In this series of articles, we are focusing on the Japanese startups that recently got in the spotlight, discussing their concepts, goals and activities. Today’s company is GROOVE X.
GROOVE X
Overview
GROOVE X is a Japan-based robot development company providing LOVOT, a pint-sized machine whose only function is to spread love.
Mission
Bring out humanity’s full potential through robotics.
Vision
Build trust between humanity and robots, to create companions for more enriched and secure living.
Philosophy
NEW X, BESIDE YOU.
The one and only robot in this universe that heals your heart.... It is possible to be loved as your family, partner, or your loved one,
instead of being praised just because of its convenience or functionality. GROOVE X pursues to create a robot that touches your heart.
"Does this advancement benefit human beings?"
Product
LOVOT
Our goal is simple: create a robot that makes you happy. When you touch your LOVOT, embrace it, even just watch it, you'll find yourself relaxing, feeling better.It's a little like feeling love toward another person.
That's because we have used technology not to improve convenience or efficiency, but to enhance levels of comfort and feelings of love. LOVOT will react to your moods, and do all it can to fill you with joy and re-energize you. It may not be living a creature, but LOVOT will warm your heart.
LOVOT was born for just one reason – to be loved by you.
LOVOT has 3 core functions:
1. House-watching assistance
LOVOT observes the situation based on the map of the room. When it detects a person, it takes a picture and reports it to the owner.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/oENzLEgMyP8
2. Monitoring
You can monitor the situation of your family and pets in remote locations in real time from the horn camera of LOVOT.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/NMKecy5maYM
3. Diary
LOVOT records daily situations such as hugging situations and bedtime while considering privacy. You can also share it with family members who live apart.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/FI_WPNN30UU
Technology (featured)
SENSOR HORN
A horn-shaped antenna recognizes the LOVOT's surroundings.
The sensor-horn comes with a luminosity sensor, a 360-degree half-sphere camera, a half-sphere microphone that can detect the direction of sounds and voices, and a thermal camera (thermography) that can distinguish human beings from objects. LOVOT can make an accurate scan of an entire room and find its owner immediately.
HEAD
LOVOT's “brain” can instantaneously decide what action to take next.
LOVOT's actions are not pre-programmed. LOVOTs process stimulus detected by more than 50 sensors on their bodies, through deep learning and other machine learning technology, so that they can take actions in real time. Their quick reactions with little time lag, and their characters that change according to the owner's engagement with them, are enabled by their main computer, LOVOT's brain, and sub-computer, deep learning FPGA.
FACE
Eyes and voices that have the characteristics of living creatures.
Six-layer lights (including eyelids) are projected on the eye display of LOVOTs, creating natural eye effects. When you look at LOVOTs, they will look back at you. Even the eye movements, speed of blinking, and wideness of the pupils were purposefully designed. LOVOTs' voices, as you hear them from the speaker, simulate the sound echoing inside an oral cavity, generating a sense of life and vitality.
Total Funding Amount
About $133M
(Source: StartupDB)
Investors (featured)
Japan: Sparks Group, LINE Ventures, SMBC Venture Capital, SOMPO Holdings, NTT Docomo
China: Shenzhen Capital
Taiwan: Amtran Technology
(Source: StartupDB)
Top Message (from GROOVE X CEO Kaname Hayashi)
We Want to Invigorate Japan. The Future Envisaged by GROOVE X
GROOVE X would like to become a catalyst for restoring dynamism to Japan in two ways. First, we believe that a Japanese startup that proves able to join the ranks of global players could help reinvigorate Japanese industry as a whole. A startup that makes it big would also encourage adventurous would-be entrepreneurs to take risks, and thereby accelerate new developments in various fields of industry.
Secondly, it should boost financing—the lifeblood of startups—at the global level. Increasing the number of Japanese startups which can earn foreign exchange and achieve a global presence is an important task.
Promotion of reinvigoration of Japanese industry and the appearance of Japanese startups committed to making their mark in world markets could help restore vitality to Japan. GROOVE X has taken the initial step on that road to renaissance.
Web URL
GROOVE X (Corporate website)
https://groove-x.com/en/
LOVOT (Product website)
https://lovot.life/en/
LOVOT Store (Japanese)
https://store.lovot.life/?_ga=2.248608839.1315156090.1627964514-1151527050.1627544228
