SOUTH west MEP Graham Watson has shaken the hand of the most advanced advanced humanoid robot in the world.

Mr Watson met ASIMO in Brussels and was impressed with the groundbreaking work. Honda engineers developed it as part of ongoing research into cognitive mobility. The robot can imitate human movement.

"The potential benefits to society of humanoid robots are enormous," said Mr Watson. "For example they will give us the ability to use machines for some dangerous or monotonous tasks in the future.

"And by half way through this century the possibility of having a robot in every home may be realised.

"I was pleased to meet ASIMO and shake its hand."