Weird smart home gadgets of CES 2020: Toilet paper robots and more

This is a Digital Trends story.

The biggest consumer electronics show in the world is here and when it comes to weird smart home gadgets, CES 2020 hasn’t disappointed. So far, we’ve seen a robot that will make cleaning up after a toilet session easier, a robot cook named Julia and a headless cat snuggle pillow.

Here’s a roundup of all the weirdest stuff we’ve seen so far, but keep checking back throughout the week for more bizarre goodies. Also, be sure to check out all our CES 2020 coverage live from Las Vegas.

Charmin’s RollBot and V.I. Pee

There’s probably been at least one time in your life when you were on the toilet and ran out of toilet paper. Instead of doing the dirty shuffle to grab a roll from the linen closet, praying that no one sees you with your pants down, Charmin’s new RollBot can retrieve the roll for you. You connect to the bot with a Bluetooth connection, then summon the TP butler with your phone (yeah, Charmin knows you’re already sitting there with your phone).

Speaking of your phone, Charmin also wants to keep you entertained while you’re on the porcelain throne. With V.I. Pee you can have a full A.I. experience while you go using an Oculus Rift S VR Helmet.

Sauce Slider

Have you ever wanted to move a dollop of ketchup from one plate to another without making a mess? The makers of Sauce Slider apparently have. The device can move sauces from one area to another without messing up the shape of the sauce.

Julia the kitchen robot

If you’ve ever seen The Jetsons, you’ve probably have dreamt of having a robot that can cook and clean for you. Well, Julia comes close. This robot by CookingPal can weigh food with a built-in scale, chop, mix or blend, emulsify, grate, boil, knead, and steam. Then, when it’s done, it can even wash itself.

Petit Qoobo

This is a weird invention with a cool idea behind it. The Petit Qoobo by Yukai Engineering is a headless cat robot that is soft, squeezable and it even purrs. It was created to be a comforting hugging companion for those that can’t have pets, such as those in nursing homes or care facilities.

Bocco Emo

Bocco Emo, also brought to you by Yukai Engineering, is basically an Echo Dot that’s meant to be a friend and companion. Instead of Alexa, you get a little snowman robot named Bocco. It can send voice and text messages to your friends, tell you the weather, control smart devices and talk to you like an old buddy.

Lumi

Lumi by Pampers Connected Care System is a baby monitoring system that includes a sensor that attaches to an infant’s diaper and works in conjunction with a smart camera to track sleeping habits. It also alerts parents when the diaper has been soiled. Adding a button to your baby’s diaper seems strange, but if it helps keep them safe, it’s worth it.

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