Mayfield Robotics, a Bosch start-up, is trying to make the home robot more personality-driven and lovable with the introduction of its Kuri robot.

Credit: Chris Monroe/CNET

The voice-controlled robot is designed to do all sorts of things around the house, and unlike the Echo or Google Home, it’s on wheels. Kuri’s equipped with a laser array to help map a user’s house and has a 1080p camera behind its eyes for remote security check-ins, the feed of which can be accessed through its companion iOS / Android app. It controls smart home devices through IFTTT and knows to automatically return to its docking station when its battery is low.

Kuri also responds to touch if users, especially kids, don’t want or know how to use voice controls. “Hey Kuri” is its wake phrase. Like a family member, Kuri can recognize people with its built-in facial recognition software. The idea, Chris Matthews, the VP of marketing, tells me, is that when kids get home from school, Kuri will automatically send a text to their parents letting them know.

Source (Ashley Carman, “Kuri the robot could replace your little brother as the cutest member of your family”, The Verge, 03.01.2017)