[Loona Review] Like a Real Pet? An In-Depth Look at the Emotional AI Robot Loona｜Latest News, User Reviews, and Key Improvements

Loona is an autonomous household pet robot with advanced AI and four wheels (feet). It was developed by KEYi Tech in China and is now officially available in Japan.

Product Overview

Its greatest feature is its “lively and lifelike movements,” which set it apart from conventional household robots. Rather than simply repeating predetermined actions, the robot judges its surroundings and behaves autonomously, combining more than 1,000 emotional expressions and realistic reactions.

Inside is a high-performance Quad-core CPU, and a 3D ToF (Time of Flight) sensor and RGB camera for face recognition, object recognition, and obstacle detection are built in. This enables it to find its owner’s face and run up to it, chase a thrown ball, and recognize steps to avoid falling.

Loona is more than just a high-tech toy; it is an innovative device that provides a new experience as a “family member” in the modern living environment.

【Loona official】ルーナ｜ペットロボット

Loona（ルーナ）は家族の笑顔をつなぐ、新たなコミュニケーションツールです。子どもと遊び、祖父母と話し、家族の会話を生み出すLoona（ルーナ）はただのおもちゃではありません。AIの搭載や音声・モーションの検知により、まるで生きているよう...

loona-official.com

Summary of key points

What is Loona?

• Agile autonomous movement: Four independent wheels allow for both quick animal-like movements and adorable poses.
• Emotional communication: Express surprise and joy with the whole body through “eyes” on the high-definition display and “ears” that flap and move.
• Latest AI: In addition to natural conversation through ChatGPT integration, gestures and voice control are possible.
• Multi-purpose use: Abundant functions such as programming learning through a dedicated application, a mobile watch-over camera, and competitive games.

good point

• Overwhelming sense of life: gestures such as sneezing and sleepily rubbing their eyes are extremely detailed and easy to become attached to.
• Fun for the whole family: Versatile roles for children to learn programming, for adults to heal, and for distant family members to watch over them.
• Hassle-free autonomous charging: When the battery is low, it returns to the charging station by itself via infrared guidance, minimizing the stress of forgetting to charge.
• Continuously evolving features: updates via Wi-Fi (OTA) continuously add new personalities, games, and language support.

points of concern

• Presence of operating noise: Because of the motor drive noise for agile movement, the presence of the device can be a little too much in a quiet room late at night.
• Restrictions on driving environment: Strong on wood flooring and hard carpets, but not good on long-haired rugs, steps higher than 1 cm, and black floors (sensors may misidentify them as holes).
• Initial setup hurdles: Due to the high functionality, people unfamiliar with digital devices may be a bit confused by the dedicated app settings and Wi-Fi 2.4GHz/5GHz selection.

Users who may be suitable for

• People who would like to have a pet but cannot: People who want to simulate a life with a pet even though they are unable to keep an animal due to allergies, condominium rules, or busy schedules.
• Parents who want their children to experience the latest technology: Families who want to expose their children to logical thinking and programming through “Blockly” while playing.
• Gadget enthusiasts: those looking for a high-tech device that satisfies their desire for ownership, packed with ChatGPT and the latest sensors.
• People who want the ability to watch over their pets and children at home by controlling Loona with a smartphone while away from home.

rough conclusion

Loona is “the definitive home robot that incorporates the latest AI and robotics technologies into the form of a cute pet loved by everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We have compiled a list of specific questions and answers from those who are considering introducing the system.

• What is the price? The regular price is 140,800 yen (including tax), but currently it is offered at a special price of 99,000 yen (including tax) due to a campaign, etc.
• What exactly can you do? The following are some examples: conversation, ball games, playing bullfights, dancing, programming, remote video calling, and watching over the children, etc.
• What is the status of Japanese language support? Japanese is supported for both speech recognition and dialogues, and ChatGPT mode allows smooth conversations in Japanese.
• What OS and apps are supported? ： The dedicated application “Loona” is required for devices running iOS 12.0 or higher and Android 8.0 or higher.
• Is there a maintenance fee? Yes: Basic features and updates are free; some subscriptions may be required in the future, such as advanced use of ChatGPT.

