Mirumi, a mini attachable robot, clings tightly onto bag handles and moves its head when users pet it. No longer a prototype, the portable device looks around and reacts to what happens near it or on it using the ‘special’ algorithm that the design team has developed. To recap, Yukai Engineering, the mastermind behind the project, debuted Mirumi at CES 2025, and back then it was a prototype. Soon, the mini attachable robot is expected to come to life, at least mechanically, as a fashion accessory users can clip on their bag handles and even belt loops.

Mirumi has a head, a body, and two arms that wrap around straps or poles. The shape lets the robot hold onto thin and thick objects without falling, and the compact size of the device can fit in the user’s two hands. Its furry skin resembling teddy bears is soft to touch, and the team says they use materials sourced from Japan and in custom colors to make the device’s smooth finish and its friendly outline. The design team works on how the mini attachable robot Mirumi looks at people, with its neck motor lifting the head to make it look up. The timing of the movement is programmed so the robot sometimes turns away again before it looks back.

all images courtesy of Mirumi Tokyo and Yukai Engineering

portable device that shakes its head slowly when low in battery

To make it move, the Yukai Engineering team installs motors inside the body of the mini attachable robot Mirumi. These motors tilt and turn the head in different directions, and they also help the device respond to three main inputs: sound, touch, and internal triggers. When someone pats the head, a sensor in the head detects the action. When a sound or voice is near, two sound sensors inside the body pick it up. Signals travel through a chip that controls the motor actions, and this system allows many reactions without repeated patterns. Mirumi sometimes moves on its own even when nothing is happening, creating the feeling that the robot is active. 

The random behavior comes from a custom algorithm, which selects reactions in a way that appears natural. The team uses experience from earlier social robots to build these responses as well as from their prototype earlier in 2025. For the real-life model, the device comes with a built-in battery, rechargeable using a Type-C cable behind the mini attachable robot. Mirumi also gestures when its battery is low by shaking its head slowly. It’s a way for the team to have a completely screen-free device for telling users it’s time to charge their gadget. Mirumi doesn’t talk, at least for the recent model. It only turns its head, nods, and gently tilts to show excitement, hesitation, or interest. Fans of the mini attachable robot can support the campaign, and the team expects to ship Mirumi in May 2026.

Mirumi, a mini attachable robot, clings tightly onto bag handles

tthe device also moves its head when users pet it

the portable device looks around and reacts to what happens near it

users can also attach it around their belt loops

its neck motor lifts the head of the device to make it look up

there are three colors available for the gadget

its furry skin resembling the one on teddy bears is soft to touch

the making of the furry attachable device

video showcasing how the gadget works

the team plans to ship the device starting May 2026

project info:

name: Mirumi | @mirumi_tokyo

design: Yukai Engineering | @yukaiengineering

campaign: here

The post mini attachable robot ‘mirumi’ clings to bags and moves its head when users pet it appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

At CES 2025, Yukai Engineering reveals Mirumi, a clip-on furry robot that interacts with people by looking and nodding at them. The furry robot holds onto the bag handles like a koala or a sloth, and when it rotates its head, it slightly bows to acknowledge passersby. The device, a sibling of Nékojita FuFu blowing on hot meals to cool them down, uses an inertial measurement unit to detect movements, such as when someone taps the furry robot or moves the bag. The internal distance sensor helps it gauge its surroundings, so it can respond in time by rotating its head.

Mirumi has a number of behavioral patterns, as visitors can see at CES 2025. The furry robot looks around once the bag moves and also rotates its head when it spots a moving person or object and follows them with its gaze. But Mirumi is shy. It hides its face, away from the people, when it sees someone suddenly pet it or appear in front of it. It even shakes its head sideways when someone jiggles it as a way to say, ‘don’t do that.’ Visitors have the chance to see Yukai Engineering’s furry robot at CES 2025 between January 7th and 10th at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

all images courtesy of Yukai Engineering

FURRY ROBOT WITH PUPPY EYES AT CES 2025

What can lure in passersby to look at Mirumi is its googly eyes. They’re round and expressive, similar to puppy eyes, as if wanting people to interact with it. It has long arms like sloths, which Yukai Engineering has designed so they can easily hold onto bag straps. The design team also has to focus on the head and body weight of the device to balance the personal gadget and withstand the heaviness of mechanical parts.

