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.

The world's first Artificial Intelligence enabled cardboard robot that you build yourself. Smartibot works with your smartphone, meaning you can use your mobile as a remote control, or by attaching it to your robot, as it's brain. The Smartibot app contains a powerful A.I. called YOLO which can recognise objects Smartibot sees such as people, cars, dogs and bicycles. Without any programming you can tell your robot to follow you around with a cup of tea, chase your dog or your cat out of your bedroom or even follow your toy car. As well as the A.I. robot, Smartibot comes with cardboard parts to make two additional robots!