Japan is pretty serious about robotics. If the droids are going to fit in, they probably need to <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/03/02/robot.tea.ap/index.html">learn the Japanese custom of serving tea.</A> Fortunately, researchers at the University of Tokyo are exploring just that.
In a demonstration, a humanoid robot made by Kawada Industries poured tea from a bottle into a cup. Then another robot on wheels delivered the cup of tea in an experimental room that has sensors embedded in the floor and sofa as well as cameras on the ceiling, to simulate life with robot technology.