Photos: The friendly faces of Japanese robots

Robot designer Tomotaka Takahashi (far right) introduces Manoi to the press in 2005. The duo of robots may be at rest here, but these little sparkplugs are intended to perform as robo-athletes. (The name comes from the middle letters of "humanoid.") Hornyak calls Takahashi "probably the hippest robot researcher in Japan." A newer version of Manoi, the AT-01, is now available from manufacturer Kyosho as a do-it-yourself kit, priced at about $1,300.

Photo by Kyosho