Murata’s new robot is called Seiko-chan (”little Seiko” in Japanese) and stands 50cm tall (weight: 5kg). Seiko-chan is equipped with a slant detection function and a balancing system that is placed in its chest. Users can control the robot girl via Bluetooth and a built-in wireless camera.

The company said it produced four prototypes and is willing to lend Seiko-chan out to elementary and middle schools for educational purposes. Next week, the general public (including me) has the chance to see the robot showcased at the CEATEC 2008 tech exhibition in Chiba near Tokyo.