We currently attend a harsh struggle between asian companies and research centers that all want to show their own interpretation of a humanoïd. Fight! :

- Sony has already presented Qrio, the first robot that runs. He is able to speak, answer with emotion thanks to seven mikes, run, and stand up when fallen.
http://www.plyojump.com/qrio.html
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/QRIO/technology/

- Fujitsu has just lauch its brand new... robot Fujitsu! This is a commercial robot aimed at helping administration employees. He can recognize face thanks to a nex 3D visual device (using 2 cameras), do fluid movement with his arms (thanks to a dedicated software developped so as to imitate vertebrates nerves system), recognize the source of a noise (using multiple mikes)
http://www.vieartificielle.com/index.php?action=nouvelle&id_nouvelle=735

- the KIST (Korean Institute of Science and technology) has also affered a show to thousands of koreans with NBH-1. Its most astonnished point is that he can learn very quickly gestures if we show him how to do ; he can also recocgnize voices and faces, measure its power when shaking hands.
http://www.vieartificielle.com/index.php?action=nouvelle&id_nouvelle=781

- the KIST (Korean Institute of Science and technology) has presented a real challenger to Asimo, Hubo. He is very similar to he japan cousin, althought much less expensive! 1 millions £ for Hobo, vs 3 millions for Asimo....
http://www.vieartificielle.com/index.php?action=nouvelle&id_nouvelle=797

- Honda replies to these attacks with Asimo. As Qrio, he can run (without falling...) at 3 km/h, and has advanced feeling management : he can walk beside somebody and measure its power when he shakes hands.
http://www.vieartificielle.com/index.php?action=nouvelle&id_nouvelle=772

- Eventually, Hitachi has created Pal and Chum, two robots without legs, but two wheels as of they were installed on a segway. They don't seem to be as well developped as their competitors, but they clearly aimed at being commercial robots. Thier main task, within six years, will be to help old people at home.
http://www.vieartificielle.com/nouvelle/?id_nouvelle=852

So, it's clear research is oriented on two main issues : feelings, and the stability of robots. Artificial Inteligence is not their first problem ; here, the purpose is simply to duplicate human capabilities so that a machine can do the same thing as us. It is a very technical point, not at all a software problem. In this perspective, all these mechanic human are paramount : we have to realize that it's the begining of the long walk that will lead humanity to be cyborg! Without these research, I couldn't imagine being a cyborg.... Although that's not all, since we have also to link the brain to articial members. But, here to, the research goes on, and... let's say, within 30 years, sufficient scientifical and technological overhang will be done so that disable people can benefit artificial members and make full use of them.

All these robots is alos a good means to measure to sound out the dramatic difference that separate occidental countries and asian (especially japan an koreans) one : while we are barely aware of this fundamental change that will soon unfurle, robots are over there already accepted as an unescapable issue! There are no doubt we (poeple of occident countries) are accumulating huge delay....