Ananova:

Japanese scientists have developed a robot that can help people get out of bed and bring them their breakfast.

They claim the 4ft 10ins robot, which has soft hands and fingers, can become even more like its human inventors.

The Japanese humanoid - called Twendy one - has enough strength to support humans as they sit up and stand, and can make supple movements that respond to human touch.

It can pick up a loaf of bread without crushing it, serve toast, help lift people out of bed and even lend a hand with the housework.

Shigeki Sugano, professor of mechanical engineering at Waseda University, Tokyo, said: "In our super-ageing society, both strength and delicacy are required for robots. Twendy-One is the first robot that can meet those conditions."

Twendy-One is designed to help around the house in a country with an ageing population. The professor said his team aims to have the robot on sale by 2015.