A robot to join your family this holiday season
IF you’re looking for a pet, someone to help you organise your life, or just an extra hand around the house, here are some home robots with the skills and disposition to be the next addition to your family, just in time for the holidays.
As machines are increasingly designed to be socially and emotionally intelligent, it’s likely that not only will robots make our lives easier, but also provide us with entertainment and companionship. Here’s a look at some that are already on the market that you can bring home or gift for the holidays.
ROBOTIC HOUND: This is far from what you may see on The Jetsons and is also an emotional upgrade compared to K9, the beloved robot pooch from Doctor Who. Aibo is a pup that truly resembles a reallife dog from its movements, facial expressions, and behaviour. The intelligence this pup is equipped with can learn tricks and even recognise faces — you won’t be able to resist those big, puppy dog eyes that will be able to pick you out from a crowd. This playful pooch by Sony sells for US$2,899.99 (RM12,160).
FRIEND AND HELP: If you’re looking for a robot that can help you organise your life as well as be a companion, Vector by Anki can do it all. This little bot with an expressive set of LED eyes will be excited to serve you when you get home. In fact, it’ll even show disappointment if you don’t provide it with the proper attention when you pass by. For US$249.99, you can have your own helpful little robot that can answer your questions, take your photo, and keep you company.
WISE HUMANOID: Lynx may be one of the most informative home robots you can own right now thanks to its Amazon Alexa integration. This humanoid device does everything the voice assistant can, like setting alarms, answering questions, playing music, and then some, all with a permanent smilew on her face.
She’s 50cm tall and can sing, dance and do yoga with you. Calls can be made, and the audio will come through her little mouth — it will (almost) be like talking to a person. You can order this miniature humanlike robot exclusively on Amazon for US$799.99.