The new Segway can also be a cute robot companion

The robotics platform, developed by Intel and Xiaomi-backed robotics startup Ninebot, which bought Segway in April last year, is capable of sensing its surroundings, recognising objects, people and voices and can be extended to perform a variety of other tasks through a development kit.

  Tap a button and out folds the head to start sensing its surroundings. Photograph: Ninebot

 Then the little robot can follow you around, take photos, carry goods and respond to voice commands (very much like a boyfriend. Just kidding). Photograph: Ninebot

The little rolling robot can follow you around, has been shown sending video and taking pictures of its owners, carrying supplies and shopping, all while peering out at the world with two glowing circles for eyes.

The device is part of a new collaborative open robotics development platform powered by Intel’s Atom and RealSense chips and cameras. A developer kit will be available in the second half of 2016, with a commercial version released at a later date.

It remains to be seen whether there will be much appetite for more self-balancing boards after a Christmas of cheap, exploding “hoverboards”. 

 It can even talk to strangers for you. Photograph: Ninebot

  Watch the children for you. Photograph: Ninebot

  Or get serious with arms and a developer. Photograph: Ninebot