8-10 years ago, my elderly/disabled mom wanted a dog for company but knew she couldn't care for it. I would have bought her a (already discontinued) Sony Aibo in a heartbeat, but she wanted it to be life-like (furry) rather than techno. I scoured the internet for months, then years, thinking that this 'comfort tech' was surely just around the corner.
What's the hold-up? Just stick some fake fur and eyeballs on a self-docking Roomba module and let it come out (autonomously) and bark and wag its tail. That's all I needed. It's a decade later, so maybe throw in a little AI to make it come when called.
Damn it, still makes me mad. Ping me if/when there is such a thing.
A friend let's things like this drive what she next mfgs and sells via ecomm.
A Cat work for you?
http://www.robotshop.com/en/hasbro-silver-white-cat-interactive-companion.html
>cat
Close. Almost bought one when they first came out just to see where it failed. Pleo was closer, just needed to be a puppy instead of a reptile.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleo
NOT a @#$%^ puppy! Looks like a damn bowling pin.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/mayfield-robotics-kuri-face-voice-ifttt-update/
There is a puppy version too from Gimp's link:
http://www.robotshop.com/en/hasbro-golden-pup-interactive-robot-toy-dog.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNNK6Cpon3Y <= video of it
Thanks. I checked out all the Hasbro line when it was released. Crude animatrons, at best. Not even close to semi-autonomous. The first thing to look for is a self-recharging dock, like the Roomba has.
<added>
I have one of these. Even if it's over 16 yrs old, it's better than the toys out there now.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekno_the_Robotic_Puppy
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/miro-robot-dog-elderly-care/
I can't resist...
QuoteYou know, the best friend I ever had was a dog
It sounds like a cliche unless it's happened to you
Some days that dog was the only reason I even got out of bed
That dog went everywhere with me
And then I heard the crack addicts
Were stealin' dogs and selling them for animal research
It sounded like an urban myth to me
Like the mouse in the Coke bottle
But I started leavin' her at home after that
You know, Paula was my wife for a while
She ran off to Paris with the great grandson of Van Gogh
A cartoonist who did fashion graphics for Le Monde
When Paula left she took my dog
I never saw her again
Except in the court during the custody battle
She won and got to keep the dog
And I didn't speak to anyone for months
-- Dan Bern, "Estelle"
Sony's Aibo Robotic Dog Is Back
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/sony-s-aibo-robotic-dog-is-back-with-new-tricks-for-ai-era
So, here's a robotic cat you can 3D print
https://thenextweb.com/creativity/2018/03/05/forget-aibo-heres-opencat-a-3d-printable-pi-powered-open-source-cat-robot/
Sony sells thousands of Aibo robot dogs as it considers US launch
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2018/05/08/sony-sells-thousands-aibo-robot-dogs-as-it-considers-us-launch.html
Other articles have said it requires a subscription service. No thanks.
Cloud-Connected, AI-Powered Aibo Coming to US for $2,899
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/sony-aibo-specs-pricing,37687.html#xtor=RSS-5
No cloud! I want it smart enough to go for my jugular all on its own.
Well RC, look what was at CES this year: https://tombot.com/
Just a lap dog for now but it is a start.
Hey! I'd have bought that in a heartbeat for my mom.
If it would walk over to its charger are do an autonomous recharge, I'd buy it now.
A bit of uncanny valley there.
Adam Savage Tests Boston Dynamics' Spot Robot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7s1sr4JdlI)
This $2,700 (or $3,500. or $8,500.) robot dog will carry a single bottle of water for you - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/10/22527413/tiny-robot-dog-unitree-robotics-go1
CyberDog is a new ominous-looking robot from Xiaomi - $1,540
https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/10/22618043/xiaomi-cyberdog-robot-dog-quadruped-specs-price
http://boingboing.net/2021/09/10/irobot-built-over-100-models-of-dog-poop-to-train-roombas-visual-ai.html
Sorta related.
close...
Robot Gift Guide 2022 - IEEE Spectrum
https://spectrum.ieee.org/robot-gift-guide-2022#toggle-gdpr
Getting closer, but still too pricey for a toy
https://www.unitree.com/en/go2/
>still too pricey
but already (much) cheaper than a real dog.
A neighbor got the Unitree Go2 and walks it around the neighborhood farmer's market. People gather around to watch it do tricks and mess with dogs & kids. In addition to the controller, there is a leash mode.
It's neat and cute, but definitely still a toy. It'll be interesting when they add AI functionality.