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Top 100 Robot Trends in 2016

From Home Automation Systems to Domesticated Robot Concepts

— January 28, 2017 — Tech
Whether it is for the purpose of making a task more simple to complete or to provide a function that was previously nonexistent, the top 2016 robot trends have seen a variety of different innovations. Some of the more prominent themes in this trend include home automation systems and home robot assistants.

The 'Bearbot' was designed by Vivien Muller and comes in an endearing design that acts as the home's hub. The tiny robot was made to look like a bear in both shape and color, as well as in the facial expressions it uses throughout the day on its screen. The robot is able to control various aspects of the home – including laptops, lights, TVs, shutters, music and the thermostat. Homeowners can communicate actions to the bear using a simple sign language.

This year has also seen the rise of robots that help in the home with various tasks that include scheduling and playing with children. One of the more interesting examples to arise from this trend is the concept proposed by Elon Musk – the idea for a domesticated robot. This proposal would offer live-in robots that are able to complete an array of home chores, many of which include cleaning. The proposal comes in response to the many responsibilities that consumers now have, both at work and in the home.

For more insight into robots and tech-related trends in the upcoming year, Trend Hunter's 2017 Trend Report is available for free online.
4.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
100
AI Creative Directors
AI Creative Directors
Advertising Agency McCann Japan Employed a Robot to Create Commercials
<
99
Autonomous Tracking Drones
Autonomous Tracking Drones
The 'Lily' Smart Camera Drone Follows Users and Features No Controller
<
98
Flying Surveillance Robots
Flying Surveillance Robots
This Bee-Inspired Robot Can Be Used for Spying Purposes
<
97
Robotic Smart Vacuums
Robotic Smart Vacuums
The Samsung POWERbot VR9200 Model is a Tech-Savvy Home Appliance
<
96
Drone-Syncing Goggles
Drone-Syncing Goggles
These First Person View Goggles Pair With the New DJI Mavic Pro Drone
<
95
Intelligent Water Sprinkler Systems
Intelligent Water Sprinkler Systems
The Plumis 'Automist Smartscan' System Saves Water and Lives
<
94
Planet-Mining Robots
Planet-Mining Robots
NASA is Calling the RASSOR a "Blue Collar Robot"
<
93
DIY Insect Robots
DIY Insect Robots
The 'Antbo' Insect Robot Can be Assembled and Programmed by Anyone
<
92
Robotic Human Augmentations
Robotic Human Augmentations
SRI International's Superflex Aims to Help Disabled in Everyday Life
<
91
Object-Retrieving Pills
Object-Retrieving Pills
The Origami Robot Pills Can Retrieve Small Accidentally Ingested Objects
<
90
Domesticated Chore Robots
Domesticated Chore Robots
Elon Musk is Creating a Robotic Cleaner to Simplify Home Errands
<
89
Approved Hospital Robots
Approved Hospital Robots
Panasonic's Hospi type R is Cleared for Personal Care Duties
<
88
Printed Robot Salamanders
Printed Robot Salamanders
Thsi 3D-Printed Animal Replicates the Movements of an Amphibian
<
87
Egg-Shaped Camera Drones
Egg-Shaped Camera Drones
The PowerEgg is Designed For Both Recreational and Professional Use
<
86
Expressive Robot Faces
Expressive Robot Faces
