Robodog goes for his first public 'walkies' this week, with his British master saying the world's biggest four-legged automaton will scare off smaller robo-puppies from Japan.

As tall as a grown labrador, the artificial dog can climb over obstacles, play football, do handstands and even move like a crab. It is strong enough to raise himself off the ground with a five-year-old child on his back, its inventor claims.

The company that is holding the leash is Roboscience, set up by inventor Nick Wirth to develop the dog in just seven months with a six-figure sum he and a partner put up.

The unromantically named RS-01 can also guard its patch in the absence of its master, who can log onto the Web and monitor his home through the Webcam in the dog's eyes.

The prototype pet can see in colour, read out emails using a permanent wireless Internet connection and respond to dozens of spoken or shouted commands, preferably from his master's voice.

A litter is planned, with Robodog's handmade offspring expected to sell for upwards of US$21,500 a time, but inventor Nick Wirth said its main purpose is to prove he has made a breakthrough in design of a new generation of robots.

The former Benetton team Formula One designer says his computer on legs is bounds ahead of the electronic pet dogs sweeping Japan, led by Sony's Aibo, which he says are clever toys, but not serious robots.

He said the key was making the dog far lighter so the robot could be bigger than any before, as well as linking it to the Net using the Windows operating system.

"Our environment is adapted to us as humans and legged body-forms are the best," Wirth told Reuters.

"Wheeled or tracked robots are okay, but people aren't going to be happy with tank-like vehicles driving round their houses, not least because they'll damage the carpet."

Size matters

The RS-01 is made of kevlar and carbon fibre, materials used for racing cars which are light, strong, but very hard to work with. It has sophisticated motor and balancing capabilities.

He weighs only 12 kg, about a third as much as it would using traditional technologies. That makes the dog safer and, crucially, far less power-hungry, so it can play or work for 90 minutes between feedings from the mains supply.

The robot has taken the form of a dog because many people are used to having one round the house. "We didn't want to intimidate people," Wirth said.

Robodog can be put on "autonomous" mode or controlled remotely via the Internet.

It is 82 cm long, 67 cm tall and 37 cm wide and looks too mean to be a cutie like pint-sized Aibo, whose doting owners even take them to play in the office.

Aibo was launched two years ago, costing initially some US$2,500. Nearly 100,000 have been sold and hounds like Poo-chi and Max have jumped on the bandwagon.

Robodogs will be custom-made and may soon also learn to recognise their master's face and speak in a more pleasant voice than their father's gruff robotic tones. Roboscience plans to develop new robots - with a second project to be unveiled this year - and license technologies to others.

"Potential applications are in domestic robots, special effects, industrial robotics and high risk commercial and military environments," it said - adding that dogs in space were also on the cards.

"Comparable robots have taken several years, dozens of development engineers and tens (even hundreds) of millions of dollars to develop with no commercial product yet available."

Robodog may have tough work ahead of him and his bite is far worse than his bark, though that's not saying much.

"He can't bark yet, it hasn't been one of our priorities, though we can program that into the next ones easily if it's required," said Wirth. "But he can say woof."

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