As we’ve seen with many products in the past, tech can also help scratch the social itch not all of us are lucky enough to experience on a daily basis. We’re pre-programmed to develop technology that helps us stay connected with others, but sometimes it materialises in the technology itself. Loona is an adorable pet robot that will either melt your heart or, at the very least, serve as a loyal smart home companion.
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Loona can be used by anyone, and certainly has a design slanted to appeal to kids. According to Loona’s creators, it has also been designed to interact well with any real pets you may already have in the house.
The pet robot has a 3D camera and edge sensors for navigating your home, but also includes a regular camera for face detection and object recognition. The four integrated microphones provide Loona the ability to locate you as you beckon her and touch sensors so she’ll lean into your head-strokes with eerily biological authenticity.
When it is launched, Loona will be able to respond to a long list of verbal commands and gestures, and the company claims new ones will continuously be added. There will also be a graphical programming tool so you can create your own interactions and a community to share them with.
To make Loona appeal to a wide audience, it has been designed and programmed to have an expressive personality and movements. The digital face is surprisingly cute and expressive, bringing up feelings of animated movie characters. The company indicated that there could also be the option to add custom expressions and emotions further down the line.
Other than being a novelty companion, Loona also doubles as a home security and monitoring system. It can also be directed around the house if you want to make sure your furry friends are happy and safe.
