Japanese researchers have developed a humanoid robot that can laugh and smile as it mimics a person’s facial expressions.
By receiving electric signals from the person it is modelled on, the robot can move its rubber facial skin to imitate expressions like a smile, a laugh and a grim look.
The robot called Aiko Chihira dressed in a Kimono, greets shoppers at the entrance of Tokyo’s Mitsukoshi department store.
Chihira, currently not programed to respond to customer complaints or questions, is not the only robot to work in retail.
Last year, Nestle said it would enlist SoftBank Corp’s humanoid robots, Pepper, to help sell its coffee makers at home appliances stores across Japan.