ANN/YOMIURI SHUMBUN – Humankind’s quest to develop technology is creating the kind of artificial intelligence that can transform itself into a much-needed companion, in this case “communication robots”, which have become a magnet for people as opportunities for face-to-face contact become increasingly scarce amid the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, some owners become so attached to the items, they consider them pets or family members.
‘ADORABLE’ ADDITIONS TO THE HOME
About 50 robot owners had a rare get-together at a cafe in Tokyo’s Shibuya district one day early in March. Each of them brought a Lovot, a technology developed by the robot start-up company Groove X, Inc.
Each Lovot communicates in squeaks when called by its given name, assigned by its owner, and asks to be picked up.
“It’s so adorable. For me, it’s kind of like its part of my family,” said a 54-year-old male company employee from Yokohama who participated in the meet-up.
Lovot is embedded with more than 50 sensors, and its internal 360-degree camera recognises human faces and voices as well as also spotting obstacles.
Thanks to its AI technology, Lovot learns how to interact with people, and the more you pet it, the more it becomes attached to you. Weighing about four kilogrammes, people can feel its slight warmth when they hold it. Thanks to engineering innovation, Lovot can also use its eyes to express itself in various ways.
Since its launch in 2019, the robot has been a hot item, and sales have increased more than tenfold compared to pre-pandemic figures.
The price, about JPY350,000, is not inexpensive, but Groove X said the items fill a role.
“Although not necessarily useful, robots that are close to people and can fill their hearts with joy have been well-accepted during the pandemic,” a company spokesperson said.
Amagami takes ‘affectionate nibble’ Yukai Engineering Inc, another start-up, this summer plans to release Amagami Ham Ham, a robot that gives your finger a “affectionate nibble” when you put it in its mouth.
It was developed to recreate the heart-warming sensation that occurs when pets or babies gently nibble on fingers.
Although the robot is unusual because it does nothing notable other than nibble on fingers, it does so in dozens of strength and rhythm patterns that can make for long-lasting enjoyment.