The BERT2 Robot Has Emotive Eyes, Eyebrows and Lips
<
85
Modular Gaming Robots
Modular Gaming Robots
The 'ZoZobot' Game Robot Offers Intuitive Fun for the Whole Family
<
84
Elderly-Assisting Robots
Elderly-Assisting Robots
This Social Robot is Designed to Keep the Elderly Engaged and Independent
<
83
Race Car-Inspired Drones
Race Car-Inspired Drones
Vantage Robotics Designed a Drone That's Based on a Formula 1 Race Car
<
82
Obstacle-Evading Drones
Obstacle-Evading Drones
The Typhoon H Pro Drone Uses Intel RealSense Technology
<
81
DIY Airplane Headphones
DIY Airplane Headphones
These Newly Proposed Airplane Headphones are Extremely Compact
<
80
Autonomous Rescue Aircraft
Autonomous Rescue Aircraft
Urban Aeronautics' Cormorant Aircraft Will Operate in Dangerous Areas
<
79
Compact Flatpack Drones
Compact Flatpack Drones
The ProDrone 'Byrd' Quadcopter Drone is Designed to be Ultra-Portable
<
78
Autonomous Electric Transport Vehicles
Autonomous Electric Transport Vehicles
The 'Navya Arma' Autonomous Bus Vehicle Holds 15 Passengers
<
77
Code-Teaching Toy Robots
Code-Teaching Toy Robots
The Kamibot Robot Makes it Easier to Teach Kids to Code
<
76
Robotic Beer Pong Toys
Robotic Beer Pong Toys
Pongbot Adds a Challenge to the Classic College Game
<
75
Indoor Drone Arenas
Indoor Drone Arenas
The DJI Arena Will Allow Novices to Improve Their Drone-Controlling Skills
<
74
Gecko-Inspired Robots
Gecko-Inspired Robots
This Climbing Robot Was Developed At Stanford University
<
73
Aging Simulation Suits
Aging Simulation Suits
The R70i Aging Experience Simulates Aging for Visitors at the CES 2016
<
72
Electric Car Brand Drones
Electric Car Brand Drones
The Tesla Video Drones Concept Provides 4K Capturing Capabilities
<
71
Bear-Shaped Home Automation Bots
Bear-Shaped Home Automation Bots
The 'Bearbot' Works as a Universal Remote in the Home
<
70
Laser Warfare Drones
Laser Warfare Drones
These Star War Drones Let You Engage In Epic Dogfights
<
69
DIY Robot Creatures
DIY Robot Creatures
UBTECH's Programmable Robotics Kit is Easy Enough for Kids to Use
<
68
DIY Home Spy Cameras
DIY Home Spy Cameras
This DIY Raspberry Pi SpyCam Can be Remotely Controlled via Smartphone
<
67
Educational Modular Robots
Educational Modular Robots
The Unigear Building Block Toy Robot Teaches Robotics and Construction
<
66
App-Controlled Indoor Drones
App-Controlled Indoor Drones
The Rook Drone Can Be Remotely Flown Inside Your Home
<
65
Autonomous Robotic Gardeners
Autonomous Robotic Gardeners
The 'FarmBot' Farming Machine Plants and Foster Gardens
<
64
Rolling Surveillance Robots
Rolling Surveillance Robots
The LG Rolling Bot Playfully Monitors the Home like a Sci-Fi Droid
<
63
Robotic Cocktail Makers
Robotic Cocktail Makers
This Robotic Mixologist is Powered by People’s Tweets
<
62
Connected Robotic Lawn Mowers
Connected Robotic Lawn Mowers
The Husqvarna Automower Makes Continuous Lawn Care Autonomous
<
61
LEGO-Based Robotics Kits
LEGO-Based Robotics Kits
The 'WeDo 2.0' Robotics Kit Debuted at CES 2016
<
60
Compact Forestry Robots
Compact Forestry Robots
The 'Green Eudemon' Device Works to Prevent Forest Fires
<
59
Voice-Activated Vacuums
Voice-Activated Vacuums
The Future Robot Cleaner Maps Your Home and Empties Itself
<
58
Garment-Sewing Robots
Garment-Sewing Robots
Sewbo Inc. Developed a Process That Lets Robots Sew T-Shirts
<
57
Sushi-Making Robots
Sushi-Making Robots
