A Motion-Activated Neon Sign Disrupts Cats' Toilet Time Experience
Original from TheVerge.com: I ruined my cats’ toilet time with a motion-activated neon litter box sign

A Motion-Activated Neon Sign Disrupts Cats' Toilet Time Experience

A new neon sign has been installed in the home of two cats, Noodle and Loaf, which activates whenever they use their litter box. This quirky addition, suggested by the author's partner, was intended as a humorous touch but has led to unexpected distractions.

The motion-activated sign, powered by a USB sensor, was added after the couple's water fountain also utilized a similar technology. While the fountain works well, the sign has created some challenges, including reflections on the TV and accidental triggers when the sensor is misaligned.

Despite the disruptions, Noodle and Loaf continue to use their litter box without issue. The author reflects on the oddity of having a neon sign illuminate during bathroom breaks, highlighting the humorous yet intrusive nature of this technological addition. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.

Editor's Note

The integration of technology into pet care continues to evolve, with innovations like motion-activated devices enhancing convenience. However, as seen with the neon sign, such advancements can lead to unintended consequences. Pet owners should consider the balance between tech and comfort for their pets.

RobotToday Initiative

Robotics needs a service framework.

RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.

Share

Related Articles/News

Kollmorgen to Present on Humanoid Motion Challenges at RoboBusiness 2023

Kollmorgen to Present on Humanoid Motion Challenges at RoboBusiness 2023

Kollmorgen will address the challenges of transitioning humanoid robot prototypes to scalable products at RoboBusiness 2023. Yoshi Umeno, the global director of business development for robotics at Kollmorgen, will present a session titled 'A Joint-by-Joint Guide to Humanoid Motion' on October 20, focusing on the unique demands of each body zone in humano...

Actuators / Motors / Servos Events Humanoids
Advancements in Humanoid Locomotion Control Explored in Science Robotics

Advancements in Humanoid Locomotion Control Explored in Science Robotics

The article published in Science Robotics discusses the evolution of humanoid locomotion control, highlighting significant advancements in this field. It emphasizes the importance of developing more efficient and adaptable control systems for humanoid robots, which can enhance their functionality in various environments. This evolution is crucial as it ad...

Review
DJI's Challenge to Pentagon Designation Partially Reversed by Appeals Court

DJI's Challenge to Pentagon Designation Partially Reversed by Appeals Court

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has partially reversed a lower court ruling regarding DJI's designation as a 'Chinese military company' by the Department of Defense. In its August 14 decision, the court upheld most of the district court's findings but reversed one aspect, sending the case back for further proceedings. Notably, the ruling do...

DJI Drone News Drone News Feeds
Smart Toilet Robot Transforms Nighttime Care for Elderly Couple

Smart Toilet Robot Transforms Nighttime Care for Elderly Couple

Eighty-six-year-old Mr. Yang and Mrs. Yang recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. As they age, nighttime bathroom trips have become a significant burden for them, especially with Mrs. Yang's mobility issues following surgery. Mr. Yang has been assisting her multiple times a night, disrupting their sleep and leading to discomfort due to accide...

Elderly Care Smart Home Technology Robotics
Study on Cooperative Navigation Methods for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles in Terrain Mapping

Study on Cooperative Navigation Methods for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles in Terrain Mapping

A recent study published in the Journal of Field Robotics explores cooperative navigation methods for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in terrain mapping. The research focuses on enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of AUVs when mapping underwater environments through collaborative navigation techniques. This research is significant as it addresses ...

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Russia Trials PLOT-40 Floating Defense Platform Against Drone Threats to Maritime Bases

Russia Trials PLOT-40 Floating Defense Platform Against Drone Threats to Maritime Bases

Russia is testing the PLOT-40 floating defense platform to safeguard its ports from Ukrainian drone attacks. This platform, resembling a small pillbox, is equipped with an automatic cannon and is a response to the increasing sophistication of unmanned systems in maritime warfare. The significance of the PLOT-40 lies in its potential to enhance the defense...

Military
ROBOTTODAY Weekly August 10 – 14, 2026

ROBOTTODAY Weekly August 10 – 14, 2026

Your weekly robotics briefing: Unitree's IPO is swamped by retail demand, the US puts 100% tariffs on imported drones, LG and Nvidia commit to a 2027 humanoid, and Uber and Pony.ai bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe.

RobotToday Weekly Market and Business News
Ultra Maritime Showcases New Underwater Surveillance System at U.S. Navy's 2026 Exercise

Ultra Maritime Showcases New Underwater Surveillance System at U.S. Navy's 2026 Exercise

Ultra Maritime demonstrated a new underwater surveillance system during the U.S. Navy’s 2026 Lanternfish exercise. The system integrates the Sea Spear passive sonar with the SSQ-125B active sonobuoy to enhance detection capabilities for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). This combination allows for continuous monitoring and precise localization of under...

