The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, the University of Tokyo and Japanese consulting firm Dentsu are to install a humanlike communications robot at the International Space Station.

The robot can communicate with astronauts, transmit information back to Earth and send Twitter messages.

It will receive instructions from ground control while the astronauts are asleep and then it will convey the information to them when they wake up.

The robot can also analyse stress levels based on the astronauts facial colouring and their expressions while talking.

The robot, which can also make decisions on its own is likely to be launched in 2013.