Socialization and human interaction are the cornerstones of how we live our lives. The need for companionship is embedded in our DNA, whether we get that fulfillment through human interaction, pets, or other means. It’s no secret that everyone experiences loneliness, but we don’t always want to curb that with real human interaction because sometimes it just requires too much effort.
If you happen to have a boatload of cash available and are in need of a friend, the people at Groove X have the perfect solution for you: the Lovot. These cute little buddies are $6,000 for a pair, which makes them wildly expensive, but also, extremely adorable.
Watching the Lovot roll around and move its sweet little arms is akin to watching puppies drunkenly walk about. These little robots want to be loved and shown attention. They have big baby eyes that look up at whoever is speaking or interacting with them. And they have big personalities.
Artificial companionship is a relatively new concept that many people don’t quite understand. The best example of how this bot could be used is for the elderly. Animals are great companions for the elderly, but they also require a certain amount of work and care that the person may not be able to give. Lovot doesn’t require any of that care, but will provide the companionship that someone needs in order to feel fulfilled when they live alone.
Lovot is also great for families with kids because the Lovot adores being hugged and cuddled. They wave their pudgy little arms and roll around in a charming manner that makes them the perfect playmate for kids.
Every bot has more than 50 sensors embedded throughout its body that enables it to move around freely, recognize the faces around them, and interact with people as though it were a sentient being. The look of the Lovot is almost the lovechild of an alien and a penguin. They are strange looking, but in a cute way that makes you want to cuddle them. In addition to the sensors, the bots have a camera on their heads, which almost looks like a hair bun, that delivers facial recognition and helps them to avoid crashing into objects or walls.
Each bot will develop specific quirks over time depending on your interactions with them. If you dress them in certain outfits, they may begin to prefer certain ones. The Lovots do not speak, but they emote very clearly and are quite animated with loveable little coos so you can pick up on their needs.
(Honestly, these things are so endearing I spent way too much time watching videos on the website linked above.)
The precious Lovot is currently available for pre-order with the set price tag mentioned above. Groove X is expected to begin shipping their captivating bots in 2020.
