轻松英语阅读：机器人技术的突破

A small step for a man, but a really big one for tiny robots. Meet Kirobo , the Japanese robot astronaut. Kirobo was created in a joint effort by the University of Tokyo and the Japanese Robotics Company, RoboGarage. The little humanoid robot was designed to function in space and has the ability to have a conversation . That means it will be able to communicate easily with crewmates 　in space and the ground crew back on earth .

Kirobo will join the International Space Station sometime in early August. The robot measures a little over one foot and weighs just 2.2 pounds . He will take the trip into space with the Japanese astronaut, Koichi Wakata. Make sure to follow Kirobo on tweeter , as he will be tweeting back to earth during his stay in space .