With today's advanced technology, robots are so well designed they could be mistaken for people at first glance.

But scientists led by Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University and Takashi Ikegami of the University of Tokyo are working to raise robotics to a new level by developing one that, despite having a very mechanical appearance, moves as if it has a life of its own.

The researchers are exhibiting the new robot, called Alter, at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Tokyo until Saturday.