WEB DESK: Japan has been at the forefront of robotics technologies for decades. Through government support and sponsorship of international events such as the 2018 World Robot Summit, Japan’s robotics industry boasts some of the top exporters and users of industrial robots in the world. Japan began developing humanoid robots long before other countries entered the field.
But one unique aspect of robots in Japan is how they are seen as viable partners and friends for human beings. One recently launched robot that perfectly embodies that aspiration is Lovot, a pint-sized machine whose only function is to spread love.
Created by Tokyo startup Groove X, LOVOT is a remarkably lifelike and highly sophisticated mobile robot that can navigate its environment, recognize people and demand hugs. With looks that are a mix of penguin, owl, and cuddly teddy bear, LOVOT is hard to ignore. When you pick it up, LOVOT feels warm, like a living thing. If you rock LOVOT in your arms, it will close its eyes and enter a sleep-like state.
LOVOT may not be able to do much in a practical sense, such as cleaning up your home, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a cutting edge piece of technology. Standing 43 cm tall and weighing 3 kilograms, LOVOT is about the size of a big baby, but is still very easy to pick up. It has 13 degrees of freedom, meaning parts of its body can move along 13 axes of motion.
A full battery charge allows it to move around and interact for about 45 minutes, whereupon it will automatically dock with its “Nest” power unit and recharge, which takes about 15 minutes.
