What is an aibo?

This morning, I was awake at 4 AM.  I just didn’t feel like going back to bed after I had a Klondike ice cream bar in the wee hours of the morning. I happened to read another author’s tweet about entering a contest and decided to check it out. I didn’t have a topic for today’s post, and lo and behold there in the final judge’s bio was the term aibo robotic dog.  I wrote a series called Tomorrow’s Angels about sentient humanoid androids and avidly read anything I see about AI. Aibo (stylized aibo is Japanese for “pal” or “partner” and is a series of robotic dogs designed and manufactured by Sony. Aibo is abbreviated from Artificial Intelligence RoBO. In mid-1998—where was I? Ah, yes, living in Miami Beach, I think, with my 2 sons and my Andalusian stallion—but I digress, and the stallion wasn’t robotic.) Sony released the prototype in May of 1999, thereafter releasing new models until 2006. Most models were dogs, but other inspirations included lion cubs,, huskies, Jack Russell terriers, bull terrier, and space explorers. Only the ERS-7, ERS-110/111 and ERS-1000 versions were explicitly a "robotic dog", but the 210 can also be considered a dog. It has a Jack Russel appearance and face. In 2006, AIBO was added into the Carnegie Mellon University Robot Hall of Fame.

On 26 January 2006 Sony announced the discontinuance of AIBO and several other products in an effort to make the company more profitable. Sony's AIBO customer support was withdrawn gradually, with support for the final ERS-7M3 ending in March 2013.^[6] In July 2014, Sony stopped providing repairs for AIBO products and did not provide customer support or repair for the older AIBO robots.

In November 2017, Sony introduced a new generation of AIBO. The fourth-gen model, ERS-1000, was launched in Japan on 11 January 2018. The second lottery sale was set on 6 February 2018. The AIBO product line was developed at Sony's Computer Science Laboratory (CSL)

I know we all now want an aibo, right? Sony has launched a new Aibo robot dog in limited edition Black Sesame, following its last release in 2017.  Priced at $2,900 USD, Sony's limited edition Aibo robot dog in Black Sesame is now available on the Sony online store. They don’t have fur and don’t look really cuddly to me.

The latest Aibo robot dog has a gray coat with a choice of eye colors, i.e., blue, green, orange, and pink. In appearance it resembles the previous model, and it also features the same functions of facial recognition and everyday interactions through which it can develop its unique personality. Owners can name their robot pet, watch its growth and add new tricks through the artificial intelligence-powered by the aibo AI Cloud Plan. Pet owners can stay connected with their aibo with the “My aibo” app. In addition, gadgets ranging from playtime accessories like a bone-shaped toy, a die, and a pink ball to necessities—food and water bowls and virtual pet food — can be bought for an immersive experience.

The Alzheimer's Store advertises a robot cat that purrs and has a gentle and calming temperament. The cat interacts with its owner, and presumably other as well. They recommend it as a doll and pet therapy. The cat resembles a Ragdoll cat I owned years ago.  The price tag is a little more reasonable at $189.  Alzheimer's doll and pet therapy is a known resource in helping those with Dementia. Using a robotic or a baby doll can be a very effective way for a person with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia to decrease stress and agitation.  They also have dogs and teddy bears.

If you are interested in advanced robotics and romance, you might like my Love For Sale and Life for Sale.  Here’s the series blurb.

Tomorrow’s Angels

Mayfair Electronics has created life.

In Love for Sale, the high-tech electronics company, in black and white, offers “love for sale”. Mayfair has engineered sentient androids indistinguishable from humans. March Morgan flies to England and meets the man she has been searching for her entire life. Christian requires no programming to love March at first sight, but her past and his future soon threaten their happiness—and their lives.

In the sequel, Life for Sale, four of the Special Editions have escaped. Rebel, Christian and  March are on the run, but they have a bigger problem than his creator's plan to destroy him. They've discovered that one of the renegades has suffered a dangerous malfunction, threatening them with more than just exposure. March and Christian must stop the insane robot before someone else dies. All the evidence points to March being the killer's next victim.

Book Video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-0_M7Zlaok

Both are available on Amazon in print and eBook.  Love for Sale is in audio on Audible. The narrator is very good and has the right accent for the character.

Happy robotic dreams!

Linda