Five years ago, one after another robot pet toy manufacturer on the market. Especially as Japanese companies tried to build on the unexpected success of the Tamagotchi. But the robot does not hit animals, perhaps because they were so expensive. The robot pets that are for sale now are getting smarter and funnier, but toys are still too expensive. They are mainly used in health care, and as a means to enable people with disabilities.
Robot Dog
The most discussed "robot pet (robot pet) AIBO was ever made by Sony. The robot attracted much interest, but few buyers.Understandable, because the Japanese company sold the metal stuffed dog for almost € 2,000, -.
Similar robotic dogs are still on the market, such as Genibo (approximately € 1,400). Available in four colors (including blue, a color that matches real dogs is uncommon). The robot can be programmed via a PC and then wirelessly controlled. But you can also self-loop. Genibo is curious, he does not know what attracts him, he will sniff it, tries to climb on, and possibly even tear it into pieces.
Genibo is equipped with Artificial Intelligence, the robot learns from its environment, and the responses it receives from its owners. He can memorize 100 words, and responds to commands. In reply, he "emotions" show. Genibo has seven pre-programmed emotions (happy, happy, bored, sleepy, surprised, angry and sad). With every feeling to hear certain gestures, so the owner can see what is going on.
Like the Tamagotchi (a keychain with a tiny preview screen, which you could see how a creature evolved from infant to adult) is that the robot responds positively to attention, and pines away when not being provided. This, according to some experts, can help children learn to create an animal that depends on them.
Pleo the robot dinosaur
One of the best is Pleo robot pet. This baby dinosaur, produced by an American / Chinese company (Innvo Labs) is marketed for around € 400. The animal looks at his surroundings, reacts to petting and words, and pulls himself out. The Pleo is a robotic self-learning, the animal changes its character by the way it is handled.
Robot pets, as the examples above have illustrated, it is still too expensive to use them as toys. As long as prices remain high, they will never be a commercial success, even in the technology crazy Japan. But there is another application which holds great promise: a company of elderly and disabled.
Robots that build an emotional bond with people
The Robotics become "Mental Commitment Robots", means beings who are designed to communicate with people and build an emotional bond. A classic example is Paro, a robot that looks like a young seal, with big brown eyes and a thick white coat (see the picture accompanying this article) These robots can be many positive effects the minds of people who play with them, by them help relax (removing anxiety and loneliness), and activate them (talking to the robot, making contact with other residents and nursing staff). Some of these robots are programmed so that they are at the right times the "bosses" to remind them to take medicine.