Smartibot kit turns any household object into an AI-enhanced robot

Toymaker The Crafty Robot has launched a crowdfunding campaign for its latest design -- a DIY robot that can follow you around the house and bring you drinks. Smartibot is an educational, build-it-yourself toy for adults and children who want to become more familiar with robotics. The Crafty Robot describes the toy as the world's first artificial intelligence (AI) enabled cardboard robot. The AI it contains is a real-time object-detection system, which means that the small, smiling robot can be taught to recognise people, pets or vehicles and automatically follow them. Alternatively, the kit comes with two variant models of Smartibot that operate via remote control rather than automated AI: a teabot with cupholders to deliver drinks, and a unicorn with a little cardboard horn.