'Actor robots' make theatrical debut in Japan

London, Nov 27 : You must have heard about dancing robots, house-sitting robots, but now a new breed of robots is taking the world by storm - give it up for- acting robots!

The new species of robots is making its big debut on the Japanese stage.

The play, titled Hataraku Watashi (I, Worker), which had its premiere at Osaka University, is one of Japan's first robot-human theatre productions.

The robots are specially programmed to speak lines with human actors and move around the stage with them.

According to playwright Oriza Hirata says the work, set in the near future, has raised questions about the relationship between humanity and technology.

The play is based on the life of a young couple that own two housekeeping robots, one of which loses its motivation to work.

The robot in the play complains that it has been forced into boring and demeaning jobs and then enters into a discussion with the humans about its role in their lives.

Right now, the play's length is only 20 minutes but its makers are hoping that it will become a full-length production by 2010.

The Wakamaru robot is manufactured by Mitsubushi but the software to train it for the stage was developed over two months at the university.

The 1-m (3-ft) tall humanoid robot is best known as a mechanical house-sitter and secretary, reports BBC.

The makers are now hoping that these robots will soon be signing autographs or trying to roll away from paparazzi.

ANI