Honda may be fizzing with excitement at the release of their new hopping, beer-pouring robot Asimo. But cyber sidekick aficionados know that we've had useful robot counterparts for years. Well, in the film world at least.
He might not be able to hop, or pour a drink, but Doctor Who's K-9 can shoot a lazer out of his nose. Can Asimo do that? Doubtful.
C3-PO is classic cyber sidekick material. The golden gent of a translator droid is especially useful when conversing with mumbling sandpeople or imperious Huts. In real life you could use him in the regional supermarkets of deep dark Yorkshire when looking for your gluten-free goodies, or translating text talk to old people and full-length sentences to the youth.
Which of these bots is your favourite sidekick?