Sony ceases AIBO production
Sony ceases AIBO production
Keywords: Entertainment, Robotics
Sony Japan in a two-line statement presented earlier this year as part of a 15-page third quarter fiscal year 2005 earnings report (quarter ending December 2005), cancelled its line of AIBO entertainment robotic dogs in an effort to restructure its electronic business:
“New Product Development for AIBO has already ceased, and production is targeted to stop by the end of fiscal year 2005. However, after- sales support will continue” (Source: Sony Corporation Investor Relations).
More than 150,000 AIBOs have been sold since they went on the market in 1999. They used early Sony technologies such as the Memory Stick and its proprietary embedded and development labs. The latest version of the £1,060 (GPB)electronic dog was able to speak 1,000 words, play music, respond to an owners commends and motions, and keep blogs with pictures taken by cameras located behind its eye. Sony will provide customer support for its latest version of the AIBO for seven years.
In addition to stopping the AIBO line, Sony also reported that there will be no new development for its humanoid robot QRIO (which was never sold as a product), but will still display QRIO at shows and other venues. The company does plan on continuing its robot AI: “R&D in the AI area which was developed in the AIBO and QRIO business will continue and will be deployed in a broad range of consumer electronics products”.
