China has manufactured its first personal robot that can live at home as a partner.

"Liangliang," an argenteous robot about 80 centimeters tall, is able to walk and navigate through obstacles at ease, as well as performing duties as instructed by humans.

"Liangliang, turn right." "OK, I am turning right." And so did he in a recent debut in Shenyang.

Its developer, the Shenyang-based Xinsong Automation Company affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the personal robot is able to provide services of education, entertainment and security and as a personal assistant.

In the presentation debut, a staff sent a mobile phone short message to the robot inquiring about the situations at home and, in two minutes Liangliang replied with a message: temperature 22 degrees Celsius and everything normal at home.

The robot can also log on to the Internet and tell its owners the latest news and weather forecasts.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2006)