Robotic “Smart” Planter Chases the Sun to Keep Its Succulent in Sunlight

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Have you ever noticed how a plant instinctively grows towards the sunlight? Called heliotropism, it’s a phenomenon where leaves point in the direction of the light—the source of their nutrients. Most of the time, you’ve got to position your plants just right so that they are getting the food they need. But thanks to an adorable little robot, you’ll never worry about your plants getting too little or too much sun again. A Chinese company called Vincross has built a mechanized creature that chases the light and retreats into the shade to ensure that a plant will thrive.

The gregarious robot is the brainchild of Sun Tianqi. Through Vincross, he developed a robot named HEXA and has since adapted it to hold a small succulent plant. Part planter and part crab, the six-legged device can sense when the succulent needs light or shade and even stomp on the ground when it needs water. 

Regardless of how the smart planter knows when to accommodate a succulent, it’s undeniably an incredible and adorable way to take care of a plant. In addition to being a robotic nanny, the device can dance when it’s happy and even play with you.