Sprout: A New York Startup Introduces a Soft Companion Robot for the Home
While global giants continue to develop heavy metal robots for factories, the startup Fauna Robotics has unveiled a device that radically changes the concept of home automation. The robot, called Sprout, is not just a machine but a safe, soft-bodied “companion” designed specifically for family life.
Unlike powerful industrial androids, Sprout was created to avoid frightening or injuring people around it. Standing just over one meter tall, it operates at eye level with a child.
Key design features include:
• Safe body: A soft foam shell ensures that no one is harmed in the event of an accidental collision or fall.
• “Lifelike” facial expressions: Its rectangular head is equipped with movable “eyebrows” resembling windshield wipers, making interaction with the robot more expressive and engaging.
• Intelligent navigation: The robot memorizes the layout of a home, can independently reach designated locations (such as the refrigerator), and instantly adjusts its route if a person appears in its path.
At its current stage, Sprout can perform simple yet impressive actions: dancing, picking up toys, and confidently moving between rooms. It can be controlled via a mobile app, a gamepad, or a VR headset.
At present, Sprout is not a mass-market product. The company sells it exclusively to developers as an experimental platform for $50,000. Early units have already been purchased by industry leaders such as Disney and Boston Dynamics. The creators’ goal is to allow programmers to develop thousands of useful scenarios for the robot—much like what once happened with mobile applications.
The creators of Sprout are confident that the era of scary “metal monsters” from movies is coming to an end. The time has come for friendly technologies that children embrace with excitement.
ORIENT
