There have only been 4 cute robots in all of history – Baymax, Wall.E, EVE, and Rosey the robot from the Jetsons. No other robot’s managed to really strike that level of mass appeal (fine, okay, Astro Boy too) with a design that feels capable yet emotionally disarming. That’s also the sort of vibe the Kriket 3000 is going for, with its cute-meets-capable design.
The Kriket 3000 comes from the mind of industrial designer and artist Shaun Wellens, who’s worked on his fair share of robots. This one, unlike the droids from before, channels a design that borrows from the past. “Inspired by products of the 60s and 70s, Kriket aims to tap into a sense of nostalgia by blending retro-futurism with modern-day design sensibilities. It aims to reintroduce a spirit of excitement and optimism for a brighter future,” Wellens says.
Designer: Shaun Wellens
The last time Wellens worked on a robot design, ChatGPT wasn’t even a thing. The last 4 years has seen a LOT of changes in the rise of AI and how it’s shaped society. Most humans overwhelmingly believe that AI is helpful, but also potentially dangerous. The need for tech to inspire confidence and a sense of safety is truly paramount at this time, and Wellens tried to channel that with Kriket’s design.
The simplest way to make a robot look harmless is to ditch sharp lines and corners. To that end, the Kriket’s soft visual language, combined with its white colorway, gives off a sense of ‘sterilized’ cuteness. Sort of like Baymax from the movie Big Hero 6. Unlike Baymax, though, Kriket 3000’s design is as detailed as it gets. Joints are present at all crucial parts of the arms and legs, there’s a battery backpack, faux ribs, and an antenna that resembles a halo of sorts, giving the robot its angelic appeal!
The head has a few notable elements – for starters, it isn’t shaped like a head – it’s much wider, creating a disproportion that makes the Kriket look ‘young’, just like how kids and early teens have larger heads in proportion to their body before they grow up. Multiple cameras placed on the Kriket 3000’s head give it 360° awareness, while sensors on the body detect distance and depth. A screen on the front serves as Kriket’s ‘face’, showing its eyes that I assume emote the way most robot eyes do. The back, however, has another display that shows Kriket’s battery levels. Is it needed? No… but does it give the robot a sense of data-transparency? Yes.
Kriket 3000 was created as a mere concept, but it sets a framework for what robots need to look like if they have to inspire confidence. This one has the appeal of ‘staff’, with how approachable it looks (especially with its name tag on the front), and how adorable it looks too. Do I see a world in which Kriket 3000 exists? Yes sure, I’d probably choose this little guy over one of those scary dogs at Boston Dynamics…
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