Yukai Engineering shares that the idea for Mirumi has come from a team of staff engineers and designers. They proposed to create a robotic ‘yokai’, or a supernatural being, a creature but with the characteristics of the human baby. Lo and behold, here arrives Mirumi, the furry robot that embodies that pitch. After CES 2025, the robotics startup is set to launch a crowdfunding campaign for the furry robot in mid-2025.

at CES 2025, Yukai Engineering reveals Mirumi, a clip-on furry robot that interacts with people

the furry robot holds onto the bag handles like a koala or a sloth

the device uses an inertial measurement unit to detect movements

The internal distance sensor inside the device also helps it gauge the actions around it

video documenting how Mirumi turns its head around and nod

project info:

name: Mirumi

design: Yukai Engineering | @yukaiengineering

event: CES 2025 | @ces

The post furry robot ‘mirumi’ clips on bags and interacts with people by looking and nodding at them appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Yukai Engineering unveils Nékojita FuFu at CES 2025, a portable and attachable mini robot that cools down hot drinks and food by blowing on them so people don’t have to. The Tokyo-based robotics startup brings the device to Las Vegas for the annual trade show, which runs between January 7th and 10th, 2025. The mini robot has an internal fan that produces the cooling air and breathes it out through its mouth.

At CES 2025, the startup shows how the mini robot works. It features an algorithm called the ‘Fu-ing System’. The setup allows for the mini robot to randomize its blowing strength and rhythm the same way people do. With this, the device can help cool down the drinks and food’s temperature. After CES 2025, Yukai Engineering expects to release its mini robot across Japan in mid-2025.

all images courtesy of Yukai Engineering

Bringing down hot temperature within 3 to 5 minutes

What sets Nékojita FuFu by Yukai Engineering apart is that it’s an attachable and portable mini robot and stand-alone device. Unlike conventional heat-reducing mug cups, users don’t need to plug it in because it has its own rechargeable battery. CES 2025 visitors can see that the mini robot resembles the silhouette of a cub. The robot’s name, however, combines the Japanese words, ‘neko-jita,’ or ‘cat tongue’. It comes from the phrase used to describe an intolerance of hot food.

The design has ‘paws’, which serve as its anchor so it can hang itself on any foodware (as long as it has a straight edge). Based on the design team’s testing data, the device can bring down the temperature of hot water in a cup from 190°F (88°C) to 160°F (71°C) and 151°F (66°C) in 3 and 5 minutes, respectively. This is compared to 176°F (80°C) and 171°F (77°C) without the mini robot. They have yet to release the data for cooling down hot food. The device unveiled at CES 2025 is attachable to straight-edge foodware around 0.08” to 0.23” (2mm-6mm) in thickness.

the device unveiled at CES 2025 is attachable to straight-edge foodware around 0.08” to 0.23” in thickness

From ‘I’ve Got This’ to ‘Not Gonna Spill’ blowing mode

Yukai Engineering says that Nékojita FuFu has different ‘blowing’ modes. They show it at CES 2025, where the mini robot switches between the full-force ‘I’ve Got This’ and the gentler ‘Not Gonna Spill’ modes. The design team plans to add more in the future. It includes gradually increasing the blowing strength and a nonstop series of strong and short blows. So far, the team only plans to release the mini robot in Japan.

the mini robot shown at CES 2025 can bring down hot temperature within 3 to 5 minutes

it has an internal fan that produces the cooling air and breathes it out through its mouth

view of the mouth where the internal ‘cooling air’ comes out

project info:

name: Nékojita FuFu

design: Yukai Engineering | @yukaiengineering

The post nékojita fufu is an attachable mini robot that blows on hot drinks & food to cool them down appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

designboom picks 10  iF design award 2021 winning devices that bring automation right at and through our doorstep.

name: fit bot
brand: samsung electronics co., ltd.
designers: jaewan choi, seokwon bae, doorae kim, seonghoon kang, soomi lee, sooyoung choi, hongsik park, minkyu jun

wearable korean designed robot ‘fit bot’ is more than what meets the eye. the device, awarded in the discipline professional concept, aims to address the drawback of conventional exercise methods for the general population, as strenuous exercise equipment and machines are not appropriate for senior citizens. together with its built-in actuator for support and resistance, the risk of injury is greatly reduced. whether used indoors or out, ‘fit bot’ improves the health of elderly people as it assists them in their everyday activities.

name: inchef
brand: beijing ruying tech. limited
designers: zhangliang, tangmu, jianghao, wangxiaoyao

award: iF gold award

through in-depth computer learning, accurate identification of ingredients and kitchenware, as well as application of the latest AI technologies like target tracking and path planning give ‘inchef’ its unique development. the smart kitchen program controls the mechanical arm and power supply to automatically cook selected dishes to perfection. not convinced? check out the whole live-action cooking process here! 

name: kiwibot plus
brand: kiwibot
designer: alejandro otálora guerrero

conceptual colombian design ‘kiwibot plus’ aims to be the company’s next-generation robot, specializing in last-mile delivery service. using cute little robots with integrated artificial intelligence technology, kiwibot can deliver individual packages within a neighborhood.  remotely supervised to ensure safety standards of mobilization and proper use of sidewalks, the device is also developed to blend perfectly into communities, establishing relationships with multiple local actors. more importantly, the robot can establish sustainable modes of accessibility for thousands of users with contemporary lifestyles, assuring hygiene, safety and convenience.

