As in previous years, companion robots were the star attraction at CES 2018 in Las Vegas last week.

Cute-looking machines, like Kuri, greeted thousands of show visitors.

This diminutive companion bot features integrating speakers for playing communicative feedback sounds and music, as well as cameras to capture moments around the house and help with surveillance.

Using facial recognition, Kuri can identify family members and pets, and follow them around when necessary to provide assistance.

They will also be able to show emotions through lighting and "facial expressions" on displays.

And man’s best robot friend – the Sony Aibo – was back more lovable than ever.

The new and improved Aibo is now more intelligent, connected and agile – and it was lapping up the crowd’sattention.

The 30cm long hound-like machine comes complete with flapping ears and its eyes, made of a cutting-edge light-emitting display, can show various emotions.

Aibo is also fitted with an array of sensors, cameras and microphones and boasts Internet connectivity.

The owner can play with the pet remotely via smartphone and even teach it tricks from the office for the faithful hound to perform when its "master" gets home.

It builds up a "character" by interacting with people and while not always submissive, it is friendly towards those who are kind to it.

Its OLED eyes are extremely expressive, and its WiFi and LTE connectivity allow it to function on the move. It's a true return to form for perhaps the most popular consumer robot ever. 

The sleek ivory-white puppy-sized robot shook its head and wagged its tail to the delight of CES crowds.

Electronics giant Sony says Aibo can form emotional connections with individual family members and teach nurturing skills. It uses artificial intelligence, or AI, to react to touch and voice commands.

Aibo communicates through body language, such as eye, ear, and tail movements, and voice sounds.

But such cutting-edge canine technology does not come cheap, with the Aibo costing nearly US$3,000 for a three-year package, including software services such as data storage.

Or if you would prefer a more “human” touch, China-based robotics company Ubtech – a company that sells a wide range of home and toy robots – is now developing a human-sized biped for the home.

Named Walker, this high-tech guy is supposed to be a “complete home butler.”

Walker can patrol your home, act as a calendar and email assistant, and play a slow game of soccer with your kids.

It has a smooth, quiet gait, which Ubtech credits to its homegrown digital servos.

At CES Walker treated crowds to a little dance, chased a soccer ball, and descended a flight of stairs.

Of course, most biped robots fall over a lot, and are too heavy to have anywhere near your kids.

Walker is a surprisingly light (about 37kg) and is designed to be in balance at all times. If it loses power, it should stay stable. It’s also designed to fall away from danger if it has to fall.

Ubtech is hoping Walker will be available to consumers next year – at a relatively affordable price.

Toy robots that teach kids how to code are not really new. 

But, on the CES 2018 show floor, this coding toy robot from Root Robotics takes coding and play to a new level.

Rather than simply teaching toddlers how to code, The Root increases in complexity as your kids grow in understanding – from toddlers through to teenagers.

Root does this through a smartly-designed companion app that separates its coding concepts into three levels of understanding.

The Root is due to launch in mid-2018 and will be available on both iOS and Android.

It is expected to retail for the reasonable price of just over A$250.

And French startup, Blue Frog Robotics, stood out from the crowd of ivory-colored rolling bots with its new Buddy robot.

The friendly little canine bot won a "Best of Innovation" award at the show.

Blue Frog's founder Rodolphe Hasselvander, describes Buddy as more like a family pet rather than a robo assistant.

Buddy has cute, blinking big eyes that immediately captivate the user. It can perform a number of unique tasks, including:

• Patrolling the home perimeter for suspicious activity
• Looking up recipes in the kitchen
• Providing instructions for do-it-yourself projects
• Entertaining the kids with read-along stories
• Even reminding grandma to take her medicine

Buddy will be available for "adoption" later this year on Blue Frog's website for an expected asking price of US$1500.

China’s ForwardX Robotics demonstrated a four-wheeled travel bag that automatically follows its user around the airport. The smart bag uses cameras and AI to avoid crashes.

The device can message the owner if it gets too far away or when the battery power gets low.

And the FiFish P3 by Qysea is an underwater robot that can take photographs or send “live” video from depths of up to 100m. 

The camera – controlled by a device – captures 4K HD and uses powerful LED lighting.