Sony Aibo ERS-1000
There is too much to say about Aibo, Sony’s robot dog. The name stands for Artificial Intelligence Robot, and because of its learn-as-it-goes programming, it is one of the most realistic virtual pets out there. Aibo has managed to capture many hearts since its debut in 1999, spanning generations. If you’re unfamiliar with Aibo, check out this New York Times short documentary on the original Aibo’s devoted following.
In 2018, Sony released the fifth-generation Aibo, which is the model you can buy now. It costs a whopping $2,900, and that’s because it’s crammed with cameras and sensors. Just Aibo’s head contains an image-recognition camera in its nose, a time-of-flight sensor in its mouth to measure the proximity of nearby objects, and touch sensors around its forehead to detect when you’re petting it. It also stores its memories in Sony’s cloud-powered AI engine, which helps inspire its expressive face. And when it needs to charge, it’ll walk itself over to its charging station, just like a robot vacuum. The only downside to adopting this pet—besides its massive price tag—is that it’s not geared for use outside, nor does it jump.
If you’re planning to give this to a tinkerer, you might also inspire them with Aibo’s developer portal, which offers a web-based API that allows you to program the robot dog to do things like grabbing a piece of tissue when you sneeze.
