Sony unveil disco bot

Have you ever wished that your friends were a bit more lively?

Or been forced to spend a Friday night in front of the TV because you've got no-one to go out with?

Now help is at hand in the form of an all-singing, all-dancing robot party animal.

The silver, round-eyed SDR-4X can shake its hips and arms in tempo and sing a four-part harmony.

With 60,000 words in a memory bank, it will never be tongue-tied during a conversation.

The Sony robot, which goes on sale later this year, is about 23in tall and has sensors on the bottom of its feet so he can walk on uneven surfaces such as carpets.

In a demonstration, the SDR-4X balanced on a surfboard as it tilted at various angles. If it does fall over, the robot knows how to get back up again.

Equipped with two cameras in its eye-sockets, it can dodge obstacles and recognise colours.

The robot can be programmed to recognise ten people by their faces, which it stores as digital images. It can also be programmed to sing by inputting music and lyrics.

Sony is one of several Japanese electronics companies cashing in on the fad for entertainment robots.

Its puppy-shaped Aibo, which costs £1,000, has already sold more than 100,000 worldwide.

However, friendship, even with robots, comes at a price. Sony have not yet revealed how much the SDR-4X will cost but it is expected to be at least £20,000, the same as a luxury car.