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There are some animal robots that have intelligent functions. The field is developing.
Astro can be ordered and returned by invitation by selected test customers in early 2023. The introductory price in the test version was around $1,000 US. Amazon gives devices from its own production as “Day one Edition” to selected customers. This is to improve the devices by early feedback for series production. Unfortunately, an invitation is only possible for the US as of early 2023. There is a possibility to pre-order. On Ebay, individual copies are freely available in advance with luck.
Astro is more than a home robot, or consumer robot. Astro is a dog-like vehicle from Amazon, which can move agilely and independently. Astro is approximately 16.7″ L x 9.8″ W x 17.3″ H and weighs 19.84 pounds or 9 kg. Astro has integrated Alexa smart features at the same time. Astro can interact with people through various sensors and the display. In addition, Astro has functions such as a retractable periscope with camera, alarm function, storage compartment. The periscope camera can be used to monitor the apartment or, for example, a warehouse via smartphone. Astro itself has its own “personality” integrated. This apparent “personality” uses the eyes on the display, sounds and independent, sometimes spontaneous movement with the wheels. The device can avoid obstacles and follow people. Advances in artificial intelligence are making objects easier to recognize. In this way, the home robot should know its way around the home better. It should also be possible to exclude certain areas of privacy, temporally or spatially, from its functions. A “do not disturb” function is built in.
Functions for Smart Home e.g. for monitoring kitchen and bathroom (taps and electrical appliances).
Ring Protect Pro and Virtual Security Guard: Astro can independently monitor as a night watchman, e.g. the apartment or in companies objects such as storage rooms – advantageous is the night vision function, additional security in case of absence
with Virtual Security Guard, movements should be detected independently and the cause analyzed, also security personnel can monitor what is happening via live view and trigger noisy alarm on Astro or talk to the person on site
Astro can replace alarm systems if necessary, for example, intelligent detection of suspicious sounds should also be possible (sounding smoke detectors, or clanging glass in a possible burglary) – Astro is compatible with Alexa Guard Alert
Possibility to spread light and sounds, e.g. on vacation, absence
Entertainment value & Alexa
less requirements than pets (e.g. in rented apartments, no regular visits to the doctor, pet smell, pet hair, no problems with allergies, no damage from scratching, biting and pet paws) “housebroken
does not disturb e.g. own sleep or neighbors (especially when training and acclimatizing)
“intelligent” “pet”, or roommate through voice / organization functions
less complicated and expensive than large robots with legs, cannot fall over
personal contact possibility with animals and fellow residents by video telephony via built-in monitor
can additionally support the care of persons in need, e.g. to support the independence (like e.g. dementia patients), if persons get up, or for reminder with daily routines, security with forgetfulness e.g. in kitchen (stove, meal times, closed refrigerator doors), if necessary use in nursing / old people’s homes
entertainment for visitors, e.g. messenger for small gifts and products
also Astro can e.g. protect sick and elderly people more seamlessly and give messages to contact persons when they get up and walk through the apartment, or e.g. get into distress and call for help
for older children (3 years and older) Astro is a toy with possibly educational functions, e.g. with later additional functions with learning functions such as vocabulary training or the like
Pets themselves should be able to be monitored
Astro is programmable to the owner
For some, moral aspects can also be valuable in Astro:
Astro does not have a “guilty conscience” like dogs – if they are neglected in everyday life or have to take a back seat in case of changes.
Astro can be given away or disposed of and in the worst case does not remain lonely in the shelter!
also no separation fears threaten, because that device does not die, this is e.g. interesting with autistic persons or small children (recommended starting from 3 years)
Pissibilities
01.
Research
02.
Recording
03.
Entertainment
04.
protection of natural life
The Sony aibo offers quality from a Japanese brand manufacturer: Sony has been developing and selling models in this series for over 20 years!
The aibo is 18 cm high, 29 cm wide and 30 cm long when standing. The weight reaches only 2.2 kg. Ideal, therefore, for smaller apartments, or in conjunction with other robots. The robot has artificial intelligence and can learn independently to build and simulate a kind of individual personality. Of course, the aibo has a speaker and microphone to interact by means of sounds. Aibo can therefore respond to voice commands. Sony aibo can walk and move like a dog in a very natural-looking way thanks to joints on its legs, head and tail. Further movements of the ears give the aibo additional expressiveness. Additional functions are possible via the movable mouth. The robot dog can thus play realistically with included toys, for example. Overall, the dog appears very mobile and makes unexpectedly few artificial noises. The expressive eyes are also eye-catching, as they light up slightly and the eyes open and close spontaneously. Aibo has a shell made of solid and high-quality plastic. Paws and body shapes are modeled in above-average detail. There is standard this aibo in white, black and a kind of pink.
The battery’s holding time is designed to be about 2 h.
It is therefore credible that this high-quality model of a robot dog is rated quite positively among consumers (as on the manufacturer’s site).
Marscat is modeled after a friendly domestic cat. The development is aimed at both cat lovers and children.
From a purely external point of view, Marscat is considerably larger than earlier robot animals (e.g. Aibo ERS 210 from 2002). Marscat is about 37 cm long, 20 cm wide and 33 cm high when standing. The weight is after all 2.5 kg. Comparable to a young cat. It is mainly made of solid plastic. Only the tail and the ears are made of supple material. Fur was omitted. To simulate animal behavior, light panels are built into the eyes. Built-in loudspeakers generate sounds. Joints on the legs, head and tail allow the cat to stand up independently, walk and play with people. Behavior can also be programmed in via various interfaces (e.g. USB). The manufacturer advertises that Marscat is “open source” on the software side, meaning it is open source for users.
Conclusion:
You can expect some surprises from this inexpensive robot cat. Some movements
can seem clumsy, so Marscat is grateful for care. Possibly the manufacturer will develop further, or offer software updates for this. Slow independent movements are typical for Marscat. An advantage for children and rather cautious people. The cat also makes typical electromechanical noises. Consequently, Marscat is not an agile sports device for high performance like the more expensive dog robots from Quadruped. Marscat is most suitable for cozy activities at home.
Advantages:
No cat allergy caused by hair/saliva
Easy to clean
favorable entertainment
advantageous as a contact creature, since largely autonomous and interaction with speech and petting contact possible
Robosea ROBOLAB-GL bionic robot goldfish platform laser obstacle avoidance autonomous simulation swimming
This robotic fish can probably not be immediately and independently recognized as artificial by most people. Screws or rotating bodies for propulsion could namely be omitted. Movement studies on nature result in meandering and height-stable swimming. The movements and the shape of the robot are so natural in the water that only scales and fins can be seen from a distance. Natural-looking eyes are also present. The built-in sensors are discreetly present as dots in the “scales”.
The robot has a weight of 3 kg and a length of about 64x20x9cm. The fishbot can provide recordings in 4K.
The robot is named after the arowana fish. The Robosea can independently detect and swim around obstacles. It results in even swimming lanes up to a depth of about 5 m. Possible places of application are aquariums for tourists to reduce the costs of fauna, not to press individuals into captivity, to spare free-living species, or also in the careful exploration of nature. The manufacturer specifies a noise level of 55dB for the latter. Stock areas and habitats could thus be cared for and maintained with less disturbance to fish and wildlife.
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