Chinese tech firm Elephant Robotics has launched a robotic cat called ‘Marscat’ on Kickstarter. It moves using 16 motorized joints and recognizes 20 keywords including ‘come here’.
Marscat is available in white, grey, ginger, and black, and it comes with six capacitive touch sensors. Its other electronics include a depth-sensing laser, a microphone, a speaker and a Raspberry Pi microprocessor. A 5mp camera in the nose allows it to ‘see’ and interact with the user and its surroundings. Marscat can reportedly recognise objects such as toys, plus it’s able to avoid obstacles and respond to different voices. Marscat’s personality develops over time, with the ability to randomly perform activities such as playing, sleeping, and even burying imaginary waste in a litter box!
‘You will never know what marscat will do next because it is like a real cat, fully autonomous, Marscat acts independently without any instructions. Marscat walks, runs, sleeps, sits, stretches, bites nails, kneads and even buries litter although she won’t produce any waste. it may express different emotions by different meows or gestures. sometimes it may do some amazing things that surprise you and make your day!’
Elephant Robotics
Marscat’s battery last between two to three hours. Marscat is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign where a pledge of $649 will get you one the planned retail price is $1,299.
