Robotics & Automation News

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Robotic pets: How to choose and what you should know about them

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Communication with pets helps reduce stress levels, distracts from troubles and reduces anxiety. There is even a method of treatment – pet therapy. Four-legged pets make a person move more and expand their social circle – after all, pet lovers will always find common topics for conversation.

Communication with animals is especially useful for older people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, for children with mental disorders and for patients who are in the hospital for a long time. Pets save them from loneliness, help overcome depression, reduce anxiety and irritability.

But sick people can’t always get a cat or a dog – they can’t take care of them, and nursing home residents and hospital patients aren’t allowed to keep animals. It’s for such people that they made companion robots. [Read more…] about Robotic pets: How to choose and what you should know about them

Sony launches anniversary edition of aibo robot

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Sony Corporation is celebrating the one year anniversary of its autonomous entertainment robot aibo (ERS-1000) by announcing the release of aibo Choco Edition, a special 2019-only colour variation that will be available in Japan from February 1, 2019.

This model is now available for purchase on Sony’s official retail website.

Additionally, Sony will also be conducting a promotional campaign. Customers who place their orders by Thursday, February 14, 2019 will also receive a specially coloured tail (black) free of charge.

Sony launches Aibo robot dog in America

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Sony’s robotic dog Aibo is launching in the US. As many readers will know, Aibo is an old dog and was previously around many years ago. 

But Sony stopped producing them and only relaunched the expensive mechanical pet a few months ago.

Like its previous incarnation, the new Aibo is very expensive, retailing at around $2,900 in a package called First Litter. [Read more…] about Sony launches Aibo robot dog in America

Sony starts taking orders for its new AI-powered Aibo robot dog

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Sony has started taking orders for the new version of its artificial intelligence-equipped Aibo robot dog, according to The Japan Times. 

A limited number have gone on sale and some customers can now pre-order on Sony’s website, although only in Japan at the moment.

Japan Times says decisions as to which customers get to buy the robot dog may be made on a first-come-first-served basis or by lottery.  [Read more…] about Sony starts taking orders for its new AI-powered Aibo robot dog

Sony sells 11,000 units of robot dog Aibo

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Sony says it sold exactly 11,111 units of its robot dog, Aibo, in the three months since the mechatronic canine’s re-release in January this year. 

This is according to a report on The Mainichi website, which calls the sales performance a “solid start”.

This comment would indicate that the sales numbers are in line with, or indeed exceed, Sony’s targets.  [Read more…] about Sony sells 11,000 units of robot dog Aibo

Sony’s Aibo robot dog is back from wherever it’s been for the past 12 years – but is it the same dog?

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Sony’s Aibo robotic pet dog made a lot of headlines when it was first launch more than a decade ago, but for some reason, the company stopped making the toy. 

Now, some 12 years later, Aibo is back. But it looks so different that the question is, is this the same pet from all those years ago or is it an imposter just angling for some pet food and a cosy home?

Sony says Aibo – which it now writes as aibo, with a lower-case a – “can form an emotional bond with members of the household while providing them with love, affection, and the joy of nurturing and raising a companion”.  [Read more…] about Sony’s Aibo robot dog is back from wherever it’s been for the past 12 years – but is it the same dog?

Sony returns to robotics market after 12 years away

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Japanese electronics giant Sony is returning to the robotics market after more than a decade away, according to a report on Nikkei. 

The company is reportedly planning to bring back together the team which produced Aibo (pictured below), the robotic pet dog for the home, which proved popular many years ago.

Sony was at one time the most talked-about electronics company in the world, the Apple of its day.  [Read more…] about Sony returns to robotics market after 12 years away