A team of researchers has built a floating robot that looks like a white whale gliding through the air, moves without the loud noise of a typical drone, and is soft enough to touch without risk of injury. A demo video released recently shows the robot serving as a dance partner, study companion, alarm clock and reminder system.
The project was led by Mingyang Xu from Keio University in Japan, with participation from other institutions including the MIT Media Lab. The team drew inspiration from animated characters such as Tinker Bell, Mew and the Soot Sprites from Studio Ghibli films, according to CNET.
The robot is lighter than air and uses fins to move through space. Its soft body and lack of pinch points allow it to make direct contact with people without posing a safety risk. That combination addresses one of the persistent challenges in robotics: building machines that feel both physically safe and emotionally engaging at the same time.
Rigid robots with mechanical faces often trigger what researchers call the uncanny valley, a deeply uncomfortable feeling people experience when something looks almost human but not quite right. Floating robots may avoid that reaction entirely by replacing facial expressions with gentle, full-body movements and by presenting a form that is visibly soft and non-threatening.
The demo video showed the robot operating in several everyday scenarios. It hovered near a person studying, drifted alongside someone dancing, and served as a gentle physical reminder. The researchers designed its movements to feel expressive without relying on a face.
No commercial release timeline has been announced. The project remains at the demonstration stage, with the team using the video to show what floating robotic companions might eventually be capable of in home or work environments.
