Students at the Business Breakthrough University in Tokyo controlled human-shaped 'Newme' robots from coronavirus self-isolation, driving the machines up to a professor to collect their degree<br />A university in Japan held a graduation during lockdown with robot avatars controlled by the students from their homes.<br /><br />Staff at Business Breakthrough University in Tokyo decided they would not allow social distancing measures introduced to tackle the coronavirus outbreak to ruin the school's graduation ceremony.<br /><br />The self-isolating students were given the ability to control 'Newme' robots which are tall, vaguely human shaped machines that run on four wheels.<br /><br />At the top of a thin body covered in a graduation gown was a digital tablets beaming out a live-stream of the student's face.<br />President Kenichi Ohmae, reading out the names of young men and women as they trundle up along the stage.<br /><br />In another photo he can be seen proudly standing between two freshly graduated students perched on top of their temporary robot bodies.<br /><br />The ceremony was held for only four graduating students in order to avoid a "large gathering" of sorts during the current outbreak, according to BBT's press release.<br />Nevertheless, university staff and an entourage of media were still present during the ceremony.<br /><br />"I think this is truly a novel experience to receive a certificate in a public area while I am in a private space," said Kazuki Tamura via his avatar when receiving his master's degree diploma.<br />The university said it hopes the innovative approach would become a model for schools across the country looking to avoid mass gatherings.<br />As confirmed coronavirus cases across Japan continued to climb this week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency for the capital Tokyo and six other prefectures for a period of about one month.<br /><br />There are now 4,667 cases of the coronavirus in the country and 94 people who have died from Covid-19.<br /><br />
