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From an eerie-looking android to a smartphone-controlled dinosaur, Japanese companies are out in full force to demonstrate their robotic prowess.

The technology is being shown by exhibitors at Ceatec 2014 in Japan, which is taking place in Chiba, near Tokyo until October 11.

One of the most popular devices is TE Connectivity's dinosaur robot, the TE Saurus, which lets users experience a close encounter with a 6ft 11 (2.1 metre-tall) reptile droid.

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Japan's electronics giant Toshiba unveils the humanoid robot 'Aiko Chihira' which demonstrates sign language at the Ceatec electronics trade show in Chiba, suburban Tokyo

A smartphone application makeS the dinosaur walk or jump, while a shake of the smartphone prompts the TE Saurus to bark.

TE Saurus can also play trivia games as users answer questions through the app.

Another highlight is Omron's three-legged robot, which is capable of playing a relaxed game of ping pong.

It watches its human opponent to predict the ball's path, and can even decide to take it easy on opponents by missing a few hits.

One of the most popular devices is TE Connectivity's dinosaur robot, the TE Saurus, which lets users experience a close encounter with a 6ft 11 (2.1 metre-tall) reptile droid

Another highlight is Omron's three-legged robot which is capable of playing a relaxed ping pong playmate. It watches its human opponent to predict the ball's path

Tiny self-balancing robot cheerleaders unveiled in Japan

With five motors to control paddle movement, it is programmed to serve the ball in a way that makes it easy for the player to return.

'This ping pong robot is really a demonstration of how a robot can interact with a person and react in an appropriate manner,' said Takuya Tsuyuguchi, an Omron manager.

'We envision this robot perhaps being used in a factory or production line and having a role in which it would have to interact with a worker to do or build something.

'This would involve the robot understanding the needs of its human counterpart and behaving appropriately.'

Toshiba also demonstrated its life-like communications android named Ms Aiko Chihira. 

Ms Chihira uses sign language to introduce itself to humans.

Toshiba describes the eerie android, which has blinking eyes and a fixed smile, as having the appearance of 'a friendly young woman.'

At present, the android can mimic only simple movements, such as exchanging greetings and signing in Japanese.

But the company soon hopes to integrate its technologies in areas including sensing, speech synthesis, speech recognition and robotic control to create a more social robot by 2020.

The goal is to design a companion for the elderly and people with dementia, to offer telecounselling in natural speech, communicate through sign language, and allow healthcare to keep an eye on elderly people.

Meanwhile a group of 14-inch (36cm) tall cheerleader robots showcased their flawless choreography. 

Murata manufacturing, an electronic component manufacturer, presented the cheerleaders with colour-changing pom-poms that use gyroscopic sensors to roll on spherical bases in unison without losing their balance.

'These robots use our proprietary balancing technology combined with technology that prevents, in real time, the robots from clashing together,' said Tomoyuki Mori, a Murata engineer.

With five motors to control paddle movement, the ping-poing robot is programmed to serve the ball in a way that makes it easy for the player to return.

A group of 14-inch (36cm) tall cheerleader robots showcased their flawless choreography.Murata manufacturing, an electronic component manufacturer, presented the cheerleaders with colour-changing pom-poms that use gyroscopic sensors to roll on spherical bases in unison without losing their balance

Toshiba describes the eerie android, which has blinking eyes and a fixed smile, as having the appearance of 'a friendly young woman'. At present, the android can mimic only simple movements, such as exchanging greetings and signing in Japanese

Two large replicas of the famous statue Manneken Pis, standing on the engine space of a model of a F1 machine, to display an explanation of fuel cell systems at Japanese automaker Honda's booth at Ceatec

'It also uses technology that coordinates the movement of all the robots together in a synchronised manner.'

Instead of wheels, the cheerleading robots balance on a removable ball, which rolls in its housing to help the machines dance and move.

They remain upright due to three advanced gyro sensors, which incorporate inverted-pendulum control technology, to detect tilt angles.

Similar gyro sensors are commonly used in digital cameras, car navigation systems, and more recently, the electronic stability control (ESC) systems that prevent cars from skidding.

Each robot is equipped with four infrared sensors, and five ultrasonic microphones to detect surrounding objects, even in the dark.

And, based on the differing speeds of sound and light waves, this system determines the relative positions of the robots within a 172 square ft (16 metre square) space.

Over 500 companies and organisations are exhibiting at Ceatec Japan, which will be held until October 11 in Chiba, east of Tokyo.

A model displays Japanese mobile communication giant NTT Docomo's mobile navigation device 'Yubi Navi' (Finger Navigator) which uses tactile sensations to guide the user at the Ceatec electronics trade show