TCL companion robot AiMe is cute as a button!

I’m not obsessed with robots, they are just everywhere you look in Berlin at the annual IFA showcase of gadgets and home appliances. TCL though didn’t have a boxing humanoid or an advanced robot lawnmower, their robot is AiMe – a cute little companion robot.

TCL call it a Family Companion Robot, and this is by no means the first of it’s kind that I’ve seen. Some of the biggest and smallest brands have presented this concept before, but the difference is – this seems ready for market.

Cute little robots on wheels about 30cm tall there to be a companion for kids aged three or more.

What I noticed interacting with them was they were noticing their surroundings. They were following someone, not just because you were there, but even stopping to see you, turning to look at you. It just felt – real.

With advanced controls using voice, the use of natural language is where this starts to get exciting.

Kids can interact with them, perhaps play games, but also the potential for education. Driving active exploration, self expression and as TCL say “positive habits”.

The announcement says AiMe can be “helping children grow freely, while making parenting feel more relaxed”. Not to say this is replacing parenting in some way, but some would say anything is better than throwing your kids in front of a screen, or handing them a screen.

Interesting concept, not sure yet if or when it will make it to market.