Toyota's companion robot goes on sale at the end of the year

Toyota has announced that it'll sell people its adorable Kirobo Mini "communication partner robot" from the end of this year. Otherwise, they'll have to wait until 2017 for the weeny'bots, which are designed to sit in your car's cup holders, to reach store shelves across the country. If you're wondering where you've seen this tech before, don't worry, Toyota sent one into space to hang around the ISS a while ago. Kirobo Mini is intended to offer "companionship" to lonely drivers on long journeys, offering "casual conversation" in standard Japanese. The unit will turn its head to whoever is speaking, nod in agreement and even attempt to analyze your emotions with a built-in camera.