Berlin -- September 7, 2026 -- Tuya Smart introduced Doova, an AI companion robot designed for seniors living independently, at IFA 2026 in Berlin.
Doova responds to a spoken call for help within seconds
The robot uses LDS-LiDAR, a four-microphone sound-localization system, and AI skeleton-recognition algorithms to detect falls or emergencies. If a user says "Hey Tuya, help," Doova locates them, moves to their position, and assesses the situation in real time. If there is no response within 60 seconds, it automatically triggers an emergency workflow, sending family members a two-way live video alert so help can be arranged immediately.
The robot holds natural conversations through a multimodal language model
Doova is built to combine emotional companionship, daily assistance, and wellbeing support in a single device made for older adults. Rather than reacting only to fixed commands, it can carry on fluid conversations, play entertainment content to ease loneliness, and help users interpret complex bills and letters. It can also flag potential fraud risks, assist with smart appliance controls, deliver medication reminders, share weather updates, manage schedules, and offer simple interactive games.
Over time, Doova learns individual preferences and can offer suggestions on meals, gardening, and outfits. Tuya plans to add further features, including the ability for the robot to autonomously search the house for misplaced items.
The robot patrols room centers instead of following wall routes
When users are away, Doova monitors the home using a node-based coverage strategy focused on the center of each room, rather than the fixed wall-hugging routes used by traditional patrol-style security devices. Moving on a two-wheel drive with caster wheels, it performs 360-degree scans at each location and sends an automated security report to the user's phone. Doova also supports autonomous docking and charging, allowing monitoring to continue without daily intervention.
Voice commands let users control lighting, curtains and appliances
Built on Tuya's AIoT ecosystem, Doova functions as a smart home hub, letting users operate connected lighting, curtains, kitchen appliances, and bathroom devices through simple voice commands without complex setup. Its curved design and 10.1-inch HD display with dynamic facial expressions are intended to make it feel less like a mechanical device and more like a natural part of the household. The robot's height is adjustable for interaction whether a user is standing, sitting, or lying down.
Doova drew significant visitor interest at IFA 2026, reflecting demand for AI tools supporting independent living among older adults.