The Kawasaki Robostage Showcases an Automaton Preparing Sashimi
<
56
Realistic Robotic Dogs
Realistic Robotic Dogs
Wowwee's Robot Dog CHiP Will Act Similar to a Real Dog
<
55
Table Tennis-Teaching Robots
Table Tennis-Teaching Robots
The FORPHEUS Table Tennis Robot Can Analyze and Improve Your Game
<
54
Boat Maintenance Drones
Boat Maintenance Drones
The 'Keelcrab' Underwater Drone Performs Boat Cleaning and Inspection
<
53
Expressive Coding Toys
Expressive Coding Toys
Little Robot Friends Respond to Interactions with Cute Reactions
<
52
Gesture-Controlled Drone Accessories
Gesture-Controlled Drone Accessories
The Handrone Accepts Flying Commands Using Finger Movements
<
51
Voice-Controlled Robotic Toys
Voice-Controlled Robotic Toys
This Star Wars BB-8 Robot Toy Responds To Your Voice Commands
<
50
Delivery Drone Skyscrapers
Delivery Drone Skyscrapers
The Hive is Envisioned as a Futuristic Drone Docking Station
<
49
Personal Mobility Robots
Personal Mobility Robots
The Segway Robot is One Part Robot, One Part Scooter at CES 2016
<
48
Virtual Reality-Capturing Drones
Virtual Reality-Capturing Drones
Compared to Others on the Market, This VR Drone is Affordable
<
47
Balancing Monkey Robots
Balancing Monkey Robots
Spin Master's Zoomer Chimp That Crawls and Balances on Two Wheely Feet
<
46
Fast Food Robot Chefs
Fast Food Robot Chefs
Momentum Machines is Opening a Robot Fast Food Joint in San Francisco
<
45
Robotic AI Assistants
Robotic AI Assistants
The 'SmartAll' Home Robot Acts as a Butler for the Whole Family
<
44
Solar-Powered Watering Robots
Solar-Powered Watering Robots
'Naiad' is a Smart Watering System That Saves Water
<
43
Hybrid Drone Toys
Hybrid Drone Toys
The Flying Car Remote Controlled Vehicle Offers Advanced Functionality
<
42
Drone-Disabling Artillery
Drone-Disabling Artillery
The DroneShield 'DroneGun' Can Stop Drones from Infiltrating Airspace
<
41
Autonomous Robot Lawn Waterers
Autonomous Robot Lawn Waterers
The 'Growver' Watering System Detects What Section Needs Watering
<
40
Drone Experience Glasses
Drone Experience Glasses
The Dominator V3 First-Person Viewer Goggles Lets You See a Drone POV
<
39
Intelligent Robot Pets
Intelligent Robot Pets
The 'CHiPK9' Robot Dog is Programmed to Offer Loyalty and Affection
<
38
VR Drone Cameras
VR Drone Cameras
The EHANG 'GHOSTDRONE 2.0' Drone Allows for Immersive Flying Experiences
<
37
Conceptual Delivery Drones
Conceptual Delivery Drones
The 'FLYCAT' is a Personal Drone with Ample Space for Cargo
<
36
Haircut-Suggesting Robots
Haircut-Suggesting Robots
At 'PERCUT,' Pepper the Robot Suggests Hairstyles for Men
<
35
Affordable Wearable Exoskeletons
Affordable Wearable Exoskeletons
The Phoenix Exoskeleton Costs About As Much As a Mid-Range Car
<
34
Intelligent Robotic Suitcases
Intelligent Robotic Suitcases
'Olive' from Ikap Robotics Turns Your Luggage into a Robotic Helper
<
33
Robot-Made Sneakers
Robot-Made Sneakers
adidas' Futurecraft M.F.G Sneakers are Made Almost Entirely by Robots
<
32
Armored Toy Drones
Armored Toy Drones
This Compact Drone Comes Fitted With a Toy Gun and Flashlight
<
31
Robotic Vacuum Decals
Robotic Vacuum Decals
The Bel & Bel Star Wars Decals Merge Sci-Fi with Household Cleaning
<
30
3D-Printed Concrete Architecture
3D-Printed Concrete Architecture
This Team is Revolutionizing 3D-Printed Buildings by Using Layers
<
29
