• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, September 5, 2013

In a nod to first-man-on-the-moon Neil Armstrong, Tokyo-based agency holding company Dentsu programmed its robot Kirobo to paraphrase his most epic quote when he (or she?) spoke its first words by a robot in outer space -- that we know of.

“A robot took one small step toward a brighter future for all,” Kirbo said, in an homage to Armstrong’s, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” quip when he stepped on the moon for the first time.

Unlike Armstrong’s words, which were broadcast live worldwide -- actually, solar system wide -- Kirbo’s comment was made on Aug. 21st, but Dentsu just announced it today.

Kirobo and Mirata were two robots built by scientists and engineers at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, as part of Dentsu’s and Toyota Motor Corp.’s Kibo Robot Project. Kirobo apparently had the right stuff, and was the one chosen to go into space as part of a public relations stunt to promote robotics.