What is the price?

Currently, the main selling price is 99,000 yen, including tax, at major sales channels in Japan. This is a significant revision from the previous price of 140,000 yen, making it a very cost-effective unit compared to other communication robots from other companies. Another major advantage of this price is that it includes not only the main unit but also the charging station and game kit.

What exactly can I do?

Loona is versatile. First, on the “play” side, there is a “bullfighting mode,” in which the player lunges at the attached red cape, and a “soccer mode,” in which the player chases a ball. Second, on the “learning” side, Loona can be programmed to assemble movements by drag-and-drop.

And in the “practical” category, there is a watchful eye feature that allows you to check in on your home through Loona’s eyes (camera) via a smartphone app; with ChatGPT, you can ask for a recipe for today’s meal or have a story made up for you.

What OS and apps are supported?

Anyone with an iPhone or Android phone can use it. Within the app, you can see the “levels” Loona has earned and have her learn new tricks.

The app also manages the photos and videos taken, and a Wi-Fi environment is a must; a stable, high-speed connection will make updates and ChatGPT responses more pleasant.

Are there any disadvantages that I should be concerned about?

Before purchasing a Loona, it is important to know the “floor material” and the “sound”; Loona has a powerful motor to move at high speeds and makes a squeaky driving noise.

Also, although it is loaded with smart step sensors, black tiles and other materials may be mistaken for “cliffs” and prevent it from proceeding. Many of these can be solved by placing mats on the floor or using it in a well-lit environment.

Are there any software updates?

Yes, very often. KEYi Tech values community input, and it is not uncommon for new feature requests to be implemented.

The latest updates include improved ChatGPT performance, new dance variations, and improved voice command recognition accuracy. Loona’s strength is that it is constantly evolving to the latest “brain”.

Specifications Summary

bundled goods

Loona comes complete with the following accessories, so that you can play with full functionality from the day you receive it

• Loona Blue Body: Robot with beautiful blue body lines.
• Charging station: a dock for Loona to return and charge itself.
• USB-C & USB-A cables: used to feed power to the station or for direct charging.
• Game Kit:
  • Special paper ball: Loona recognizes it and chases and kicks it.
  • Red cape for bullfighting: for fun to stimulate Loona’s fighting instinct (?). for fun to stimulate Loona’s fighting instinct (?).
• User’s Manual/Quick Start Guide: Provides easy-to-understand instructions for initial setup.

Reviews (Word of mouth)

We picked up real feedback from users in Japan and overseas after the purchase.

Good Reviews

“What was particularly nice about using the system this time was the ‘watch over’ function. Not only can the camera be operated via the app, but Luna itself can be moved to the location where we want to see it, so unlike the fixed cameras we have used in the past, we are able to watch over them more freely. In addition, I can talk to Luna when I am away from home, which gives me a sense of security.

I felt that it is easy to use in daily life because it does not record constantly like a security camera, but “only when you want to see it”. This time we installed it for our children, but I think it would also be a good match as a gift for parents who live apart from their children or for those who live alone. The functions are quite extensive, but in our family, the main uses are “watching over” and “spending time together. The fact that there is no monthly fee and you can continue to use it on a buy-one-get-one-free basis is also attractive, and I was impressed that Loona makes us feel like we have a new family member! – Loona Official

