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Technology

Sony to produce more AIBO & more bots 58

Posted by Hemos from the more-robo-soccer dept.
sbeitzel writes "According to this story on Yahoo!, Sony will be producing more "home entertainment robots" next year, and tooling up to start producing a whole line of different 'bots. " Maybe this time I can have/keep a sample. And Rob will stop complaining about not having one. (Are you listening, Sony?)
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Sony to produce more AIBO & more bots More

Sony to produce more AIBO & more bots

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  • Does anyone else find it amusing that these obsessive first posters never actually get the first post. They always get beat by a serious post.

    kaniff -- Ralph Hart Jr
  • I just assumed I was the only idiot who had ever done it....
  • Could we get a Jar Jar doll? Then you could kick it every time it said something like "letsa go smoke some ganja mon"
  • Right now they are only toys. Yes, they're sort of neato, and it sure one-ups the neighbors. But the price is too high.

    But a few years from now, what useful features will have been incorporated? eee-Banking? Cell-phone? Voice activated PDA? "Rover! Pay my phone-bill. And remind me to check the oil in the car. And tell my wife that I'll be home late. Oh, and are there any new articles on SlashDot? Also, fetch this stick!"

    I dunno - these things could turn out to be very useful!
  • Yeah, I think AIBO is neat too, but the Tamagotchi/Dino Baby comparison is all too real. Hell, when I was a kid, we named our van Debbie and you can imagine the torment *that* caused when someone stole the van and stripped it (note I did not say "her"). I have a pic of my brother and I as kids crying in the impound lot when they finally found our van three months later. Who knows what fate the van met (hopefully it went to a good home???) but by that time we had bought another van - bright orange - and christened it Luigi. We still call it that. We don't say "Get in the van" we say "Let's get into Luigi". RrrrrOFL!


    I sincerely doubt the guy's claim that every household will have an entertainment robot in 10 years. Maybe in Japan, but there are people who would certainly spend even $500 on something a little more useful!!


    It's cute, but geez, give me a breathing pet any day!

  • Nested mode now displays in pages of 25 comments, solving that problem.

    Even when I'm at home on my modem (boo hiss), I still prefer it.

    D

    ----
  • It's time for CmdrTaco to bite the bullet, get the certification and enter the real world of Win NT/employment. Just make the money and you won't need to beg and grovle for a free sample.
  • Hmm, good idea, but how about making it so that a voluntary markdaown won't count against a persons slashdot-posting record.
  • So walking the dog isn't entertainment, but playing Q3 is... what if we could combine them?

    can anyone say miller time?

    OK. The AIBO gets upgraded using the CujoBot patch from Quake, sharpened teeth, and a module where a rocket launcher can be installed (Ludicrous Gibs!) You then take him out for his entertaining walk. Hey, is that Old Man Jenkens watering his lawn?

    Not anymore :)

  • This is off-subject, but pertenent to this comment. It would be nice if /. had some sort of feature where users could give negative points to their own comments when they post something useless like this, and later realize it is useless.

    I guess that's how I'll be thinking about this post in a couple minutes.

  • Hire me to work on AIBO AI!


    http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~jmott

    woohoo!
  • How long will it be until somebody gets Linux running on their electronic pet? Good boy....
  • Since Slashdot contains lots of dynamic contents (or rather, since it nothing but dynamic content), the Perl scripts print the appropiate HTTP headers (Pragma, No-Cache and related) to instruct what receives the pages (browsers, proxies and tunnels) not to cache them. That means that whenever you abandon the page (follow a link) the browser will discard it, so when you hit back, you will have to reload it.

    I am developing an engine [bachue.com] to create dynamic content and it does just the same thing: ask whatever receives the pages not to cache them.

    It can be a pain to press the back button, but, on the other hand, you could always `open link in new window' whenever you plan to continue seeing a given page (that is, unless you are using Lynx which ignores all those headers anyway (at least until version 2.8.1rel.2)). Just in case you don't know, you can open links in new window just by clicking them with the middle button in Unix Netscape.

    Alejo.

    Alejo.
  • Are these things built in such a way that they can be upgraded? If I bought one of these things (not that I have the cash), I'd want to be able to upgrade it's sensor-pack and/or it's On Board Computer when new versions come out.

