Japan's Murata manufacturing has unveiled its latest high-tech robot which is well-balanced enough to ride a unicycle.

The robot called "Murataseiko-chan" (named after the company's Japanese name with young girl suffix) can not only balance when moving back and forth on one wheel but also detect obstacles with its sensor and move toward or around them.

One of the inventors said: "We would like to improve her to be able to move into every direction more freely by adding a cornering function to its wheel."

The company said that the robot was created in response to numerous requests from children to build a playmate for the bicycle-riding robot, Murata boy, which can reach up to speeds of 30 inches per second and balance while proceeding on a thin sloped pathway.

As both robots are almost the same weight the company say Murataseiko-chan is the younger niece of Murata boy on her father's side.

According to the company, the robot is a very shy but active child and her dream is to travel around the world with her uncle, Murata boy.

About 30 children who were invited to the news conference seemed fascinated with this newly developed high-tech robot.

One little boy said: "I want to make this sort of robot someday."

The other boy added: "She is great. She can do many things even though she is a robot."

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