Meromi’s furry robot companion is now available on Kickstarter

Between a new sea TVs, robovacsand Smart glassesYukai Engineering’s Merumi was a unique standout at CES 2025 earlier this year. The little robot has no practical purpose other than to look cute and put a smile on people’s faces by imitating an inquisitive personality. The company had planned to release the companion robot sometime in mid-2025, but just weeks before the end of the year, Mirumi is finally available for pre-order through Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

Yukai Engineering originally expected Mirumi to be priced around $70, but… A lot has happened Around the world since January, the little robot will cost about twice that amount. Early Kickstarter backers can pre-order Meromi in gray, pink, or ivory fur for 18,360 yen, or about $118 with discounts. If it slows down, the crowdfunding price will end at 21,803 yen, or about $140, but that’s still discounted from the full retail price, which is expected to be $150.

After the Kickstarter, there will be more of a wait, as the Mirumi isn’t expected to ship until April 2026 at the earliest, but as with any crowdfunded product, it’s not a bad idea to prepare for a delay.

instead of Floor cleaning or Cut your grassMeromi is positioned as a companion robot, but will often benefit others. Using a long pair of arms, the robot attaches to the straps or handles of bags, and appears to look around curiously by turning its head and moving it from side to side.

Using the distance sensor, Merumi can also detect nearby people and appears to focus his gaze and attention on them, but also mimics the shy response of an infant by shaking his head and turning away when someone suddenly appears or touches him. Mirumi isn’t full of functionality, and that may be its biggest appeal. He just hangs out with you and quietly observes the world around you while sometimes brightening someone’s day with just a look.