The International Robotics Exhibition, Tokyo

A meet and greet robot, common in retail stores and banks in Japan and designed to offer basic customer support and requests for information. (Peter Griffin)

Toyota's new T-HR3 partner robot which is controlled through virtual reality, giving a human the ability to see from the robot's perspective and undertake gestures that translate into the robot's physical movements. (Peter Griffin)

The HRP-3 humanoid robot prototype from Japan's Kawada Industries. (Peter Griffin)

Robo-waiter - this robot can deliver to tables around a restaurant. (Peter Griffin)

More food serving robots - which can be seen already in some Tokyo restaurants.(Peter Griffin)

The Nextage industrial robot which "liberates human beings from menial repetitive labour" in factories and on supply chains. (Peter Griffin)

The robotic arm from German company Kuka pours a beer at the International Robotics Exhibition in Tokyo. (Peter Griffin)

Panasonic's HOSPI autonomous delivery robots deliver medicines, medical specimens and patient case notes around hospitals in Japan.(Peter Griffin)

Assistive robotics is a booming category in Japan. This 6kg wearable device from Nikkari assists the user with lifting objects up to 30kg in weight and is designed for the agriculture sector. (Peter Griffin)

Miim, the HRP-4C humanoid robot weighs 43kg and mimics human movement. Developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), a Japanese research facility. (Peter Griffin)

The Chapit robot assistant from Japan's Raytron can help out around the home acting as a smart controller for consumer electronics and lighting systems and is armed with a 100 word vocabulary for simple greetings and responses. (Peter Griffin)

Alter, a human-like robot whose movements are controlled by a neural network modelled on the structure of neurons in the human brain. Displayed at the Miraikan Museum in Tokyo.(Peter Griffin)

Honda's Asimo humanoid robot can recognise moving objects, postures, gestures, its surrounding environment, sounds and faces and is capable of autonomous movement. Displayed at the Miraikan Museum in Tokyo.(Peter Griffin)

The giant anime-inspired Unicorn Gundam model robot stands guard on Tokyo's waterfront. (Peter Griffin)