Before you ask, no, this isn’t a simple fluffy white pillow. It is anything but that, in fact. Just the mention of Japan would be enough to let you know that robotics have something to do with this innocent looking lump.

Strangely, the white ‘lump’ is a floor cleaning robot titled Fukitorimushi. The Fukitorimushi made its first appearance at the Tokyo Fiber Senseware expo held at Milan, Italy. Fukitorimushi, or the Wipe-Up Bug, was designed by Panasonic and has a covering of super-absorbent nanofiber cloth made by textile maker Tejin Ltd. The robot would crawl around the floor in worm-like fashion searching for dirt and cleansing everything that it scrapes against, returning to its charging station he moment its work is done. Apparently, the super cloth covering is sticky enough to collect the microscopic dust left over from vacuum cleaners.

There is no information yet on whether the robot is in production or how much it would cost if that happens. Interestingly, the makers of the product believe the task of having to change Fukitorimushi’s nanofiber dressing would lead to an emotional attachment between robot and human fibre. If Japan ever intends to accomplish that in the English speaking world, though, it may have to change the name of Fuki-whatever. Heck, just name your pet robot something simple like ‘Bob’.

Via: PinkTentacle/TokyoFibre