Mascot robot is designed to recreate the joy of encountering and interacting with a human baby.
LAS VEGAS (Dec. 18, 2024) – At CES® Unveiled (Jan. 5) and CES 2022 (Jan. 7-10), Tokyo-based robotics startup Yukai Engineering will unveil “Mirumi,” a mascot robot that spontaneously turns its head to steal a glance at a nearby person. Designed to recreate people’s joyful experiences of noticing a human baby as he/she tries to interact with them, Mirumi moves its head in several different ways to express its curiosity, bashfulness and other baby-like qualities and emotions. This latest work by Yukai Engineering — a company known for “creating robots that bring joy to life” — is intended as a tool for people to bring a little happiness to those around them.
“People often find great joy in sharing their own happiness with others. Mirumi is a robot that enables you to do just that,” Yukai Engineering CEO Shunsuke Aoki said. “Whether you’re riding a crowded train or standing in line at the cashier, your Mirumi will always find a way to reach into people’s hearts with its innocent gaze, prompting the person to wave at the robot or make a funny face in response. We are excited to demonstrate Mirumi at CES 2025 to make the day a little brighter for everyone and show the ripple effect of shared happiness.”
Mirumi at CES
CES Unveiled — Jan. 5, 5:00-8:30 p.m. @Mandalay Bay Convention Center
CES 2025 — Jan. 7-10 @Venetian Expo, Hall A-D, Booth #52671
Press Kit:https://tinyurl.com/yc3uvkc9
Video: https://tinyurl.com/2wyur8fe”
Website :https://mirumi.ux-xu.com
The idea for Mirumi was born out of Yukai Engineering’s internal Make-a-Thon in 2024, during which a team of staff engineers and designers proposed to create a robotic “yokai” (supernatural being) like creature with the characteristics of the human baby. The company plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign for the product in mid-2025. The robot’s features (tentative) are as follows:
How Mirumi Recognizes Nearby People/Objects:
• Looks around to scan the general environment using an internal distance sensor
• Uses an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for the detection of movements (a tapping on the
robot, the movement of a bag to which the robot is attached, etc.)
Mirumi’s Behavioral Patterns:
• Curiosity: Looks around once the bag begins to move
• Inquisitiveness: Turns its head to look at a detected person or object
• Bashfulness & Cautiousness: Turns back its head to hide the face when a person/object suddenly appears or when being tapped on the body
• Rejection: Shakes its head to say, “No,” when jiggled
• Comfort: Turn its head to look around again when remaining uninterrupted for a while
Design Features:
• Babish googly eyes that tag at people’s heartstrings
• Long arms with hands that are designed to easily hold onto bag straps
• Head-and-body balance that withstands the weight of mechanical parts
About Yukai Engineering:
Yukai Engineering is a Tokyo-based startup known globally for creating robots that bring joy to life.
The company’s flagship products include BOCCO emo, a family communication robot featuring a smart speaker, Qoobo, a therapeutic pillow for companionship, and AMAGAMI HAM HAM, a robot that gently nibbles on the user’s finger just as young pets would — all of which have been a big commercial success. Yukai has received numerous awards, including CES 2023 Innovation Awards for BOCCO emo Platform — via which some of Japan’s utility companies provide smart-living services — and fufuly — a robotic cushion for guided breathing, which also garnered a 2024 Good Design Award.
About CES:
CES is one of the world’s largest technology trade shows that takes place annually in Las Vegas.
For more information, please visit: https://www.ces.tech/about-ces/about-ces/