, entertainment, assisting the elderly and farming. Pictured on the right is Pepper the robot

An amphibious snake-like robot made by Japanese company HiBot swims during a demonstration at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo. Nearly 450 companies will present their latest robots until 5 December

'HRP-2 Kai is now recognising debris and thinking with a sensor on its head about where to put its foot,' said Fumio Kanehiro, researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology that developed the robot.

While HRP-2 Kai, which is 170cm (5ft 6 inches), walked on a narrow board, 188cm-tall Jaxon - developed by the University of Tokyo - moved forward by bending its back and putting both hands on the floor, judging that the ceiling was too low to move upright.

It then lifted itself up to remove a box and debris to secure a pathway - tasks that could be done even in a risky environment hazardous to humans.

But humanoid bots are far from perfect, suffering from balance problems on rough terrain, conceded Shuji Yumitori, head of NEDO's robot division.

He added that his organisation hopes further improvements will put them in commercial use in as little as five years.

'They'll be wonderful robots,' Yumitori said.

Still Japan, where robots have been developed for decades, does not always excel in global competitions.

On the left, Pepper the robot takes a rest before its performance. The right image shows Jaxon, the robot designed to help emergency services in disaster recovery situations

A Leonardo Da Vinci android was also on show. The robot uses latest generation facial mimicry technology/ It was developed by Osaka University's Minoru Asada, who has spent years working on androids. He hopes to eventually create personal robots for households

A 46cm tall humanoid robot 'Premaid AI' dances during a demonstration at the International Robot Exhibition

In June, Japanese-made robots made it to the finals of a US disaster-response contest inspired by the 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant that followed the earthquake and tsunami.

Jaxon's performance at the event - eventually won by South Korean scientists - proved to be cringe-inducing as the droid tumbled and had to be carried away on a stretcher.

Yumitori, however, shrugged off the defeat.

'Our priority is not about whether we win or not,' he said. 'It's about whether we can create something that is useful for human beings.'

Other robots on show included Pepper, a humanoid robot designed to live with humans, which talked with visitors at the exhibition.

The robot reads emotions, gives its owners advice and makes small talk.

Within a minute of going on sale last month, the first 1,000 Pepper robots sold out in Japan.

But what is it like to actually live and interact with the 'emotional' humanoid?

According to initial reviews, the four-foot (1.2 metre) machine-on-wheels is charming, considerate, offers advice and will 'prattle on and on' making small talk.

THE 'WORLD'S SEXIEST ROBOT': LIFE-LIKE FEMALE ANDROID TURNS HEADS Named Geminoid F, the robot has amassed a legion of fans, with some even describing her as 'sexy' An eerily life-like robot has been turning heads at the World Robot Exhibition in Beijing this week. Named Geminoid F, the robot has amassed a legion of fans, with some even describing her as 'the world's sexiest robot'. The 5ft 6 inch android is capable of eye movements, response to eye-to-eye contact and can recognise body language. She is designed act like a human with rubber 'skin' and a woman's face. The robot was created by Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratory at Osaka University who plan on creating a better model in the future. 'Our final goal is creating some artificial intelligence by using this robot,' Kohei Ogawa, assistant professor said. The current version of Geminoid F cost $108,600 (£72,000), which Ishiguro hopes may take the technology closer to the mainstream. Geminoid F has already taken the film industry by storm, becoming the first android to star in a film. Earlier this year, she co-starred in a Japanese movie named 'Sayonara', about the after-effects of a nuclear power plant meltdown. Advertisement

An employee of Japan's agriculture machinery company Kubota demonstrates grape picking with the company's latest arm assisted suit 'Raku Vest'

Visitors look at a Kawada Nextage robot during a presentation at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo

Japanese journalist Yuri Kageyama spent half a day with the robot ahead of its delivery to its first customers later this month.

He said that the most striking feature is the 'absolutely ardent attention [Pepper] gives you.'

Recently, its creators SoftBank have urged customers 'not to develop any sexy, obscene, or violent apps or actions for Pepper'.

Another robot on display was an 'actroid' by technology firm Kokoro, that is designed to replace humans in film and TV.

A popular attraction was the thoroughly unnerving baby-like Telenoid.

The robot sports a simplistic mannequin head with stunted arms and legs that also speaks by proxy from a control box maned by museum visitors.

The four-day exhibition which kicked off today, is held once every two years in Japan's capital.

This year it is drawing nearly 450 participating organisations - the biggest since it started about four decades ago.

Some 57 of the groups come from countries including France, Britain, Russia and South Korea.

Pictured on the right is Telenoid, a human-like remote controlled android created by Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro. On the left is Robohon, the bipedal robot phone

The four-day event which kicked off today, is held once every two years in Japan's capital. This year it is drawing nearly 450 participating organisations - the biggest since it started about four decades ago. Painting robots made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries are pictured

KUKA Robotics' robot LBR iiwa demonstrates a flower arrangement at the International Robot exhibition

Mannequin robots produced by Japanese robot company Muscle Corporation perform different poses during a demonstration