Nissan Debuts ‘Intelligent Puppet’ To Comfort Bored Or Crying Babies In Cars
Video screenshot via Nissan
Fussy baby on board? Well, Nissan is making a short detour from designing cars to help keep the little ones engaged during rides without screentime. Enter ‘Iruyo’, an interactive puppet built to entertain infants on the go, giving parents the go-ahead to keep their eyes fixated on the road.
The innovative robots were brought to life with the help of Japanese baby product retailer Akachan Honpo and the creative minds at advertising agency TBWA HAKUHODO. The furry passengers, described as ‘Intelligent Puppets’, come in a set of two, with the larger one acting like a babysitter of sorts while the smaller version conveys signals from the child to the caregiver.
The bigger toy, Iruyo, keeps the baby company in the backseat. Meanwhile, the tinier Baby Iruyo, stays upfront, behaving as a liaison between the parent and the puppet. Through voice commands given to Baby Iruyo, parents can prompt the larger puppet to engage in various activities like singing, waving, or playing peek-a-boo, all designed to capture and hold the baby’s attention.
Iruyo taps into facial recognition technology to monitor the baby’s state. Once it detects that your mini-me has drifted off to sleep, it signals Baby Iruyo to close its eyes, giving parents a visual cue that it’s nap time for their little one. This feature is especially useful for providing reassurance without needing to turn around while driving.
Video screenshot via Nissan
The development of the robot was driven by a survey conducted by Nissan and Akachan Honpo, which found that over 80% of parents face challenges in soothing their children during drives. Early demonstrations of Iruyo have been promising, with 90% of babies showing interest in the robot and half exhibiting improved moods when interacting with it.
Image via Akachan Honpo
These puppets are not just colorful companions; they’re designed with the developmental benefits of the color red in mind, known to attract babies’ attention.
Image via Akachan Honpo
In addition to the original red-haired model, Nissan has also introduced adorable Iruyo variations in white and pink fur, offering different styles including plain, beanie-wearing, and glasses-adorned versions. This customization ensures there’s an Iruyo for every baby.
Image via Akachan Honpo
As Iruyo undergoes further testing and feedback collection, Nissan and Akachan Honpo are fine-tuning the technology and features to enhance its sensing capabilities and overall functionality. This project endeavors to make family car journeys smoother and safer, with entertainment and interaction for the baby contributing to a less distracted driving environment for parents.
