Sony Aibo
Rating: 8/10, An adorable artificial companion. It’s hard to argue that Sony wasn’t the first company to create a robot that consumers truly embraced. The original Aibo ERS-110 sold out of its limited 5,000 unit run in just 20 minutes, despite having a $2,500 price tag. Unlike robots that strived to take over domestic duties, the Aibo was simply designed to emulate a pet, providing interactive companionship without needing the hassle of daily walks. It was so popular that when Japanese Aibo owners were no longer able to get replacement parts to keep their robopets running, they would hold actual funerals for them.
