Meet Kirobo, Toyota's Robot That's Headed for the International Space Station

The automaker built the little machine to take part in the world's first "human-robot conversation experiment" in space. Kirobo will launch from the Tanegashima Space Center and meet up with the International Space Station, where it will chat with Commander Koichi Wakata. Now, we aren't entirely sure why this experiment needs to take place in zero gravity, but far be it from us to stand between robots and science.

Of course, it's hard to mention robots and outer space without thinking of the Honda ASIMO and the machine's space suit aesthetics. General Motors has also sent a robot of its own into orbit. The company's Robonaut 2 was designed to help astronauts out during space walks. Sure, that's handy but can it warm their souls like Kirobo? We think not. Check out the video below.