Hi, Robot: Japan’s android pets ease virus isolation

By Harumi OZAWA

Robotics
Friday, 26 Feb 2021
1:30 PM MYT

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Hamaura talking with communication robot Charlie in her apartment in Tokyo. Smart home assistants like Amazon’s Alexa have found success worldwide, but tech firms in Japan are reporting huge demand for more humanlike alternatives, as people seek solace during virus isolation. — AFP

TOKYO: Nami Hamaura says she feels less lonely working from home thanks to her singing companion Charlie, one of a new generation of cute and clever Japanese robots whose sales are booming in the pandemic.

Smart home assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa have found success worldwide, but tech firms in Japan are reporting huge demand for more humanlike alternatives, as people seek solace during coronavirus isolation.

Hamaura talking with communication robot Charlie in her apartment in Tokyo. Smart home assistants like Amazon’s Alexa have found success worldwide, but tech firms in Japan are reporting huge demand for more humanlike alternatives, as people seek solace during virus isolation. — AFP

Hamaura posing for a photo with Charlie in her apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Diners interacting with robots Lovot in a cafe in Kawasaki. — AFP

A diner holding a Lovot robot in a cafe in Kawasaki. — AFP

Robot Charlie in Hamaura's apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Hamaura talking with communication robot Charlie in her apartment in Tokyo. She is a pre-launch test customer for Charlie, which Yamaha plans to release later this year. — AFP

Charlie, a mug-sized robot with a round head, red nose and flashing bow-tie, converses with its owner in song. — AFP

Charlie and Robohon are part of a new wave of robot companions pioneered by firms such as Sony with its robot dog Aibo, on sale since 1999, and SoftBank’s friendly Pepper, which hit shelves in 2015. — AFP

A robot Lovot is pictured in a cafe in Kawasaki. The makers of Lovot – a robot the size of a small toddler, with big round eyes and penguin-like wings that flutter up and down – think everyone can benefit from a bot that just wants to be loved. — AFP

Robots Bocco emo (front & middle) and Bocco (back) are pictured in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

Aoki, CEO of Yukai Engineering, talking with the robot Bocco emo in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

Robotic cushions Qoobo (front) and petit Qoobo (back) are fluffy pillows with a mechanical tail that wiggles like a real pet. — AFP

A robot Bocco is pictured in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

Akito Takahashi (right) and his mother Kaori Takahashi (left) playing with a handmade robot kit at their apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Akito Takahashi playing with a handmade robot kit at his apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Robotic cushion petit Qoobo (left) and robot Bocco emo (right) in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

Topic:

Robotics Japan Covid-19 Watch Children Seniors Technology

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Hi, Robot: Japan’s android pets ease virus isolation

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Hamaura talking with communication robot Charlie in her apartment in Tokyo. Smart home assistants like Amazon’s Alexa have found success worldwide, but tech firms in Japan are reporting huge demand for more humanlike alternatives, as people seek solace during virus isolation. — AFP

Hamaura posing for a photo with Charlie in her apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Diners interacting with robots Lovot in a cafe in Kawasaki. — AFP

A diner holding a Lovot robot in a cafe in Kawasaki. — AFP

Robot Charlie in Hamaura's apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Hamaura talking with communication robot Charlie in her apartment in Tokyo. She is a pre-launch test customer for Charlie, which Yamaha plans to release later this year. — AFP

Charlie, a mug-sized robot with a round head, red nose and flashing bow-tie, converses with its owner in song. — AFP

Charlie and Robohon are part of a new wave of robot companions pioneered by firms such as Sony with its robot dog Aibo, on sale since 1999, and SoftBank’s friendly Pepper, which hit shelves in 2015. — AFP

A robot Lovot is pictured in a cafe in Kawasaki. The makers of Lovot – a robot the size of a small toddler, with big round eyes and penguin-like wings that flutter up and down – think everyone can benefit from a bot that just wants to be loved. — AFP

Robots Bocco emo (front & middle) and Bocco (back) are pictured in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

Aoki, CEO of Yukai Engineering, talking with the robot Bocco emo in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

Robotic cushions Qoobo (front) and petit Qoobo (back) are fluffy pillows with a mechanical tail that wiggles like a real pet. — AFP

A robot Bocco is pictured in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

Akito Takahashi (right) and his mother Kaori Takahashi (left) playing with a handmade robot kit at their apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Akito Takahashi playing with a handmade robot kit at his apartment in Tokyo. — AFP

Robotic cushion petit Qoobo (left) and robot Bocco emo (right) in a studio in Tokyo. — AFP

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