By Adrian Justins
Robots are no longer the realm of science fiction; research by UBS predicts one in 10 homes will have one by 2050. We are on the cusp of the era of walking, talking machines that can perform multiple domestic tasks such as cooking, loading the dishwasher and even serving meals. Others — some in the form of robot animals — have more limited features but can provide companionship, help with education, act as a personal assistant or even play tennis. Here is a selection of robots that are either available now or due on sale soon.
Neura Robotics MiPA personal assistant, €9,999
MiPA is designed to take care of daily chores. It uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to navigate safely, recognise people and avoid obstacles, and you can communicate with it via voice commands, gestures or its built-in touchscreen. It’s customisable, so can adapt to different tasks, from carrying trays and tidying up to helping in the kitchen or supporting those with limited mobility.
Neura also makes what it describes as a “fully cognitive” humanoid biped robot (main image, top) that’s in the pipeline for residential use. The adult-sized 4NE1 costs around €60,000 and aims to move smoothly around the home pouring drinks, doing the ironing or folding laundry. It can recognise and react to voices, detect emotions by interpreting facial expressions and respond to gestures.
Realbotix F-Series, from $125,000
The F-Series robots from Realbotix are designed to look like humans, though some may find them slightly spooky. Available in “male” or “female” models, they move around Dalek-style on a motorised wheeled base, can recognise faces and detect voices and are designed to offer companionship through vocal interaction and facial expressions. They can also perform gestures such as waving, clapping and dancing. The design allows for quick customisation, with interchangeable silicone faces and body panels.
Miko 3, £249
Designed for children, the Miko 3 is an AI-powered robot that turns learning into play, with interactive lessons, stories and games. Its animated face is displayed on a 4.7-inch screen, which is also used for showing images and videos. It uses voice, movement and emotional recognition to encourage children to learn and, the company says, develop critical thinking.
A built-in camera allows parents to monitor or interact with their children from another room or building using two-way video calling. With a subscription it can give access to content from Disney, Paramount, Lingokids and other platforms, plus provide progress reports for parents via an app.
Hengbot Sirius, from $799
Sirius is a robot dog that walks, sits and can understand commands such as “sit down”, “dance for me” and “look around”. It’s designed to act like a real canine — without requiring outdoor comfort breaks. Just like the real thing, Sirius can keep an eye on its owner, moving its head to maintain eye contact. It can’t walk around autonomously or dog a human’s footsteps automatically, but can move via a wireless remote.
Acemate tennis robot, £1,599
Although not remotely human in appearance the Acemate is a mobile, AI-powered tennis training partner designed to play rallies rather than simply feed you tennis balls. It uses dual 4K cameras to track shots and can move at 5 metres per second across the court to catch balls in its net and return them from its spout with varied speed and placement. It can deliver lobs up to about 8 metres high and serve at up to 70mph. Suitable for beginners to advanced amateurs, there’s an app that provides shot data and video analysis. Acemate claims it can return or catch 90 per cent of balls it receives.
Photography: Neura
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