Japanese designers have invented a woman's mechanical hand for lonely bachelors to hold on romantic walks.

A group of engineering researchers from the Gifu University surveyed local men and concluded that "for some people, finding a girlfriend is very difficult''.

This common problem among singletons is what pushed engineers Koshiro Shiraki, Toru Notsumata, Moeka Miki, and Takeru Mushika to create an innovation so single men can still feel the warmth of clasping a partner's hand.

They came up with Osampo Kanojo which literally translates to ''Walk Girlfriend,'' a robot hand made from soft and elastic gel that fits snugly in your hands.

The robot hand aims to recreate the ''the tenderness of a woman’s hand" through its internal pressure sensors located at the palm which squeezes back.

Osampo Kanojo will create a tugging sensation on your arm if you walk too quickly so you will slow down, just like walking with a girlfriend.

It secretes small amounts of moisture in its pores while being held to imitate sweat so it does not feel like you are carrying a piece of plastic around.

The robot can also play sounds through a smartphone's speaker to make the experience feel more real. They include the sound of a woman breathing, clothes rustling, and footsteps as some of the audio options available.

To complete the real girlfriend experience, the hand itself smells like a woman's shampoo.

Koshirou, one of the researchers, said: ''We are hopeful that the robot will bring a lot of happiness to men. They will feel much better. The prototype has had very good feedback and we will continue improving it.''

The robot hand is still on the prototype stage, but the creators are optimistic that they will be able to launch it in the market soon.