Toyota unveiled on Monday, a palm-sized robot, small enough to fit in the cup holder of your Corolla.
This ‘baby robot’, named Kirobo Mini, is designed to be a companion for childless women.
This initiative stemmed from the plummeting birth rates in Japan which have left many women childless.
Toyota describes it as “a miniature communication partner developed to provide companionship.”
The 4-inch high baby robot is designed to hold conversations and even respond to facial expressions.
According to Toyota, the robot can remember its companion’s likes and dislikes as well as journeys they’ve taken together can be linked up to cars and gadgets in the home to make the conversation more lively.
It can also be linked up to cars and gadgets in the home to make the conversation more lively.
“He wobbles a bit, and this is meant to emulate a seated baby, which hasn’t fully developed the skills to balance itself,” said Fuminori Kataoka, Kirobo Mini’s chief design engineer. “This vulnerability is meant to invoke an emotional connection.”
“This vulnerability is meant to invoke an emotional connection”, he added.
The world’s biggest automaker plans to put Kirobo on sale in dealerships across Japan next year for around $400 before tax.
It didn’t mention any plans for introducing it in other countries.
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