Japanese robots step closer to market

The Japanese determination to develop commercial, humanoid robots for the home is pressing onward. The two most visible front runners in the robot race, Honda and Sony, will not give an estimated date for commercialization but it is clear that such is the final goal. Sony's VP in charge of the company's Digital Creatures Laboratory said, "The 1990s was the era of the PC and the Internet. The first decade of the 21st century will be dominated by robots."

Last week, both companies revealed details about their latest fully bipedal robots. Sony's was able to choose between two balls of different colors and kick the correct one into a goal. Carmaker Honda's robot climbs stairs and turns doorknobs.

For more information, read msnbc.com and idg.net.