Robots that can turn on video recorders and take digital photographs of pets while their owners are away will hit Japanese stores this week.

The white and blue 16cm robots, with the catchy name FII-RII, will go on sale tomorrow.

The robots are a collaboration between NTT West, toymaker Takara and two subsidiaries of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation.

A Takara spokesman explained in a press release that people should not expect a robot that looks like a human being.

"Other Japanese companies are putting an emphasis on humanoid or entertainment robots, but the FII-RII has a completely different concept which is aimed at helping people's daily life," he said.

"We believe that the launch of our robot will be a first step to mapping out an idea of life with robots in the future."

The machine comes connected to a personal computer, and can turn gadgets on and off using an infrared sensor.

It can be controlled using a mobile phone and is fitted with a digital camera to send pictures to absent owners.