DIY Professional Drone Kits
DIY Professional Drone Kits
The FireClouds AirFrame Kit Comes with Everything to Make a Drone
<
28
Home Security Companion Robots
Home Security Companion Robots
The 'Roboming Fellow' Roving Robot is for the Home or Office
<
27
Robotic Pet Assistants
Robotic Pet Assistants
This Intelligent Pet Robot Eases Home Tasks and Offers Security
<
26
Foldable Drone Designs
Foldable Drone Designs
The Sphere Drone Boasts a Functional Yet Stylish Aesthetic
<
25
Wine-Serving Robots
Wine-Serving Robots
The Butler Robot Can Serve Wine That Suits Your Preference
<
24
Autonomous Beach Lifeguards
Autonomous Beach Lifeguards
The Amphibious Joint Lifeguard UAV Helps Provide Aid to Those in Need
<
23
Cute Family-Friendly Robots
Cute Family-Friendly Robots
The 'XIBOT' Smart Home Assistant Provides an Intuitive Experience
<
22
Helicopter-Inspired Flying Cars
Helicopter-Inspired Flying Cars
'Lilium' Creates Electric Plane Vessels for Personal Use
<
21
3D-Printed Cocktails
3D-Printed Cocktails
This 'Augmented Cocktail' is Enhanced with Printed Drink Decorations
<
20
Modular Styrofoam Drones
Modular Styrofoam Drones
The Airblocks Drone Kits Enable Makers to Create Floating or Flying Units
<
19
DIY Anti-Drone Guns
DIY Anti-Drone Guns
This DIY Raspberry Pi Drone Disabler Takes Out Pesky Digital Intruders
<
18
Robot-Run Farms
Robot-Run Farms
This Japanese Robot Farm is Monitored By Autonomous Systems
<
17
Outdoor Security Robots
Outdoor Security Robots
The 'ATOM AR3' Bot Interacts with People and Uses Facial Recognition
<
16
Home Automation Assistants
Home Automation Assistants
The 'Lola' Home Automation System Helps Streamline the IOT Experience
<
15
Dart-Deploying Drones
Dart-Deploying Drones
The Nerf N-Strike Elite Terrascout Drone Blaster is Stealth
<
14
Fire-Starting Drones
Fire-Starting Drones
This High-Tech Drone Could Help Prevent Wildfires From Getting Out Of Control
<
13
Actress-Inspired Robots
Actress-Inspired Robots
The 'Mark 1' Human Robot Features a 3D-Printed Skeleton
<
12
Window-Washing Drones
Window-Washing Drones
The 'WINBOT 830' Window Cleaning Robot Makes Household Chores Automatic
<
11
Hovering Selfie Drones
Hovering Selfie Drones
The Hover is a Flying Camera Made to Capture Photos from an Ideal Height
<
10
Disaster Zone Rescue Drones
Disaster Zone Rescue Drones
The DDS Rescue Robot Walks or Drives to Those in Need
<
9
Robotic AI Toys
Robotic AI Toys
The 'Woobo' Looks Like a Furry Monster but It's Also an Educational Toy for Kids
<
8
Humanoid Military Robots
Humanoid Military Robots
'Ivan the Terminator' is a Powerful Military Android from Russia
<
7
Autonomous Indoor Gardens
Autonomous Indoor Gardens
'Véritable' Grows Herbs and Vegetables with No Effort Required
<
6
Home Robot Assistants
Home Robot Assistants
The Zenbo Robot Can Understand and Carry Out Spoken Commands
<
5
Rolling Robotic Toys
Rolling Robotic Toys
This Robot Companion Helps Children with Developmental Disorders
<
4
Robot-Run Pizzerias
Robot-Run Pizzerias
'Zume Pizza' Uses Robots to Makes Its Pies
<
3
Anti-Drone Bazookas
Anti-Drone Bazookas
The SkyWall 100 Net Bazooka Offers Enhanced Airspace Control
<
2
Adorable Egg-Shaped Robots
Adorable Egg-Shaped Robots
The Tapia AI Companion Robot Acts as a Personal Assistant and a Friend
<
1
Free-Rotation VR Pods
Free-Rotation VR Pods
The Rotating Krush Moveo Simulation Pod is Showing Off At CES 2016
<