Waseda University and tmsuk, Japan, are showing off the "WL-16RII" , a new 2 foot robot to assist people in climbing up and down stairways. The robot presented in Fukuoka will go on sale in 2010. In the demonstration "WL-16RII" succeeded in the stairway ascent and descent of height 20 centimeters. Sensors (not on board) inspect the height and width , etc., of the stairway and programs movement beforehand allowing for safe ascent and descent. In the future using RFID chips on stairways, information can be passed to the WL-16RII allowing it to walk freely in town. Read More (Japan)