Waseda University researchers built a bear that works as a pillow with a built-in microphone to detect loud snoring, which then reaches out with its paw to turn the snorer’s head sideways.

The motion should push sufferers of sleep apnoea, the loud form of snoring that can be dangerous not only to relationships but to health, into a position where they no longer snore.

The bear named Jukusui-kun meaning ‘deep sleep’ was shown off at the International Robot Show in Japan.

The robot is targeted specifically at snorers whose snoring inhibits their blood oxygen level, with a separate hand monitor sensing when blood oxygen levels drop.

Rather than wires trailing through the bed, information is conducted through the sleeping body to a sensor beneath the sheets

A hand sensor monitors blood oxygen level and pulse rate and communicates to the system when snoring is causing dangerous drops in blood oxygen, the Daily Mail reported.

The only problem is that not only do they have to sleep on a bear-shaped pillow with jointed robotic hands, they also have to insert their hand into another bear-shaped monitor which monitors blood oxygen.