name: tokit omni cook multi-cooker
brand: shanghai chunmi electronics technology co., ltd.
designers: youru yang, xiangbin kong, chungKin wong

as surprising as it sounds, multi-functional chinese robot tokit omni cook is able to replace 21 traditional kitchen appliances! the system’s induction heating system with a powerful SMR motor provides the user with different cooking functions and techniques achieved with ultimate precision. the smart system’s 8-inch touch screen provides hundreds of online digital recipes each guided with step-by-step video instruction through preparation. for the best result, temperature, time and mixing speed are all controlled automatically. 

name: bocco emo
brand: yukai engineering inc.

almost like another family member, japanese ‘bocco emo’ sits on the table encouraging communication within a home. through the designated app, users can send or record messages, which are then read out-loud or played with the capability of impressively displaying a wide range of emotions. with a hands-free operation the robot is easy and reliable to use, while weather forecasts and scheduling are also part of the its functions.

name: hansaactivejet digital
brand: hansa armaturen gmbh
designers: michael lammel, michael zeisel (NOA intelligent design)

‘hansaactivejet digital’ is certainly not your typical shower head. the german intelligent device makes the relaxing experience a little more conscious and sustainable. via sensors and a display screen, the users are provided with information on their personal water and energy consumption, motivating them essentially to save and help towards a more ecological future.

name: nest audio
brand: google LLC

 with industry-leading sustainability, ‘nest audio’ combines quality sound and advanced assistant capabilities. emulating the curvature of a pillow with a fabric exterior, the form draws inspiration from the home while communicating sound with silhouette. to fit into a variety of spaces, the american device’s proportions are carefully considered and informed by common contexts like side tables and bookshelves. owned as a single piece or a set, the slim stance and compact footprint differentiate the product from the market. 

name: automatic teapot
brand: guang dong xinbao electrical appliances holdings co., ltd.
designers: chen longhui, wang ruibo, yun ping

for those who know, brewing chinese tea correctly can be a big challenge. equipped with an automatic tea basket that rises when ready to drink, china designed ‘automatic teapot’ definitely simplifies the process. with a simple and easy to operate interface, the user is offered different tea types and five brewing solutions served to the t thanks to the filter steeping into the water once the temperature is ideal. 

name: thinkpad x1 fold
brand: lenovo

american brand lenovo is bound to bring more mobility than ever with its first folding OLED display laptop . ‘thinkpad x1 fold’ folds in half around an inductively charged keyboard that is also home to a stylus. covered in a premium authentic leather folio that provides both protection and an integrated kickstand, the device creates a system that allows users to maintain a mobile lifestyle with entertainment, work, and creativity in the most compact multi-mode version one can own. 

name: haven smart home system
brand: mercku inc.

a mesh wifi-router, a smart light and a beacon; the truly user-centric device, otherwise known as ‘haven smart home system’, is developed with industry-leading speeds and far-reaching internet coverage. as the light is fitted with motion and light sensors, changes at home are programmed to be reflected. in addition, the coin-sized trackers, or beacons, identify the users while providing smart responses. as all three connect to each other via bluetooth, the canadian device delivers a home experience that makes indoor location interaction faster and more personalized. 

iF design award 2021 ‘automation at home’ winners get recognition as the collaborative series between the renowned platform and designboom continues. first assessed by an elaborate jury panel, we then highlight our top 10 winners including finalists receiving the acclaimed iF gold award. technologically advanced, practical and innovative projects continue to be featured as the range of topics continues to unravel. to see the full curation of iF design award 2021 winners, click here.

how is that inspiration coming out? showcasing the ‘creatiFe power of design’, registration for iF design award 2022 is now open, here.

The post 10 iF design award 2021 winners bring high-tech automation right at home appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

and humans have been working towards it for at least two millennia. sure the science of robotics only came about in the 20^th century, but if you really want to stretch it, the history of human-invented automation could be traced back to ancient greece. back then descriptions of robots known as automatons were documented – that’s non-electronic moving machines mimicing human or animal actions – and ever since, the ambition of engineers from all over the world has been to elevate simple mimicking to exact replication!

equal rights for robots OR maybe robots on a campaign for yours

sophia meets TV host jimmy fallon live on his show
image courtesy of sophiabot

hanson robotics unveiled sophia the robot earlier this year, the closest to a human-like robot we’d ever seen. being able to track and recognize faces, look people in the eye, and hold natural conversations it was only a matter of time before a country granted her citizenship in a clever PR stunt posed to make it look like a tech pioneer. but it also marked a symbolic beginning of equal status between humans and man-made machines which provokes a question over the future status of robots with regards to their rights. sophia-bot has even drawn attention to the inequalities of rights between men and women in the middle east – read more.