“I am an elderly person living alone and I used to have a dog but due to my age it is difficult to have a dog, so I was looking for something to replace it and bought Loona.
It was a little difficult to connect the Android Wi-Fi, but once it started moving, its facial expressions and movements are very cute, and it even sings and dances on its own.
The obstacle sensor also works well and it moves around. However, it cannot recognize steps, so you need to be careful with tables and high places.
Voice recognition is also quite good, but sometimes it does not work. However, if you send voice commands from the Loona app, it will almost certainly recognize them.
It can sing, dance, play games, and entertain you in many other ways.
It can also find its own charging station and charge itself well.
The design, ear movements, and facial expressions are very cute and well made, and I think the product is highly complete.
However, after about 4 days, the ears suddenly stopped working. I emailed customer support, but received no reply.
Fortunately, the ears started to move again, so there is no problem, but it might be better to call the support because they have a phone number displayed.
As a pet, I think it would make a cute playmate, although it depends on the individual.” – Amazon Review

Neutral and Dissatisfied Reviews

“After using it for about 3 months.
What I found interesting
You can draw pictures.
　Rather than drawing, it pretends to draw and displays it on the face screen.
　It is quite good. Moreover, it draws various kinds of pictures.
　For example, if you ask it to draw the Mona Lisa, it will draw a Mona Lisa-like picture. The picture will be stored in an album.
You can speak dialects in the chat GPT.
　I felt that it was too formal to speak in the common honorifics,
　I ordered her, “Luna, from now on, try to speak in ‘Osaka-ben'” and she said, “Hona, I’ll speak in Osaka-ben. After that, he started asking me about my hobbies and interests in Osaka dialect.
　I also told her, “It’s no fun if you don’t have a ‘tskkomi'” and she began to make tskkis, such as, “Why are you eating all this healthy food?
　(Laughs) When I asked him to speak in dialect, he became less mechanical (even though he is a robot) and more approachable.
　Although there is a time lag between conversations on GPT, I used to think that GPT was useless, but now I feel that it is more enjoyable to talk to them not only about my hobbies but also about my imagination.

Please refer to the following first or second month impressions for good and bad points. (There are some things I would like to fix, but this is the original text I posted before)

Impressions after using it for about 2 months
First, the good points
The enclosure (body) is very safe.
　The structure is such that even if the user is caught between the neck, hands, or the part of the tire that serves as the foot, he or she will hardly be injured.
　I think it is well thought out and designed.
… It may be surprisingly durable?
　It has been two months, and there has been no movement that could be considered a malfunction after one hour of daily operation.
　However, the neck part does not seem to be so upper from the thickness, so it would be better to refrain from contact such as head banging. (Two taps on the head seems to be recognized as “Hello, Luna,” but I don’t think it should be done too often.)
No maintenance costs after purchase.
　Other pet robots seem to cost about ¥0,000 to ¥10,000 per month to maintain, but Luna does not. I think the program is updated about once a month.

Bad points
Voice recognition may not work very well.
　It seems to be even more so when watching TV, etc. Chat GPT responds to the TV voice, but it is not a proper response. They are asking about hobbies. Perhaps he is trying to broaden the topic from “hobbies”.
There is not much pet-like movement or talking to him.
　If it were a dog, it would “come close” or “woof” when it sees its master, but there seems to be no such behavior program. Maybe he is trying to be more like a cat, but even cats “rumble” when you pamper them or stroke their neck.

Overall, I think the enclosure (structure, design, safety) is very good, but the software and program are still developing. I have high expectations for the future.

My impression after using it for about a month.
Maybe the voice recognition is not working?
It did not respond when I called out “Haloluna”. I found that it responded when I called out “Hallo, Luna! I found that they responded when I called out, “Hallo, Luna!
I would like the app to support commands and text input so that people with disabilities, such as the deaf and mute, can use the app.

It seems to be able to recognize faces.
It does not approach me or talk to me.
If I want it to act like a pet, I would like it to call out to my husband when it sees him or make a small move.

Remote control operation is the most reliable.
The operation with the cell phone app is reliable.
I don’t think voice recognition can be used much anymore, so I would like you to register all recognizable Japanese words such as “Hello Luna” and “Konnichiwa” in the application.