    Suppose my kids fell in love with Rover. Then, a new OBC came out supporting educational software that would play "A-B-C" type games with the kids. Or new long-range I/R eyeballs hit the market. I wouldn't want to replace the faithful old Rover that we've all come to love. I'd just want to give him an upgrade!

    Maybe years go by, and rusty old Rover has learned to relate to my family. Then the new Penguin chassis comes on the market. I might want to keep old Rover's knowledge alive by downloading it into the new Tux model.

    Can do?
  • In a related note, there's currently the robocup going on over in Sweeden, and
    there's a Sony Legged Robot League which is these AIBO's running around playing
    soccer.

    It's quite funny when they fall over and lay around flapping their legs till
    they manage to get up.

    There's a RealVideo stream here [spiegel.de]
    More info about the competition and game schedules are over at www.robocup.org [robocup.org]
  • IMHO, I think it is a big mistake to "break" the back button. Other than hyperlinks, it is the user's oxygen supply, their main source of power over their browsing experience (besides hyperlinks). Whenever you go against the user's expectations (when I click back, go back NOW; when I click on a hyperlink, navigate to the page, do not open extra windows, do not open a mail window, do not use a 0 second redirect).
  • Ewe wrote:
    "What about people who live alone and
    can't have pets in their place, or elderly people whose family have
    dumped them off at some senseless, rigid nursing home? Robots like
    this could quite easily be a good, clean replacement for human
    companionship when there is none to be found."

    This is like, the most disgusting post I've ever read.
    Go visit yer grandma, bring her some fresh flowers and
    good cheer. Sheesh. Betcha ain't done that in a while.

  • Two small requests for Sony (Score:3)

    by cpt kangarooski ( 3773 ) on Wednesday August 04, 1999 @08:17AM (#1766231) Homepage
    First, being a typical geek, I could use a Cherry 2000 or something fairly similar. It's lucky that non-geeks can produce geeks or else there'd be damn few of us.

    Second, is a KillBot too much to ask for? Preferably one that can fit in the trunk of my car, and help me out with that lovely Boston traffic. Energy weapons only please (consumable ammunition would put it out of my price range).
  • Just what we need... the doggie borg. All share a group mind but are capable of individual action... I sense a really-bad made-for-tv movie in this. :)
  • I would get one but my lease says "no pets."

  • Anybody in for some creative reprogramming?

    Hehehe...

    Now I really wish I'd bought one of them. It could be so much fun.

  • I believe that the current AIBOs rely on a 8 meg Memory Stick, that contains the kernel, and various other goodies.

    THe Aibo construction kit includes a memory stick reader, and a program that lets you create "programs" for Aibo, and put them on the memory stick.

    Of course, this is totally from my viewing the Aibo web pages... not official.
  • Right now, what use is one of these robots. The gimmick robots I saw advertised five years were more use, at least they could bring a drink into you. When the robot has a better manipulator than the mouth, I'll be interested (although you could use it to get the paper I guess)

    So the question is, has anyone used their AIBO for any actual practical purpose. (including getting the paper, but not impressing the neighbours)
  • is that yahoo link correct?
  • I think they need to make the next ones Penguins :)
  • Well, hopefully these robotic pets become popular with manufacturers so they can flood the market with them and drive them into a reasonable price range for most people.

    It would be cool to have a robot dog, but not at the current price.

    BTW, is there going to be another "furby/elmo-style" toy craze this Christmas?



  • Haven't you tried this about three times before with the same comment.

    And, each of those times, is it not correct that you were _far_ from being the first post?

    -awc
  • Quote from story: "Doi, [snip], said he expected every household to have two to three entertainment robots within 10 years time."

    Man oh man. Let me add this up according to the predictions of the people in the field. In 5 or ten years it looks like I'll have:

    4 Computers
    2 robots
    4 TVs
    2 VCRs

    .. along with 2 or 3 God-Knows-What-Else-They'll-Invent.. I'm starting to wonder if I'll have space for my food, water, and wife. On the other hand, if these robots can hunt for me, feed me, tell me the synopsis of last night's Simpsons, and provide emotional support and love, maybe it won't be so much of a problem.

    SirSlud


  • Since when has walking the dog become 'entertainment'?

    QIII is entertainment, walking the dog is a simple step I take to prevent my dog from peeing on my floor.

