A humanoid robot named “Robi” sits during a promotional event for the launch of a weekly Robi Magazine in Tokyo, Japan, 20 January 2015. Created by roboticist Tomotaka Takahashi, the 34-centimeter tall humanoid robot can recognize and respond to more than 200 words and phrases, walk and dance. Parts of the robot will be put on sale in a weekly magazine to be fully assembled with 70 issues. (Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA)

Masaaki Nagumo controls the Land Walker robot at Sakakibara Kikai Co., Ltd Headquarters on May 12, 2005 in Maebashi, Japan. The two legged robot stands at 3.4 metres high and weighs 1000kg. The Land Walker is available to buy for 36,000,000 yen (approximately US $340,000). Masaaki Nagumo developed Land Walker on the basis of the dream he has had in his childhood that enables a person to go on. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

A humanoid dental patient robot, named Hanako Showa, about to be used during a demonstration of dental treatment at Showa University on March 25, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. The robot was co-developed by the university and tmsuk co. Ltd, and simulates real human patients. The robot has been used for training of procedures in which the dental treatment requires a high level of precision. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Bikini-clad women sit as they operate a 3.6 metre-high custom-made female robot at the “Robot Restaurant” in Kabukicho, one of Tokyo's best known red light districts, August 15, 2012. (Photo by Tokyo Scum Brigade)

A performer practices her mermaid swim next to a shark in an aquarium after graduating from a mermaid workshop in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China December 16, 2016. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Passengers wait for a train to depart from the Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, Friday January 13, 2017. Officials expect that Chinese travelers will make almost 3 billion trips during the holiday travel rush that starts runs through Feb. 21. These trips include intercity flights, trains and local bus rides to villages for China's 1.4 billion people. (Photo by Chinatopix via AP Photo)

Tao Xiangli gets out of his homemade submarine after operating it in a lake on the outskirts of Beijing September 3, 2009. Amateur inventor Tao, 34, made a fully functional submarine, which has a periscope, depth control tanks, electric motors, manometer, and two propellers, from old oil barrels and tools which he bought at a second-hand market. He took 2 years to invent and test the submarine which costs 30,000 yuan ($4,385). (Photo by Christina Hu/Reuters)

Labourers who work nearby nap on a road as cars drive past in Chongqing Municipality, July 23, 2013. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)