The robo conductor

Sony's pint-sized humanoid QRIO robot (which costs as much as luxury car) has been spotted around the world riding the train (pictured at right), greeting international dignitaries, making a cameo in the Astro Boy cartoon, and just generally being an international robot of mystery. The robot's latest escapade has been a guest slot conducting the Tokyo Philarmonic Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. QRIO's next trick? Stealing your girlfriend.