OlloBot is giving its family companion robot a redesign before sending it to Kickstarter.
The company unveiled the updated identity design for OlloNi SS1, its AI companion cyber-pet robot, and announced that its Ollo-family plush IP blind box series will make its North American debut at a July pop-up experience at Pika Park Houston. The OlloNi SS1 is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter in August 2026.
The SS1 is being pitched as more than a cute robot toy. OlloBot says the new version upgrades four major areas: industrial design, AI hardware, software ecosystem and character IP. The company says the goal is to create a robot that can grow with a family instead of simply reacting to commands or displaying emotions.
The design change starts with the body. OlloBot says SS1 moves away from the bulkier, toy-like feel of the earlier S1 and uses a mix of PC/ABS, soft-touch silicone and plush fabric elements. The robot is more compact and rounded, with expressive arms that have more freedom of movement. That gives the robot a softer home-friendly look, which matters when the whole pitch is emotional companionship rather than industrial performance.
The expression system is also getting an upgrade. SS1 uses an Interactive Emotional Display Panel tied to environmental sensing, allowing the robot to respond to the room around it. OlloBot says voice recognition range has been extended from 2 meters to 5 meters, so the robot can hear and respond from farther away inside a living space.
The hardware is getting more serious too. SS1 has a multi-chip AI architecture for interaction, environmental perception and autonomous movement. Its camera system has been upgraded to 4K with facial recognition, and the robot includes a physical privacy shutter that users can close when they want.
OlloBot is also leaning into the smart home angle. SS1 integrates with Smart Life and is meant to connect with a broader smart home ecosystem, including Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa. The company says its Memory Recognition Module combines face, body and voice recognition to identify family members, including pets.
Privacy is a major part of the pitch. OlloBot says SS1 processes data locally and gives users control over their data. With OlloBot AI NAS integration, the system can support up to 60TB of local storage, with family visual materials stored inside the household rather than handed off elsewhere.
The strangest and most interesting idea may be the Heart Memory Module. OlloBot describes it as a removable storage core that carries the robot’s memories, learned behavior and personality traits. If the hardware gets old, the company says those memories can transfer to another body.
Before the Kickstarter launch, the company is bringing its Ollo-family blind box collectibles to Pika Park Houston. The series includes five regular character designs and a hidden variant, giving families and collectors a physical way into the OlloBot universe before the robot itself arrives.
Join the Discussion