    So when is Sony going to invent the robots that walk robotic dogs?
  • I not positive, but I think that's you're browser not /. At least, someone was complaining about netscape's behavior regarding this, and said something to the effect that Opera doesn't do this. I wouldn't know, I don't use opera. I would have sent this to your email instead, but you posted as AC, so I couldn't.
  • Anyone remember the original website for these
    things? Those dogs astetically (sp?) looked a lot
    better then these newer ones. Although if sony
    was able to get the price down to 1k and built
    in some sort of charging system that the dog will
    go to when low on juice I would pick up one in
    a heartbeat. I think robotics will be very big
    in the future.. AI technology needs to be advanced
    and costs come down big time before it becomes
    mainstream IMHO.
  • IE5 has some bugs with many (like >64) windows opened in this way during one session, but IE4 works perfectly.

    -konstant
  • yes, it is....my bad
  • This has to do with your browser, I believe...

    I know netscape LOVES to reload pages all the time... Life's rough, ain't it?
  • Netscape doesn't, IE 5 doesn't. IE 5 also goes back to your correct place in the comments, not the top of the story. Hopefully Mozilla is noticing these things.
  • That's a hell of a long video. Approx. when are the AIBOs playing? I keep seeing bots that look like miniature Zambonis. I mean, they're cute and all...
  • Second, is a KillBot too much to ask for? Preferably one that can fit in the trunk of my car, and help me out with that lovely Boston traffic. Energy weapons only please (consumable ammunition would put it out of my price range).



    Or maybe one to ride shotgun and clear a path for me on the 'pike everyday.



    - What's that officer? FastLane [mtafastlane.com] is for paying tolls?

    [still waiting for EZPass [ezpass.com] because it's bank agnostic]

  • The depths of stupidity that some of these ACs can reach is unbelievable...

    It was a joke, albeit not too funny, its probably an inside one. Secondly who cares if Rob gets some free stuff. More over if Rob was to editorialize about Sony being greatest stuff on earth, how many /. readers would fire up the flamethrowers on it? A lot.

    In conclusion: Who cares? Its a joke, and "you" contains a "y" and an "o". Try to use all the letters of a given word when asking people to take you seriously.
  • I don't understand why anyone would want one of these stupid things. I mean, I like technology for the sake of technology, but shouldn't something be at least slightly useful?

    To me, this ridiculous thing is classed in the same league as those idiotic 'virtual pet' keychains you see the 4 year olds dragging around. Just plain silly.

    Don't people have something better to do with their time and money? Like donating to charity, perhaps?

    These things are going to end up sitting on a shelf, collecting dust within weeks of when the customers get them. IMHO, wait 2 years and you'll be able to get a better one for 50 cents at a garage sale.

    These are a fad!
  • Use nested mode, then you get all the comments on the same page. Much, much easier to read.

    D

    ----
  • At first i thought the AIBO was a silly idea, but now it is starting to grow on me. I think the reason i thought it was so silly is because my apartment was too small to possibly house one, so i just imagined it bumping into stuff and getting roblock trying to navigate my bedroom/workshop around piles of machine parts, wires, tools, laundry, etc...
    Now having moved to a more spacious (>800 sq ft) flat, and with a strict no pets rule, the idea of a pet that doesn't shed, piss, or chew is appealing, because it might be a possibility of something to keep me company in my new place. I think that i'd have to wait for a second version though, just because i don't trust 1.x or x.0 releases of anything... Just too jaded by years of software releases... =:-)

  • There's plenty of usage for a pet like this. You're only looking at the novelty of things like that. What about people who live alone and can't have pets in their place, or elderly people whose family have dumped them off at some senseless, rigid nursing home? Robots like this could quite easily be a good, clean replacement for human companionship when there is none to be found.

    Of course, it could be an addictive placebo for people who have nothing better to do... it really depends on how you look at it. New technologies like this should equally be treated with respect and the self-control to handle them properly.

    If it comes from man, it will fail.
    If it comes from god, It will succeed.

  • [I hate to bring up 1980's Grade-B movies, but. . .]

    Why not start producing C herry 2000's ????
  • To keep your window count from going totally out of control, you can keep 2-3 windows open with part of the pane visible at all times. Then, you can drag links you want to visit to the oldest window. Sort of a circular buffer protocol.

    (wow, we're way off topic, eh?)
  • Now a climbing monkey would rock.

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