CES was still brimming with weird and wonky robots
There's not a lot about this year's CES that feels normal, but quirky robots are definitely one aspect that hasn't wavered.
The Consumer Electronic Show might be lacking its usual hype given the omnipresence of a certain virus necessitating an all-digital show, but that doesn't mean the spirit one of the world's biggest tech conferences isn't carrying on.
For instance, one staple – a seemingly never-ending parade of robots – is still right on schedule with additions like...
Shutterstock
THE K1
This little bot from a company called Robosen, called K1, may be more of a toy than a bonafide android, but that doesn't make it any less whimsical. The K1 is app-enabled and designed as an educational tool for children.
In addition to being able to respond to 80 different voice commands, it also has a pretty quirky personality that involves activities like dancing, cleaning, and as reported by CNET, pooping.
HANDY
Samsung's Handy is a wheeled robo-assistant that comes with a single robotic hand and an AI camera that can recognize different objects. While it might still be more of a concept, Samsung suggests in its video that it could be used to handle your laundry or pour you wine (among other things).
If you prefer your robots a bit furrier, CES 2021 has you covered there too. This "AI Pet" called Moflin, developed in a Kickstarter campaign by Vanguard Industries, is designed to endear you with its hamster-like charm.
Moflin purportedly adapts to the way it's treated and develops its own unique personality. The fluffy robot is also equipped with a few sensors like a gyroscope and a microphone which allow it to "recognize" who is handling it. Moflin owners with an unsteady gait, beware.
DAESUNG HIVE CONTROLLER
On the opposite end of the Moflin spectrum are bots like this bee hive handler from the Korean company, Daesung, which. The automated system, which is being presented at CES, is capable of autonomously extracting honeycombs from hives.
The bot isn't just about reducing labor, however, it also allegedly halves the amount of time needed to extract the combs and can be adjusted to fit different sized hives. Plus, let's be honest, the less humans interact with bees, the better.
REACHY
Reachy may not be totally new to CES, but that doesn't make it any less captivating. This bot is proof that sometimes robots are better when they're actually human.
Using virtual reality gear, operators are able to teleport into the bot and control it remotely. In addition to being fun to watch, the teleportation ability also trains Reachy on different tasks.
MOLEY
With people forced to spend more time indoors, home-cooked meals are more critical than ever, which is why bots like Moley are even more appealing now than ever before. The bot, a pair of robotic arms with hands, was presented at CES 2021 and as launched in December.
Moley is designed to prepare meals from pretty much the top down and can coordinate with a smart fridge to pull ingredients together and cook them to create a range of typical household meals. It does require some initial prep, however, so don't chuck your knives just yet.