The robot, dubbed MARON-1, can take pictures and relay them to the owner's cell phone screen and be used as a voice-activated telephone.

It also can operate appliances such as televisions and air conditioners through infrared remote controls, according to Fujitsu Laboratories, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Fujitsu Ltd. 6702.T

Measuring about one cubic foot, the robot travels on wheels and has a rotating arm, two cameras, a touchpad, an LCD monitor and runs on Microsoft Corp.'s MSFT.O WinCE 3.0 operating system, Fujitsu said.

The company will release more details at the Japan Robot Conference, which opens Oct. 12 at Osaka University.

"It is expected that robots will increasingly be used in personal applications and in the future will come to help out around the house as a part of people's everyday lives," Fujitsu said in a statement.