Have you ever dreamed of having a protective robot like Baymax from Big Hero 6?
In the movie, Baymax’s chubby, endearing appearance, comforting expressions, and unwavering loyalty to its owner captured the hearts of many fans.
Unlike the sleek, omnipotent robots depicted in early sci-fi films, Baymax seems clumsy: it will endlessly play fetch if given a ball and struggles to squeeze through narrow spaces. However, when its owner is feeling down, it offers hugs, encouragement, and comfort, becoming a close, inseparable companion.
At the time, Baymax’s cute, slightly awkward demeanor challenged the stereotype of robots as cold and powerful beings while introducing an intriguing idea: can robots go beyond being tools and become human companions?
With advancements in large models and embodied intelligence, entrepreneurs are bringing this concept to life.
At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), one standout product has drawn significant attention. Ropet, a company established in 2022, debuted its inaugural creation: an AI-powered robotic pet. Equipped with visual and auditory sensors integrated with advanced AI technology, this plush-covered robot can recognize human actions and emotions, adapt through learning, and respond in kind.
Ropet is round and fluffy, with stubby arms extending from its sides and large expressive eyes dominating its face. When you stroke its soft, furry body, it gazes at you with innocent clarity. With a temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius, it feels startlingly lifelike, as if it were a living creature.
Sensory interactions make a key difference
The rapid growth of urbanization has been accompanied by an increase in solitary households and an aging population. Loneliness is becoming one of the most pervasive issues of our time.
The Ropet team observed that, against the backdrop of a global economic downturn, financial pressures are intensifying, and demand for discretionary goods is shrinking. Yet, products fulfilling emotional companionship needs are seeing growth. According to Market Monitor, the global companion robot market was worth RMB 75 billion (USD 10.5 billion) in 2023 and is projected to reach RMB 304.3 billion (USD 42.6 billion) by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.56% from 2024–2029.
From the outset, Ropet did not position its product as a companion robot but rather as a robotic pet with companion functions.
Unlike traditional robotic pets that mechanically mimic real cats or dogs, Ropet redefines the electronic pet category by integrating highly lifelike interactions into a tangible device. In essence, it combines the virtual experience of old-school digital pets with the learning, interaction, and companionship capabilities of real pets, all wrapped in an adorable, fluffy exterior.
Ropet simulates a living organism as closely as possible. It has body temperature and even exhibits hunger-like behaviors. When hungry, it emits rumbling stomach sounds, prompting users to place a toy banana or apple in front of it. Upon recognition, Ropet “learns” the item and remembers it. Next time it sees a banana, its eyes display a banana icon, accompanied by chewing sounds.
During interactions, Ropet can identify user emotions and respond accordingly. For instance, if a user looks bored, Ropet will widen its eyes and signal for a hug. “Just like how petting a cat can soothe stress, holding or touching Ropet can have a calming effect,” said Ropet co-founder and CEO He Jiabin in an interview. When touched or lifted, its body temperature makes it feel “alive.”
Moreover, Ropet strengthens its bond with its owner over time by learning their facial expressions and habits. “When your interaction time with Ropet reaches a certain threshold, its responses to you and others will differ,” co-founder He said. “For example, if it’s feeling ‘upset,’ the way it reacts to your touch compared to someone else’s will be completely different.”
To achieve these features, the team integrated a multimodal perception system into Ropet, combining visual and auditory sensors to analyze facial expressions, voice tone, and touch. Surface temperature sensors also record changes in the user’s body temperature under different emotional states.
However, merely collecting data isn’t enough to create a sense of companionship. The key to retaining users is enabling Ropet to interpret the data and respond as though it was truly alive.
The team believes an “alive” robot companion requires not just species-specific behaviors but also a degree of sociality—a unique interaction mode between each Ropet and its owner.
To this end, Ropet uses offline edge computing to process data from sensors, enabling each unit to develop distinct behavioral traits based on its interactions. As He described, “By embedding a small ‘brain’ into the robot, it generates growth-like behaviors that align with the essence of pet companionship.”
As of January 8, Ropet has raised close to USD 300,000 and secured approximately 900 backers on Kickstarter, with the first batch of products scheduled for delivery in March.
Built for female users
Interestingly, more than 70% of Ropet’s Kickstarter supporters are estimated to be women, with many being first-time backers. This reflects a growing market gap: most companion robots have hitherto been child-focused or designed with male-centric features. Taking a different approach, Ropet targets this underserved audience by emphasizing subtle, quiet interactions rather than flashy movements or constant chatter.
“True companionship doesn’t always require words,” co-founder He explained. “Sometimes, just having something quietly present—like a pet curling up beside you—is enough to lift your mood.”
Ultimately, the team aims to express their understanding of companionship through the design and functionality of Ropet’s hardware.
Ropet’s core team consists of experts from Stanford University and leading Chinese tech companies, including ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba, Xiaomi, and Nio. The co-founder has racked up over a decade of experience in smart hardware, with a portfolio that includes products like the Baidu Eye, Dubike smart bike, Luka reading robot, and Pico VR headset.
During his work in smart hardware development, He observed that traditional robots often aim to replicate human forms, complete with limbs or wheels, enabling them to move quickly or perform imposing actions like dancing or flipping.
In contrast, Ropet focuses on a niche demographic: women in their 30s, particularly white-collar professionals. Their lives primarily revolve around offices and homes, where desktops are often cluttered with decorative items. Agile movement features, therefore, can feel unnecessary or even cumbersome. Ropet’s design as a companion robot emphasizes emotional feedback through expressions and subtle micro-movements rather than functional tasks like path planning, obstacle avoidance, or object manipulation.
“It doesn’t need to move around or talk much. It just quietly stays on your desk, looking at you. When either you or it feels down, you can hug it or touch it. Its primary purpose is to accompany its owner,” He said.
The team believes now is an opportune moment to enter the companion robot market, particularly from the perspective of women’s emotional needs. On one hand, advancements in large models and embodied intelligence enable hardware to perceive and learn user emotions more effectively, providing precise responses and feedback. On the other hand, China’s robust hardware supply chain offers the potential to lower the costs of companion robots and facilitate broader market adoption.
Ropet plans to iterate its software based on hardware-driven insights, further exploring user needs and expanding product functionality. In late January, Ropet will showcase its innovations at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany as it seeks to expand into the European market.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This article was written by Ye Danxuan for 36Kr.