Following an initial Japanese launch, Sony announces a limited US release for the 6th generation Aibo robot puppy--a "First Litter Edition" package complete with AI Cloud Plan, toys and a commemorative dog tag.
First seen back at CES 2018, the latest version of the Sony robot puppy promises to be far more advanced than the original 1999 Aibo. The head, chin and back carry touch sensors, allowing it "feel" pets, 22 actuators drive movement and the nose houses a camera allowing it to recognise family members. OLED panels allow for more expressive eyes, while a camera on the back allow it to navigate to its charging station, Roomba-style (with a single charge powering up to 2 hours of robot dog use).
Sony also promises improved AI through the cloud. At the end of the day, the Aibo uses wifi to upload memories to the Sony AI engine, which in turn creates what the company claims is a "unique personality" for the robot puppy. As for what Aibo does during the day, it can play with a variety of toys, respond to voice commands and learn "tricks" through a My Aibo companion app.
As mentioned earlier, the US release of the Aibo is a limited one, and Sony gives no word of a European launch. For the curious, sales of the robot dog in Japan clock at around 11000.
Go Sony Announces Limited First Litter Release of Aibi in US
Go Sales of Sony's New Aibo Robot Dog Off to a Solid Start (Japan Times)