Military
Unitree Robotics IPO Sees Over 5,000 Times Oversubscription Amid Investor Interest

Unitree Robotics IPO Sees Over 5,000 Times Oversubscription Amid Investor Interest

Unitree Robotics has experienced an oversubscription of more than 5,000 times for its initial public offering, indicating strong investor demand. The Hangzhou-based humanoid robot manufacturer priced its IPO at 150.8 yuan ($22.4) per share, raising approximately $900 million and achieving a valuation of around $9 billion. This overwhelming interest highli...

Financials & Investments Humanoids News
Shenhai Zhiren Secures 500 Million Yuan Funding, Launches SEAgent 1.0 Underwater Robot

Shenhai Zhiren Secures 500 Million Yuan Funding, Launches SEAgent 1.0 Underwater Robot

Shenhai Zhiren, a Guangzhou-based deep-sea robotics company, has successfully raised 500 million yuan in a Series A funding round. New investors include GGV Capital and a fund backed by TotalEnergies, while existing investors such as BYD and Lightspeed China also participated in the round. This funding is significant as it will support the development of ...

Kawasaki Reveals Patented Designs for Corleo, Its Innovative Robotic Horse

Kawasaki Reveals Patented Designs for Corleo, Its Innovative Robotic Horse

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has unveiled a set of patented designs for its robotic horse, Corleo, which integrates hydrogen energy, AI, and biomimetic technology. This project aims to create an unprecedented all-terrain personal mobility tool, replacing traditional wheels with four biomimetic mechanical legs that can independently move and absorb shocks. Th...

Robotic Mobility Hydrogen Energy AI Technology
Inside Saga Robotics: UVC Light vs. Crop Disease

Inside Saga Robotics: UVC Light vs. Crop Disease

Saga Robotics CPO Damian Flynn on the Thorvald platform's UVC treatment system, its jump from UK strawberries to California wine grapes, and why he's “incredibly bullish” on applying automation and robotics into industries “most chaotic environment.”

Agriculture Robots Market and Business News

Related Suppliers

Shanghai Catlink Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd 上海猫力智能科技有限公司

Shanghai-based smart pet technology company developing IoT-connected self-cleaning litter boxes, feeders, and health monitoring devices for cats.

RIEZLER Inspektionssysteme GmbH & Co. KG

German pipeline inspection camera maker founded 1992 in Kempten; push cameras, crawler robots, and RiVision software for pipes DN20-DN2000.

Healthcare & Senior Care Industrial Manufacturing Software & Algorithm Provider

Neofect

US-based digital rehabilitation company offering FDA-cleared robotic gloves and gamified therapy devices for stroke and neurological recovery.

Healthcare & Senior Care Robot Manufacturer Software & Algorithm Provider

Apptronik

Apptronik: Humanoid Robotics for Industry Founded in 2016 as a UT Austin spinout, Apptronik develops general-purpose humanoid robots for human-centric environments. Its flagship platform, Apollo, is a 5'8", 160 lb fully electric robot designed for logistics and manufacturing tasks like material handling and pallet movement. Key Highlights: Capabilities: Features a 55 lb payload capacity, swappable batteries, and force-controlled actuators derived from NASA-related research. Human-Centric Design: Prioritizes safety through compliant motion, visual interfaces, and rounded industrial aesthetics for collaborative work. Intelligence: Partners with Google DeepMind to integrate embodied AI for natural language instructions and multi-step task execution. Strategy: Backed by Mercedes-Benz and GXO, Apptronik focuses on a phased rollout—starting with structured industrial warehouses before expanding into commercial and consumer sectors. By positioning robots as extensions of automation rather than total replacements, Apptronik aims to stabilize supply chains in labor-intensive industries.

Humanoid

Enabot 亿觉科技

Shenzhen-based consumer robotics company making AI-powered mobile companion robots for family monitoring, pet care, and home security.

Perception & Vision

Netzer Precision Motion Sensors Ltd.

Israeli maker of proprietary Electric Encoder capacitive position sensors - contactless, non-magnetic, EMI-immune - for robotics servo drives and defense.

OPTEX Co., Ltd.

Japanese sensor manufacturer producing passive infrared motion sensors for automatic doors and security, plus a dedicated industrial automation sensor.

OpenMV LLC

US maker of open-source MicroPython-powered machine vision cameras, shipping 100k+ units for robotics, drones, and industrial AI vision.

Perception & Vision

LOGICDATA Electronic & Software Entwicklungs GmbH

Austrian mechatronic technology company developing electric linear actuators, control systems, and height-adjustable desk solutions.

Industrial Manufacturing Robot Manufacturer System Integrator

inJoin the RobotToday community on LinkedIn

Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.