Every child's dream of having a conversation with a Lego robot is now a possibility.

A project between Canterbury University and Japan's Osaka University's created The Robot Engine - animation technology enabling a robot to interact with people.

Working with New Zealand's HIT Lab, they've created a conversation function for the robot, allowing it to follow a script and talk to humans.

If the robot's thrown a curve ball, it can use an online database to answer off-script questions.

It's believed the new technology will continue to advance robot interaction projects.

It will be presented at an international symposium later this year.