Driving can be a harrowing experience with babies. Since the car seat is supposed to be placed backwards in the backseat, the child becomes stressed because they don’t have visual contact with the parent. This results in crying, which the driving parent cannot deal with without taking their eyes off the road. Even worse is the unsettling feeling a parent gets when their child is too quiet and can’t see what’s going on.
This is an issue that car manufacturer Nissan and baby goods retailer Akachan Honpo want to tackle together. According to a study they conducted, more than 60 percent of new parents drive alone with their child and more than 80 percent complain that they cannot comfort their child when it cries. In addition, more than 90 percent say they worry if they cannot see their child while they are in the car seat.
That’s why the two companies collaborated to create Iruyo: The Intelligent Puppet. Equipped with an array of sensors and communication devices, Iruyo features state-of-the-art cuteness.
A lot of research has gone into all the details of Iruyo. The red color was chosen because it best caught a baby’s attention, but more subtle pink and white colors were also created. It has also been given a simple look with strong contrasts and easy-to-follow movements to keep baby occupied.
โผ Customization is also possible, such as a trendy hat or glasses.
Iruyo is actually part of a two-robot set, paired with another called Baby Iruyo. Iruyo sits in the back seat facing the child, while Baby Iruyo sits in a cup holder next to the driver. Baby Iruyo can pick up voice commands such as “I’m here,” “Let’s sing a song,” and “Peek-a-boo” and pass them on to Iruyo, who will give an appropriate gesture.
At the same time, Iruyo monitors the baby’s face and transmits it to Baby Iruyo, who emulates it. This means that if the baby is very quiet, the parent can tell if he is sleeping or not by checking Baby Iuryo’s eyes.
Research found that not only were 90 percent of babies preoccupied with Iruyo while in a car seat, but more than half showed an overall improvement in mood while spending time with the robot. Despite these promising results, Iruyo is unfortunately only a concept product and there are currently no plans to release it commercially.
However, they are holding experiential sessions, such as one last month at Nissan headquarters in Yokohama and one planned for the Akachan Honpo store in LaLaport Yokohama on February 10 and 11.
Source, images: Akachan Honpo
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