A 'pretty woman' robo walks the ramp

Japanese scientists have made a robot in an elaborate wedding dress walk down the runway at an Osaka fashion show, a development seen as a major advance in humanoid technology.

Developed by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, the "pretty woman" in an elaborate wedding dress took part in the fashion show earlier this week.

Though encumbered by the dress, HRP-4C female robot easily navigated the ten metre runway at the fashion show.

Kazuhito Yokoi, who created HRP-4C robot, expressed the feelings of many when he said "Like the father of a bride, I feel both happy and sad."

The female humanoid robot stands just five feet two inches tall and weighs a mere 95 pounds - batteries included. The robot has highly realistic facial features, and is able to use facial motions and arm movements to indicate basic emotions, such as anger and surprise, the Live Science reported.

Science fiction writer Fritz Lieber foresaw this development.

"Streamlined, smooth-working, absolutely noiseless, breath-takingly realistic. Each one is powered by thirty-seven midget electric motors, all completely noiseless, and is controlled by instructions, recorded on magnetic tape, which are triggered off by the sound of your voice and no one else's," he wrote in his 1954 short story Mechanical Bride.