Now Skynet can just launch the missiles from Moon Base 10101100

People have spent many years and vast sums of money on developing bipedal robots, and they *still* such. They have absolutely no benefit, aside from looking vaguely human shaped, and thats hardly a worthy design goal for a robot which is actually intended to get out there and do something useful.

"A government task force charged with plotting Japan's future space development said it wants a two-legged robot strolling on luna firma by the end of the next decade."

"The drafted five-year plan ..."

Ahem. A five year plan would take them to 2014, not 2020. I think now we see why they've completely stuffed up their economy and never did take over the world - basic maths problems!

I mean, sure they look fabulous in anime, but lunar exploration?

<Kawasaki RV-1 has landed! Japan is on the moon! We are getting first pictures now!>

- image of lunar horizon, rapid disappearing up out of frame, then extreme close-up of dust -

<Kawasaki RV-1 has, ah... fallen over.>

- rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb* -

<Now lanunching Kawasaki RV-2 to help RV-1 up...>

* or Japanese equivalent for muttering noises.

--Jesus Ch.... It's a Lion quick Honey get in the Car!!

Get me a couple of chop-shop guys, a couple of hydraulic guys, and one of their nerd brothers out of East LA and I'll give 'em a transformer in 2 months.

In answer to your question, it's because people like things to look human - not to mention it is technically challenging (balance etc).

Of course, when our cybernetic overlord, Skynet, takes over, it'll be controlling the designs for future robots, so more varied designs would follow. With phased plasma rifles in the 40MW range.

And have ASIMO ride him around.

Probably the coolest mental image i've had in a while.

And I welcome our locally built cylon overlords.

Paris cos she knows 6

What do you use that for?