Nur Zarina Othman lists eight ‘sidekicks’ that you will love to have around the house
SMART MOBILITY
Equipped with advanced computer vision, Loomo can follow you autonomously and shoot stabilised video too. Its drag-and-drop interface allows it to be easily programmed for new tricks. You can update its software and applications to add new features. The self-balancing two-wheeled vehicle transforms between being a scooter and robot. When used for riding, it can reach up to 30 kilometres on a full charge. When in robot mode, it can operate continuously for approximately 8-10 hours.
Price: RM8,500 at Ninebotmalaysia.com.my
THE STORYTELLER
The Mitu robot looks like any rabbit toy but with an enormous library of children’s stories. All you have to do is choose the stories you like and download them into Mitu. The robot can be used to read bedtime stories. With its built-in white noise, Mitu can calm children and help put them to sleep.
Price: RM160 at Shopee.com
YOUR IRON BUDDY
Vectoris more than just a home robot — he is your buddy. He can make you laugh, scan the room, tell the weather, take perfect selfies and even cook dinner. With built-in utility and optional integration with Amazon Alexa, Vector has an endless amount of skills. Powered by a Qualcomm 200 Platform, the robot is equipped with 120-degree ultra-wide FOV HD camera, an array of four-microphones, infrared laser scanner, six-axis IMU, high-resolution colour IPS display, and WiFi connection.
Price: RM1,239 at Shopee.com
VOICE COMMAND ENABLED
JJRC R4, a multifunctional voice-activated intelligent RC robot, is made of ABS/PS material, eco-friendly and non-toxic. There are three operating modes: remote, touch play and voice control. Its other interesting functions include voice recording and alerts. It also boasts some knowledge on finance as well! The robot features built-in colorful RGB eye lights and colour-changing ear lights. It is also programmable and able to move on its own, such as going forward, backward, turn left, right, and slide functions.
Price: RM97.80 at Shopee.com.my
ENTERTAINMENT COMPANION
Entertain or compete with your peers with the first humanoid robot designed for families. The Alpha 1S is the first entertainment humanoid robot that can be connected to your PC via Bluetooth 4.0. It also supports Android and iOS devices. With its UBTECH Robotics software, you can make your humanoid do yoga demonstrations, exercise moves, and download songs too.
Price: RM2,495 at Shopee.com
SET IT AND JUST SIT BACK
Automower will give you a carpet-like lawn by maintaining your grass rather than mowing it. The Automower 115H by Husqvarna Professional cuts just a little grass at a time, naturally fertilising the soil with miniscule clippings. As a result, your grass always looks neat, green and healthy. Featuring smart technology and an intuitive interface, the Automower is the world’s most capable robotic mower and thanks to being weather resistant, it works in the rain too. Download the Automower Connect@HOME app and you can easily adjust the settings of the robot from your smartphone.
Price: US$1599.99 (RM6,626) at Amazon.com
REACT TO YOUR MOODS
Making you happy is Lovot’s main objective. By just touching, embracing or even watching it, you’ll find yourself relaxed, thanks to its Emotional Robotics technology, created to evoke positive feelings in people. Lovot will react to your moods and do all it can to fill you with joy.
Price: US$5,500 (RM22,778) at Lovot.com
SAFETY ROBOT
Even though your home lights are off, you can see what’s happening around your house with its built-in IR LED night vision. The Appbot Riley is a safety robot that offers live camera control through an app. So what the robot sees, you can see too. Complete with motion detection and face recognition capability, it is also equipped with two-way audio, allowing you to hear and give commands to your pet.
Price: US$169.95 (RM704) at Amazon.com
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