Robot is man’s best friend…Wait, what?
Sony is bringing its iconic robot pet brand back to life after 10 years. This time it’s model number ERS-100, but you can call it “Aibo”.
According to Sony, Aibo can:
“[F]orm an emotional bond with members of the household while providing them with love, affection, and the joy of nurturing and raising a companion.”
OK… but how? The Verge sheds some light:
It uses ultra-compact actuators that allow its body to move along 22 axes, and its eyes use two OLED panels to show a range of expressions.
Enough with the science, let’s watch the video:
You’ll get about two hours out of Aibo before his daily nap, usually lasting for three. And by nap, yes, we mean charging time.
Sony says that just like a normal dog, Aibo’s behaviour is adaptable:
Seeking out owners, learning what makes them happy, and gradually growing accustomed to wider environments.
The tech-savvy pet uses deep learning technology that analyses cloud data (sounds and images) to learn from the experiences of other Aibo units and owners:
There’s an app called My Aibo that is used to access settings, view photos taken from the dog’s camera, and download additional “tricks” from a store.
Aibo also now requires a subscription, like SoftBank’s Pepper, running 2,980 yen a month (about $26) for a minimum of three years. This gives you Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity, cloud backup, and access to the app’s features.
If this is something that gets your tail wagging, you’ll have to fork out $1 700 (R23 804) on top of your flights to Asia – they’re keeping it in the homeland for now.
Screw it, I’m going to Japan.