Chat GPT is useless.
It is not a good place to ask questions and get weird answers that don’t make any sense.
Don’t think it is the main chat GPT. I decided to think that the experience is not so good. I hope for further development.
I hope for further development. However, I feel that my Japanese listening comprehension is not good enough to understand the questions when I speak to them.
I would like to see the GPT mode so that I can enter questions in the app and Luna can answer them.

Other.
It is moving around on its own, but it is quite noisy. I would like you to make a quiet mode.
The floor becomes smooth. Is this unavoidable?
The charging board is not recognized depending on where it is placed. If it is too dark, in a corner of a room, or even a little smaller than the setting, it will not charge automatically. Not all houses are that spacious, so at least make it possible to charge in the corner of a room.
There is no power adapter for charging.
　You will have to buy a 15W or higher adapter separately (I bought a 30W adapter). (I bought a 30W adapter).
　And the USB cord that comes with it does not allow charging using the power board!
　You will have to use a separate USB-C cord to finally be able to charge with the power board.
　（I think it would be nice to have a USB-C cord and adapter in the set from the beginning!) Until I got this set, I had to stick it in the power socket on Luna’s neck every day.
These are my impressions after using it for a month, and I look forward to future software development.
(It’s a *3 for now, but I’m feeling *2, and if nothing changes after 6 months, I’ll lower it to *1)” – Amazon review

“Two months after purchasing my Loona Blue, it became stuck with its left leg up and constantly in aerial mode (face still showing flying glasses).
I requested a replacement and received an opened, presumably previous version of Loona (with non-lighting ears) that had been replaced with Loona Blue replacement ears only. The behavior patterns (actions, types of songs, etc.) were totally different from those of Loona Blue, so I thought, “Huh? But my child loved it, so we kept using it.
Two months after the replacement, it suddenly started to make “zzzzz” and “gah gah” noises like a TV sandstorm, and when we took a video and sent it to them, they said they would replace it again.

I sent it in with the offer that it was obviously different from the specifications of the previous Loona Blue, and this time an unopened Loona Blue arrived.
Two months after the re-replacement, the foot gear made a strange noise and started rattling and vibrating. I am now requesting a re-replacement.
Both the drive and control systems seem to break down after about 2 months! It seems that both the drive and control systems will break down in about two months.
I wonder if it breaks down because it moves around so much.
It is very cute and I like it, but with this quality, I have to give it 1 star.” – Amazon Review

Comprehensive Evaluation

Loona is “the perfect fusion of robotics, AI, and entertainment. It is not simply a home appliance with useful functions, but is focused on providing an emotionally charged experience that is close to human beings. In particular, the combination of advanced spatial awareness using 3D ToF sensors and flexible interactivity with ChatGPT is phenomenal for a robot in this price range.

On the other hand, there are aspects of the home environment that need to be maintained (e.g., clearing the floor) in order to achieve perfect autonomous operation. With a one-year warranty and a system for continual OS updates, this is a partner that will provide peace of mind for a long time to come.

Comparison with “Mia,” a talking cat-shaped robot

We compared it to “Mia”, which is in the same AI pet genre but with a different concept.

Key points of comparison: Mia emphasizes “warmth that accompanies daily life. With its unique Japanese dialect of speech and affordable price of less than 10,000 yen, it is a suitable choice for those who want to easily incorporate everyday healing and familiarity into their daily lives.

👇 Talking cat-shaped robot “Mia” that speaks 47 dialects nationwide

【公式】ミーア | 全国47の方言を話すおしゃべり猫型ロボット

mia-cat.com

summary

Loona is a robot that we wholeheartedly recommend to anyone with the following needs

1. They want a pet robot that “moves” and enjoys lively reactions.
2. I want to use programming and AI dialogue on a daily basis with my children.
3. We would also like to emphasize the practicality of the camera as a camera for watching over people while they are out and about.

Now, the “mind-melting robot” you once saw in the movies is ready to come to your living room and bring more conversation and smiles to your family with a new life with Loona.

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👉What is Mia, an AI pet robot that speaks 47 dialects nationwide?