Robot dog a Japanese techno-sensation

Web posted May 16, 1999

By Kevin Sullivan
The Washington Post

TOKYO -- It's Aibo, the RoboPup, part Lassie and part Tamagotchi, a $2,000 robot dog that melts children's hearts with its droopy plastic ears and thrills engineers with the wizardry of its artificial intelligence technology.

The latest in an increasingly sophisticated line of robotic products available to consumers, Aibo will wander and explore, like a real animal, when left on its own with its switch on and batteries powered. Its ``eyes'' are cameras with infrared sensors that can judge distances and recognize shapes, helping it to kick a ball or avoid walking into walls.

Aibo can actually ``learn'' from its master, according to Sony Corp., which built Japan's latest techno-sensation. Aibo's head contains a sensor that can distinguish between sweet pats and snippy slaps. Eventually, Aibo learns to tailor behavior to avoid actions that result in a smack and repeat those that earn a more affectionate touch.

For children, the technology is part of the charm of what in effect is a three-dimensional version of the Tamagotchis, or computer-generated virtual pets, that became a worldwide craze two years ago.

``He's so cool; I want one,'' said Kohei Fujita, a kindergartner who joined the amazed onlookers this week at Sony's downtown Tokyo showroom.

Aibo -- a Japanese name that means ``partner'' or ``buddy'' -- represents a new step in the arrival in homes of technology once found only in university research laboratories.

Aibo ``comes with instincts and emotions pre-installed,'' said Sony spokesman Daniel Lintz, noting that the robot can display anger, pride, fear and happiness. The stereo receivers in its ears respond to sounds, and it ``instinctively'' wants to communicate with and please its user.

Sony is one of many companies pushing to make robot technology more consumer-friendly. Panasonic is developing robot teddy bears and cats designed as companions for elderly owners who live alone. In addition to saying ``good morning'' and a few other soothing phrases, the robot animals will be fitted with sensors that record how often the owner talks to it and touches it. If the animal doesn't get the kind of response it is used to getting from its owner, it will be able to send an electronic alert to a welfare agency -- signaling possible trouble in the home.

The Japanese are particularly willing to get emotionally involved with electronic gadgets. Virtual pets are popular among Japanese who live in apartments too small for real pets. The Tamagotchi, a hand-held gizmo in which the owner raises an electronic chicken, started in Japan and become so popular that some people held funerals for chickens that didn't make it.

Another recent craze in Japan are PostPets -- virtual pink bunnies and other soft-and-cuddly critters that ``live'' in personal computers and ``deliver'' e-mail. Owners must provide virtual snacks for the PostPet, stroke them by sliding the computer cursor over their backs and wash them after they return from their long trip on the Internet to deliver the mail. More than 300,000 people in Japan have bought the PostPet software.

Megumi Masuda, 29, a teacher who came to see Aibo, said the only thing it was missing was ``a dog's cute little eyes.''

``This gives you an idea of the future that we usually see only in science fiction movies,'' Masuda said. ``I guess that's where we're heading.''

Masuo Yamada, 30, marveled at Aibo's smooth, lifelike movements as he padded around his cage, scratched himself behind the ears and yawned. ``People like me will buy this,'' said Yamada, a semi-conductor salesman.

Lintz said extensive market research tells Sony that Aibo will appeal to hobbyists who enjoy remote-controlled cars and other high-tech gadgets. At least to start with, the dog will be sold via the Internet only, beginning June 1, with 3,000 available in Japan for about $2,000 each and 2,000 more available in the United States for about $2,500.