Advanced AIBO Robot from Sony: A Lot More!

October 6, 2004

Replace MP3 players and PDAs with AIBO. With the advanced new AIBO MIND 2 software, AIBO gains the ability to record moving pictures through wireless connectivity, recognise patterns, voices and faces, obey commands to play music from MP3 lists or Internet radio and dance along, read out scheduled items and wake you!

AIBO is an autonomous, intelligent companion from Sony Entertainment Robot Europe that responds to voice commands, uses integrated camera and various sensors or pattern recognition to fulfil tasks and connects to a wireless network to become part of a home entertainment.

Available in two colours- the standard pearl white and the new pearl black body (with various body parts defined in dark grey metallic and brown and grey smoke colours) the AIBO ERS-7M2 now includes AIBO Mind 2 software to perform even more impressive tasks and take full advantage of AIBO's capabilities.

AIBO has specially developed tactile touch sensors on its back, head and chin that double as remote control sensors for commands and as receptors for interacting with its owners (AIBO learns and develops with more human interaction). The AIBO ERS-7 also features Illume-Face, Sony's innovative LED face panel that provides a way for the robot to express its feelings, emotions and current conditions. The LED display also indicates when AIBO is transmitting images and sounds or receiving sound over a wireless connection

The Sony AIBO ERS-7 with AIBO MIND 2 will be available in November 2004 in pearl black (ERS-7M2/B) and pearl white (ERS-7M2/W) colours.

AIBO- the life and soul of the party

Here you are, host of the party and it's time for AIBO to entertain your friends. "AIBO, play music!" you say and your companion complies, playing out random songs from your favourite CDs from its built in speaker while dancing to the tunes. When AIBO is finished your friends have their turn, showing your party animal one of your selection of CDs and marvelling as AIBO recognises the cover and plays the music they've selected. AIBO isn't finished with its magic however as it can pick up and play music from Internet radio stations or from your MP3 playlist in response to your spoken commands.

Much more than a musical entertainer, improved Navigator functions and wireless networking mean AIBO can be an even more interactive aid to party hosts. AIBO can send back sound and vision to your PC from a head mounted camera and microphones and transmit your voice through its speaker, so the fun possibilities are endless. Send AIBO into a circle of your friends, while you monitor movements from your PC, then observe their startled reactions as AIBO addresses them in your voice. You can even record the fun to play back as a video on your PC later.

AIBO the personal assistant

The party is winding down; you and your friends are making plans for meeting up the next day. "AIBO, What's my calendar?" you ask and again your clever companion comes to your aid, reading out your appointments from your PC calendar. An early morning start is planned so AIBO is assigned the task of waking you with some pleasant music from your collection at the appointed time. You know of course that your home is in good hands while you are out - AIBO performs house sitting duties, catching cookie thieves red handed by recording any movement and noise, then emailing any activity to you. AIBO knows its friends however; it certainly recognises your face and voice!

AIBO the carefree companion

There's no need for you to look after AIBO though. When its battery needs recharging, AIBO simply goes to its Energy Station at any time of the day or night. When AIBO is bored it can play with its AIBOne which it can chase, pick up and bring back to you, or its pink ball with which it can play football- AIBO can even race between obstacles! AIBO can even show its emotions - it'll let you know how it's feeling by the many expressions on its face panel- so give your friend a pat to express your understanding and to develop its personality. If you already have a new AIBO ERS-7 model, a simple upgrade will add all the new features, but retain the personality and memory of your playful pal. Although AIBO will learn to recognise its tasks and obey your commands, you can set it back to a puppy stage for play whenever you want, before switching back to mature mode when there's work to be done.

"Always an intelligent and versatile friend, AIBO has now become much, much more," says Nicolas Babin, Director of Sony Entertainment Robot Europe. "The development of the AIBO MIND 2 software now included with the pearlescent white and new black AIBO model represents an important milestone in the history of domestic robots. Now AIBO is truly a functioning, responsive part of the modern family, fulfilling important organisational and visual tasks as well as providing entertainment and companionship."