Aibo, the AI-powered pooch you'll forget is a robot, goes stateside
Sony's intelligent robot dog bonds with and recognizes owners just like a real one-you may not even notice the difference between this him and the neighborhood happy hound -- and he has just arrived in the US.
Aibo, just now available for preorders in the US for $2899, is the most recent of Sony's six generations of robot dogs. This model is exceptionally advanced with a "cloud-connected artificial intelligence (AI) engine and advanced image sensors" that allow this pup to recognize faces, develop a unique personality, bond with its owners, and learn behaviors like playing dead and even (pretend to) use the bathroom in a particular place.
Just like a real dog, each aibo will seek out, or rather sniff out, owners when he wants to play and interact uniquely with them based on their experiences together, and though there is no fur to touch, it is happy to be scratched and petted on its head, under the chin, and on the back.
Through the AI implemented in its functioning allowing it to intelligently react and grow, each aibo is designed to provide an intimate, emotional experience to owners. Mike Fasulo, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics North America, stated that the purpose of bring the aibo technology to the US, "reflects Sony's broader commitment to provide consumers with products that not only entertain them, but also enrich their lives."
To give aibo his puppylike motion, developers of the robot equipped him with 22 axes to rotate and move along via ultra-compact 1- and 1-axis actuators. Built-in sensors developed with AI allow the robot to detect and analyze both auditory and visual content. He can recognize up to 100 faces and even tell the difference between a child and an adult.
The mechanics that make each aibo truly dog-like are his ears, tail, OLED eyes, and voice sounds, which are also the mechanisms that he displays in his reactions to various activities or interactions with owners, all completely customizable. When his head his scratched, Aibo will happily close his eyes and open his mouth in such a way that people can perceive as happy comfort. The brand suggests that the ability of the pet to learn behavior and evolve makes the experience with this robo-pooch as natural as that with a real one but, thankfully, the mess this one makes on the rug is fake.