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"We used androids in sessions with children suffering from ASD (autism spectrum disorder)," says Yoshio Matsumoto, research leader in service robots at AIST. "Of 85 subjects, four said they thought the robots were scary."

Ishiguro foresees that just as younger people today are attached to their mobile phones - in reality powerful computers that mediate much of their lives - androids will one day become an indivisible part of our landscape.

"Everyone is going to have an android," he predicts. "Handicapped people need another body. We are going to have more choices."

He also believes the floodgates to deepening relationships with robots will open once Pepper goes on sale and people take "him" into their hearts.

But, he says, that is where the moral problems will arise.

"As we become closer to androids, we could hesitate to pull the switch," he says.

"Suppose you lost your daughter in a traffic accident, and I create her android. You will probably love the android, and accept it as a human.

"Suppose someone burgles your house and you kill them to protect the robot. What kind of discussion will the lawyers have in court?"