Meet Nékojita FuFu: The cat-shaped robot that cools your food
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 8:52PM 
Photo: Yukai Engineering
Cat got your tongue takes on a different meaning with this Yukai Engineering robot. The Japanese robotics startup created the Nékojita FuFu, a cat-shaped robot that can blow air to cool your hot food and drinks. The robot gets its name from the Japanese term "néko-jita," meaning "cat tongue," a phrase used to describe individuals with a low tolerance for hot food. The second part of the name, "FuFu," is an onomatopoeia that captures the sound of blowing air to cool food.
The robot has different blowing modes, including a full-force and a gentler one. It uses an internal fan unit running on a rechargeable battery. It also has a specially developed algorithm or the Fu-ing System that randomizes the strength and rhythm to mimic human breath. The Nékojita FuFu can cool hot water from 88 degrees Celsius to 71 degrees Celsius in three minutes or to 66 degrees Celsius in five minutes. This tiny little robot isn't just meant to cool your coffee. It works with any dishware with a straight edge.