If desired, Aibo will go on patrol in the household. Sony announced on Wednesday in Japan that owners of the robot dog will soon be able to define individual areas in the living rooms, which Aibo should take care of at certain times. According to Sony, the mechanical toy equipped with cameras and microphones can remember up to ten faces and thus recognize residents.

As a basis for the new function, Aibo first creates a plan of the rooms with his camera. Aibo can provide his owner with information about the situation at home on his smartphone. Sony works with the security company Secom for this purpose.

"They can check how remote living family members are or what children do when they come home," project leader Izumi Kawanishi told reporters. "We want you to feel a little bit safer while having Aibo and have fun at the same time." Sony speaks in this context of "Securitainment".

FRANCK ROBICHON / EPA-EFE / REX

Aibo robot dog

New opportunities for developers

In a limited edition, the group now also sells an Aibo in shades of brown, which should look like a beagle. So far, the robot dogs were only available in gray. Sony launched the latest Aibo version in November 2017 - more than a decade after the original model was discontinued.

In Japan, the Aibo costs 198,000 yen (just under 1600 euros), in the US around 2900 dollars (about 2500 euros). In addition to the selling price, Sony wants to earn money through subscription offers over the lifetime of the robot dog. An Aibo market launch in Europe was promised, but more details are not known.

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Compared to the original model, the Aibo reissue can inter alia interact better with the owners. So Aibo now recognizes a smile or words of praise and takes thanks to sensors and caresses on the head or back true. In addition, the mini-robot can use artificial intelligence to adapt its behavior to the reactions of humans.