NEC crafts a robotic helpmeet from PC parts 
By Yoshiko Hara 
EE Times - March 26, 2001 - Page 1

TOKYO - Researchers at NEC Corp. are giving new form to relatively mature PC
technologies in the person of Papero, a "partner personal robot" that follows
in the footsteps of Honda's Asimo and the pawprints of Sony's Aibo. While
Asimo mastered bipedal locomotion and Aibo approximates the companionship of
a family pet without the attendant carpet stains, Papero's creators are
focusing on the human-machine interface, honing the experimental robot's
sensing, recognition and communications skills to position the 15-inch-tall
mobile platform as a true personal assistant.  

http://www.eet.com/story/technology/OEG20010323S0024
http://www.nec.co.jp/english/today/newsrel/0103/2103.html
http://www.incx.nec.co.jp/robot/english/index.html