Sometimes, it’s a little hard to listen to dry, good-for-you
messages about environmentalism. But a robot? That’s cute? Where
I do start recycling?! That seems to be the idea behind the
concept ‘Plant-O-Bot’, a robot that gains energy from the plants
that it stores in its own body. The adorable little thing has an
energy meter on the front that lets you know how the robot is
doing: green and it and its plants are doing fine; red, and both
the Plant-O-Bot and its green friends aren’t doing so hot.
Designed by Bharoto Yekti, the concept aims to work as a kind of
‘living’ metaphor for our relationship to the Earth. On top of
that, Yekti has a whole marketing and merchandise program
planned, with mugs and pens to sell to fans. In terms of a
becoming real thing, there is of course that minor problem of
how to actually harness energy from plants – you know, without
burning them. Still, an admirable idea with just the right
amount of cuteness.