Sony To Take Back Aging Aibo Robot Dogs And Rehome Them As Support Animals

Image via Sony

Pets are a miraculous addition to the home, but they require lots of attention and care. These, apparently, include robot dogs like Sony’s US$2,899.99 Aibo, who are programmed to “mature” and require additional monthly payments to be maintained.

Those who can no longer care for their robotic pets can now return them to Sony under its new Aibo Foster Parent initiative. In turn, the electronics giant will give the retiring Aibo dogs a new lease of life as delightful companions in foster homes and medical facilities.

The program comes after research with medical institutions revealing that “interacting with Aibo can have a positive impact on patients, their families, and staff,” Sony shares.

Image via Aibo

The robotic support pets will don a special collar that distinguishes their new roles.

And while Sony’s robot dogs have been sprinting around since 1998, the newly adopted models will be the more advanced 2019 ERS-1000 batch, which can recognize their names, identify faces, and respond to voices. This iteration of Aibo reacts happily when you pet it, and it can perform tricks as well as personalized actions.

As for donated Aibo pooches that are no longer as well-oiled in the joints, instead of putting them to sleep, Sony will build their parts into all-new units.

With that, the mechanical canines will still require an unspecified fee from their new owners so as to keep their gears running.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

[via Engadget and Android Police, images via Sony]