Robot, another drink please...

TOKYO: They'll pour you a cold one and then serve it up in style.

A Japanese university has developed two humanoid bartender and waiter robots who can also wash dishes -- sort of.

The two robots, named HRP-2 NO.7 and NO.8, work as a pair to serve drinks and then collect the empty glasses. They are also designed to open a faucet and place objects beneath it.

The pair take their chores very seriously, but the results aren't always perfect -- the robots often spill liquids and have to wear waterproof kitchen mitts to protect their hands.

Engineers at Tokyo University say they plan on programming the robots so they can eventually put away dishes left on a dining table, move clothes from a basket to a washing machine and then folding away the laundry.

"For double-income couples, this can be a blessing because he'll finish your house chores while you are at work," said professor Masayuki Inaba, leader of the project.

Inaba said it currently costs nearly 50 million yen ($425,500) to build a robot but he hopes costs will be significantly reduced within 10 years.

We can't wait.