the beginning of the end of ‘healthy’ human relationships

samantha is the product of electric engineer, sergi santos
images © synthea amatus

recent research coining the term ‘digisexuality’ hints at new year experiences for the human race. it describes ‘people whose primary sexual identity comes through the use of technology’ – a thought either demonstrating the first steps away from robot fetishism and into the realm of true interpersonal connection..or the end of healthy human relationships altogether. remember samantha the sex doll? she broke down after being manhandled at a tech fair. the human doll caused controversial debate after its’ inventor boasted samantha’s ability to ‘enjoy sex’ and synchronise with with her partner to ‘mutually climax’. meanwhile, a harvard university professor has claimed that sex robots might make men, not women, obsolete. it comes at a time when sex doll manufacturers such as realbotix are beginning to acknowledge the market for male sex dolls… their application enables users to match an AI personality with a humanoid robot head, to create the most realistic sex doll imaginable – see here. these ‘advancements’ query how human nature would evolve if we got used to having sex with ultra-life-like humanoids whenever and however we wanted – would you expect complete dominance in your relationships with humans? the fear of robots sinister social consequences is one that’s in danger of becoming flesh.

these ones mop the floors…and take everyone’s jobs

walmart introduces self-driving, shelf-scanning robots in over 50 stores
image © walmart

despite dystopian fears of sexy concepts like killer robots and humanoid partners, robots will more likely become a large portion of the world’s workforce. thanks to billionaire eugene izhikevich, founder and CEO of brain corp, robots already clean floors at walmart, costco, lowe’s and multiple airports in the U.S. and are expected to launch in japan next year – read more. the industrial robot population has risen to 1.8 million and according to research firm international data corp, by 2019 35 percent of leading organizations in logistics, health, utilities, and resources will explore the use of robots to automate operations. in the industrial revolution, machines took over many of the physical tasks we used to do but humans were still left with all the cognitive tasks. this time, as machines start to take on many of the cognitive tasks too, there’s the worrying question: what will be left for us humans?

they shoo you from your job, then security bots shoo you from the streets

knightscope’s K9 is being used to patrol the streets
image © knightscope

robots are moving steadily into the surveillance market to form security bot squad and costing a mere $7 an hour to rent the motorised henchmen cost a cut below the wage of an actual human. manufacturer knightscope provides automated guards with multiple high-definition cameras for 360-degree vision, spotting crime and identifying known criminals. meanwhile their also being used to shoo homeless people off the streets – read more.

raining robot cats and dogs

the autonomous robot aibo can ‘form an emotional bond with members of the household’
images © SONY

our future pets may be plastic and metal instead of flesh and blood. son revived it’s robotic dog aibo and for those who can remember, when it stopped manufacturing parts in 2014, owners were genuinely distressed that it meant the impending ‘death’ of their pets — even going so far as to hold a funeral ceremony for them – see more. in june 2018, japanese company yukai engineering will launch the qooboo cat cushion, a soft, round ‘cushion-tailed therapy robot’ that reacts to strokes, just as a loving pet would. artificially furry friends like the the joy for all companion, hasbro’s line of reactive robot dogs and cats, and paro, a robotic seal made for therapy applications, have been used successfully for dementia patients experiencing anxiety and distress. robotic dogs and cats continue to garner the love and attention of owners around the world.

The post designboom’s TECH predictions for 2018: robots appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

qoobo, all images courtesy of yukai engineering

qoobo, the interactive pillow is designed to provide comforting communication that warms your heart the way animals do. the robotic pillow makes users feel as though they are interacting with live animals and provides them with a sense of comfort, or ‘tail therapy’.through the kickstarter campaign,  yukai engineering applied its expertise and experience in robotic engineering to help all people – including those with pet allergies or apartment dwellers who can’t own pets. the engineers hope to develop the technology further, by continuing their study on the animal’s tail movements to offer even more realistic experiences. 

qoobo

‘we selected different materials for various parts of the robot to enhance the movements and the tail’s appearance. we also made it durable to allow for use in various environments’, explains the design team. with over 400 backers, qoobo reached its kickstarter goal of over 5 million yen or approximately 44,000 US dollars. a variety of styles and colors can be chosen, making the pillow customizable for future ‘qoobo’ owners. the first batch of pillows is scheduled to be delivered by august 2018. 

qoobo won the the japan GOOD DESIGN award 2018.

the GOOD DESIGN award was founded in 1957 by the japanese ministry of international trade and industry and is hosted by the japan institute for design promotion. the ‘g mark’ emblem reflects comprehensive design values and principles that aim to enrich lives, industries and society. 

The post the qoobo cushion is an interactive, tail-wagging pillow that could replace your pet appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.