nékojita fufu is a mini robot that cools down hot drinks at CES 2025

Yukai Engineering brings mini robot Nékojita FuFu to CES 2025

Yukai Engineering unveils Nékojita FuFu at CES 2025, a portable and attachable mini robot that cools down hot drinks and food by blowing on them so people don’t have to. The Tokyo-based robotics startup brings the device to Las Vegas for the annual trade show, which runs between January 7th and 10th, 2025. The mini robot has an internal fan that produces the cooling air and breathes it out through its mouth.

At CES 2025, the startup shows how the mini robot works. It features an algorithm called the ‘Fu-ing System’. The setup allows for the mini robot to randomize its blowing strength and rhythm the same way people do. With this, the device can help cool down the drinks and food’s temperature. After CES 2025, Yukai Engineering expects to release its mini robot across Japan in mid-2025.

all images courtesy of Yukai Engineering

Bringing down hot temperature within 3 to 5 minutes

What sets Nékojita FuFu by Yukai Engineering apart is that it’s an attachable and portable mini robot and stand-alone device. Unlike conventional heat-reducing mug cups, users don’t need to plug it in because it has its own rechargeable battery. CES 2025 visitors can see that the mini robot resembles the silhouette of a cub. The robot’s name, however, combines the Japanese words, ‘neko-jita,’ or ‘cat tongue’. It comes from the phrase used to describe an intolerance of hot food.

The design has ‘paws’, which serve as its anchor so it can hang itself on any foodware (as long as it has a straight edge). Based on the design team’s testing data, the device can bring down the temperature of hot water in a cup from 190°F (88°C) to 160°F (71°C) and 151°F (66°C) in 3 and 5 minutes, respectively. This is compared to 176°F (80°C) and 171°F (77°C) without the mini robot. They have yet to release the data for cooling down hot food. The device unveiled at CES 2025 is attachable to straight-edge foodware around 0.08” to 0.23” (2mm-6mm) in thickness.

the device unveiled at CES 2025 is attachable to straight-edge foodware around 0.08” to 0.23” in thickness

From ‘I’ve Got This’ to ‘Not Gonna Spill’ blowing mode

Yukai Engineering says that Nékojita FuFu has different ‘blowing’ modes. They show it at CES 2025, where the mini robot switches between the full-force ‘I’ve Got This’ and the gentler ‘Not Gonna Spill’ modes. The design team plans to add more in the future. It includes gradually increasing the blowing strength and a nonstop series of strong and short blows. So far, the team only plans to release the mini robot in Japan.

the mini robot shown at CES 2025 can bring down hot temperature within 3 to 5 minutes