The initiative comes five years after the launch of the ERS-1000 Aibo, a modern take on the popular robot pet series from the late ’90s.
The purpose of the program is to assist ERS-1000 owners who have canceled their Aibo Cloud Plans. Once tested and repaired, these robot dogs will be donated to medical facilities, nursing homes, and other organizations that could benefit from emotional support robots.
Sony reportedly plans to charge “foster parents” an undisclosed fee for the service.
Aibo isn’t marketed solely as an emotional support device, but its functionality makes it an ideal candidate for this role. The dog responds to sound and touch, has sensors for “petting” and even a camera in its nose to recognize family members.
Source: Ferra
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