TechPhoto Home-living-assistance robot

Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota Motor's home-living-assistance robot, 'Human Support Robot (HSR)', picks up a small object from the floor to hand to an operator (R) during a demonstration at the annual Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo on September 26. Learning from service dogs, Toyota engineers designed the HSR not only to grab things with its arm but also to pick up a piece of paper or plastic sheet by using suction at the end of the arm. Photo: AFP