As part of large scale restructuring in a bid to swing around the company's financial struggles, Sony has announced that they have discontinued new product research into entertainment robots. AIBO, the popular robot dog that retails for around $1700 and it's lesser known humanoid cousin, the QRIO, will no longer be produced.
The AIBO is probably the single most recognized consumer robot on the market, and it's a real pity to see it go. The little guy seemed to be an indicator that all sorts of other consumer robot pets and helpers might be just around the corner, but perhaps that's not true.
Of course I nvy anyone that has an AIBO or two stashed away, I could imagine the eBay price on an AIBO will skyrocket within the next few months..
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Tuesday, January 31, 2006
AIBO Euthanized
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3 comments:
Has it? This would appear to indicate otherwise.
As for cybernetic prosthetics, I watched a show on robotics recently on discovery, and some psych researcher has had a serial port grafted onto his arm. He uses it to control an external robotic arm.. and obviously since it's just a serial port, he can attach it to any kind of new contraption he wants to. So it seems the answer it yes, it is already possible to control mechanical limbs through the human nervous system. Even if it is a bit 'icky' :P
Kids? By that time won't it be clones :p
Well, I was very keen to get the QRIO. It could play catch, dance and when you tried to knock it over it would take a step back and correct itself. Awesome! ;)
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