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Robi-like robot to launch to ISS in 2013

Japanesee space scientists and robotics engineers are planning to send their first prototype humanoid robot to the International Space Station by mid-2013 called "Kibo Robot Project." A formal name for the robot is a contest undeway in Japan.

Project logo

The robot will feature speech recognition and natural language processing technology developed by Toyota, while delivering twitter and voice messages from Earth to Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata.

The ISS-bound robot appears to be a modified version of his latest creation, Robi, which stands 13.4 inches (34 cm) tall and weighs 2.2 pounds (1 kg). However, the space robot will come equipped with a camera and software trained to recognize Wakata's face – it will also use that camera to take photos to tweet back to Earth.

Japanese droid on moon in 2020?

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has expressed a plan to has a robot-tended outpost on the surface of the moon in the next decade.

The $2.2 billion project, the droids will begin construction of an unmanned base near the south pole of the moon that will be powered by solar panels, according ...