Japanese Researchers Develop Floating Companion Robot Inspired by Fictional Characters

Published
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RobotToday Industry Briefing RobotToday Industry Briefing graphic: a blueprint-style humanoid robot outline with annotations for perception, actuation and mobility, next to the Industry Briefing wordmark. 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RobotToday Industry Briefing

Researchers at Keio University in Tokyo have created a silent, floating companion robot that mimics the movement of animated creatures. This innovative prototype, inspired by characters like Tinker Bell and Pokémon’s Mew, is designed to be approachable and safe for indoor environments.

The significance of this development lies in its potential to enhance human-robot interaction at home. Unlike traditional drones, this soft floating robot utilizes helium for buoyancy, resulting in quieter operation and lower energy consumption, making it a more natural companion for users.

Looking ahead, the researchers have established a systematic interaction design framework for soft floating robots, which could lead to advancements in mobility and human interaction. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.

Original report

Video: Floating robot inspired by Tinker Bell and Mew reimagines home companionship

InterestingEngineering.com · Jijo Malayil
Read at InterestingEngineering.com

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