Bionic legs, designed to assist people who have to walk up and down stairs a lot or crouch for long periods of time, have been developed by Honda.

It is the latest innovation to come out of Japan which shows off the wackier side of science.

Other odd robots that have been created include robo-footballers - who were pitted against each other in the first ever tournament for machines.

Enthusiasts came from across the country to show off their android skills in a not-particularly-beautiful game.

Robo-shoes are another technology classic, which make a robot turn into a running shoe.

Masahiko Yamazaki, chief of marketing at Takara Tommy said: "We do make products which transform into robots and that is primarily for children. We thought that if we make a toy which can transform into something adults are interested in, they would take interest in our products."

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