The 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week featured thousands of companies — from big names like Google and Samsung to yet-unknown startups — showing off their latest products. The gadgets range from the innovative to the downright odd. Some products will launch this year; others will never hit the market. Here are some of the gadgets that grabbed most attention:

Robotic cats

A startup called Elephant Robotics developed a robotic cat called MarsCat. The bionic feline can walk, stretch, play with toys, avoid obstacles and bite its nails. It can also recognize human faces and knows 20 commands and phrases, including “sit” and “come here.” It may be the only time a cat will listen to you. Not to be outdone, Yukai Engineering unveiled a headless robotic kitten intended for people who want to own a pet but can’t because of allergies or restrictions where they live.

Virtual assistants

Samsung-backed Neon showed off one of the most cutting-edge but potentially controversial new technologies at CES this year: “artificial humans.”

Neon CEO Pranav Mistry siad he’s aiming to add a “species” of complementary companions that can learn your likes and dislikes, such as if you prefer plain or pepperoni pizza, and ultimately become your friends. These lifelike CGI creations will be interactive on smartphones or on larger screens, such as in stores. They’re expected to launch later this year.

Vertical TV

Like robots, TVs are always a focus at CES and, this year, the big talker came from Samsung. The company unveiled a new model called Sero, which features a display that can rotate either horizontally or vertically. Samsung is betting on a unique concept specifically designed with smartphone users in mind.

Flying taxis

Uber and Hyundai unveiled a flying taxi that may eventually transform your ridesharing trips. The first prototype will be ready in 2023. If that wasn’t enough, there was the Manta5 Hydrofoil Bike — one part bike, one part plane. The e-bike is designed to mimic cycling, but on water — and it has a fully waterproof battery and motor. The product has been in development for eight years.

Segway S-Pod

For those who prefer land-based transportation, there was the Segway S-Pod. It’s an odd-looking chair on wheels that some quickly likened to one used in the Pixar film “Wall-E.” The S-Pod is designed for enclosed spaces like airports and malls. It can go up to 38 kilometers per hour, and passengers are able to control the speed with a knob.

Alexa in the shower

Good news for people who enjoy singing in the shower: Kohler announced a new showerhead with a smart speaker and Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built in. Besides the Moxie showerhead, Kohler is also featuring its latest Numi intelligent toilet and a digital shower system that lets you remotely start a shower or bath from an app.

A trashcan that ties up garbage

While the Townew trashcan won’t walk your garbage outside or throw it down your apartment’s trash chute, it does tie up the bag when it’s full and uts a new one in its place.

Users push a button on the trash can, and it automatically seals the bag and opens the lid so you can remove it. It also has an overload feature that detects when it can’t take on any more trash. The bin lifts its top compartment to catch any overfill and prevent spills. It’s available for purchase online for US$99.95.(SD-Agencies)