Rise of the machines

Japan's Nippon Engineering College's humanoid robot "Karfe Lady" and a man play a game of "rock-paper-scissors" during a robot sports event in Tokyo's Akihabara electronic district. (Reuters)

An unidentified LS3 team member shoves an LS3 (Legged Squad Support System) robot that was galloping off course, back on track during a high-speed demonstration in Florida. The device is designed to accompany soldiers and Marines any place they go on foot, helping to carry their gear. (Reuters)

Pingpong-playing robot "Topio" is displayed during the International Robot Exhibition 2009 in Tokyo. The bipedal humanoid robot is designed to play table tennis against a human being. (Reuters)

Humanoid communication robot Kirobo talks to Fuminori Kataoka, project general manager in the Product Planning Group of Toyota Motor Corp, during its unveiling in Tokyo. (Reuters)

Humanoid robot bartender "Carl" fills a cocktail glass with spirits to prepare a drink for a guest at the Robots Bar and Lounge in the eastern German town of Ilmenau. "Carl", developed and built by mechatronics engineer Ben Schaefer who runs a company for humanoid robots, prepares spirits for the mixing of cocktails and is able to interact with customers in small conversations. (Reuters)

A baby chick (R) looks at Japanese toy maker Sega Toy's robot chick "Yume Hiyoko" (Dream Chick) at a chicken farm in Ome, outskirts of Tokyo. The electronic robot chick which cheeps and move its wings at the touch of human hands is not only a toy for children but also a healing gadget for adults, the company said. (Reuters)

Actor Branch Worsham during a rehearsal of the musical "Robots" at the Barnabe Theatre in Servion, near Lausanne, April 22, 2009. The musical tells the story of a man in self-imposed exile who lives with three robots (a butler, a pet and a dancer) and who is facing a visit from a woman who represents his last link with the outside world. The three automatons were developed by a spin-off from the EPFL called BlueBotics and are able to act autonomously and interact with the two actors and the set. (Reuters)

A customer (R) is seated on a 3.6 metre-high custom-made female robot at the newly opened "Robot Restaurant" in Kabukicho, one of Tokyo's best known red light districts. It's show time at the "Robot Restaurant" a new and high-tech take on the city's decades-old cabaret scene that puts a friendly, if unusual, face on the robot technology in which Japan is a world leader. (Reuters)

A man takes a picture of a giant "Kuratas" robot at an exhibition in Tokyo. The four-meter-high, limited edition, made-to-order robot is controlled through a pilot in its cockpit, or via a smartphone. The four-ton "Kuratas" can be customized in 16 different colors, and is armed with a futuristic weapons system, including a multi-rocket launcher that fires plastic rockets filled with compressed water. (Reuters)

Honda's second version of the humanoid robot Asimo climbs a flight of stairs in Barcelona during its first appearance in Europe. (Reuters)

A flying sushi service tray known as the "itray", created using miniature remote-controlled helicopter rotor blades, is demonstrated by staff at a "Yo! Sushi" restaurant in London. (Reuters)

A mock intruder, tangled in a net that was launched by the remote-controlled security robot T-34, lies on the floor while posing beside the robot during a photo opportunity in Tokyo. T-34 users can see live images from the robot's camera and control the robot using a mobile phone. The robot, which has sensors that react to body heat and sound, can launch a net against an intruder by remote-control during its surveillance. (Reuters)

Humanoid robot of British company RoboThespian "blushes" during the opening ceremony of the Hanover technology fair. (Reuters)

Honda Motor Co's Asimo humanoid robot opens the top of a bottle to pour the drink into a cup during a news conference at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo. (Reuters)