According to Yahoo!News:
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said robotics will be a core business for the company in coming years. Toyota will test out its robots at hospitals, Toyota-related facilities and other places starting next year, he said. And the company hopes to put what it calls "partner robots" to real use by 2010, he said.
Toyota think that this technology puts to practical uses, not only robotics but also healing of human who suffers for him social position.
Yahoo!News:Toyota calls robotics a key business