Photos: Tokyo robot-fest

During a press preview in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2005, Yoichi Takamoto, president of Japanese robot maker Tmsuk, unveils a new floor-cleaning robot, "RIDC-01," which can recognize human voices and speak. The robot, which is just over 4 feet tall and weighs about 220 pounds, is also equipped with a projector on its head that can be used to show DVD movies or display other information. Tmsuk will start selling the bot for 10 million yen ($85,000).

On Nov. 30, 2005, visitors examined "Sora," an information robot system developed by Sky, during the iRex 2005, an international robot exhibition in Tokyo. About 200 companies and groups are participating in the four-day exhibition.

Kondo Kagaku's KHR-1 robot balances on one foot during the iRex 2005 international robot exhibition in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2005. The KHR-1, which can be controlled using a personal computer, is available in Japan for about 126,000 yen (about $1,050).

The SPC-003 from Japanese robotics venture Speecys allows for interactive 3D simulation of its motion on a PC. Unveiled Dec. 1 in Tokyo, the 9-pound robot is set to go on sale in Japan later this month for 750,000 yen ($6,300).