DHAKA: A pint-sized android has uttered the first robotic words in space, showcasing Japan`s drive to combine cutting-edge technology with cuteness.

The wide-eyed and bootie-wearing ‘Kirobo’, roughly the size of a Chihuahua, broadcast a message from inside the International Space Station, greeting citizens of Earth and paying cheeky tribute to Neil Armstrong.

‘On August 21, 2013, a robot took one small step toward a brighter future for all,’ Kirobo said in a video that showed the humanoid creation drifting weightlessly on-board the ISS, as it moved its legs in the air, reports The Straits Times.

The images made their global debut on Wednesday as part of Tokyo’s bid for the 2020 Games during a presentation ahead of a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Buenos Aires which will decide the host city.

BDST: 1730 HRS, SEPT 05, 2013
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