Mirai is the robotic doll that will transform your life

DANNY Choo is on his way to Australia with the world’s first robotic doll. His invention has some scary capabilities, but he promises to use them for good.

HE’S the son of famous Malaysian shoe designer Jimmy Choo, but Danny Choo has made a name for himself by standing on his own two feet.

With his invention that is part Barbie, part Siri, Choo is heading down under for the Sydney Manga and Anime Show.

“Eventually, I want her to replace your mobile phone ... She will be able to everything your mobile phone can do, apart from fit in your bag,” he said.

Choo’s 3D printed dolls are created in collaboration with fashion designers, made from soft vinyl and enhanced with artificial intelligence. In the not-too-distant future, he will unveil a model that can act as a guard dog, by integrating with home surveillance camera and smoke detector technology.

Two years ago Choo developed Mirai Suenaga, the world’s first robot fashion doll that you can control using your smartphone, based on the anime character he had created as a mascot for his website and television show. The 60cm doll is Choo’s flagship product and comes in both a manual and automated version.

The Smart Doll Plus is a near life-size model in development, which Choo describes on his website as “the future of home appliances”. The 120cm tall robotic android has “functionality to walk around on her own and pick up objects which she can recognise with her built in artificial intelligence”.

“As some of you know, I also do work for the Japanese government and after networking with other ministries, I was specifically forbidden to sell this technology to any military body,” Choo wrote on his website, citing the three laws of robotics which state that a robot may not injure a human being and must obey human orders, “except where such orders would conflict with the first law”.

“I do however believe strongly that humans have the right to defend themselves, so I have programmed Smart Doll Plus to also be able to deal with burglars, but deal with them in such a manner that they do not come to harm,” Choo wrote.

“I have given Smart Doll tools that would only tickle a burglar, such as pepper spray, 1000 volt stun guns and portable flame thrower.”

Choo with his Smart Doll which can be controlled by a smartphone.

Choo’s Smart Doll is based on the anime character Mirai Suenaga.

Born and raised in England, Danny Choo started his career working in his father’s studio making shoes, but he developed a passion for Japanese culture which led him to make the bold decision to move there to pursue a career in IT.

After starting a daily blog that showcased his life in Japan, he amassed a world following and has become a pop culture icon.

He now runs his own company Mirai Inc focused on bringing Japanese culture to the world through a Japanese TV show called Culture Japan.

“It’s important to live the life you love, rather than live the lives of those around you,” Choo said.

“There are a lot of folks out there who say living your passion doesn’t pay the bills, but they are the voices of those who have failed.”

Choo will speak at Rosehill Gardens on August 8-9 at the Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH!).

Jimmy Choo is a luxury fashion designer best known for his handmade women’s shoes. Picture: ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Details: smash.org.au

Originally published as Mirai is the robotic doll that will transform your life