The Sony aibo
Artificial
Intelligence
roBOt
“aibo” also means “pal” or “partner” in Japanese.

This is a quick look at the Sony aibo. For 2024 it is available in a fresh colorway option called kinako (soy powder).

We also compare the 2024 model year ERS 1000, with the 2018 launch year model.

As you can see, the 2024 model is maybe a little smoother and can interact with its brethren in quite a natural way!

Both videos were filmed at the Sony Center in Gina, Tokyo. The first one was in October 2018 and second one was in August 2024.

To those of you that are not familiar with the origins and history of Sony’s robot dog. Here, we have put together a brief history of aibo.

1990
Sony created the Computer Science Laboratory (CSL). They invented the operating system which was a base for the early aibo models.

1994
Dr. Toshitada Doi, the inventor of aibo, joined forces with AI expert Masahiro Fujita, with the aim of creating an entertainment pet robot.

1995
Nobuyuki Idei, became the new president of Sony with a vision of a future full of digital technology.
The very first aibo prototype was called the MUTANT, which had a monkeylike appearance. It could track a ball, shake your hand and also sleep. Many other prototypes followed, some even had six legs.

1999
The Digital Creature Lab was formed with the aim of producing the very first commercially available aibo.

1999
In May, ERS 110 was launched as the first Household Robot dog. It could develop its own personality from interactions with different people.

1999
In November the ERS111 was available as an updated or better made version of the original launch model.

2000Second generation
The ERS210 was very different, as it looked like a cross between a lioncub and a Jack Russel Terrier breed of dog. Features included speech recognition.

2001
The ERS220 looked very futuristic as it was based on a concept sketch by Shoji Kawamor, of a space exploration robot. So it had chrome and headlights and also colored LEDs. It could be remotely operated through a wireless local area

2001
The ERS311 had a heart slogan from the original production design illustrator Katsura Moschino. It was called the “Latte" and had an offwhite/cream color and was considered the "friendly" model compared to its twin.

2001
The ERS312 was called the "Macaron" and was mostly black but with a little cream. It was the ”naughty" model of the twins

2001
The ERS31L was called the ”Pug”. This was the least common of the three models launched in 2001 and was also the cheapest.

2003Third Generation
ERS7 was the final generation before the breed was discontinued and production was halted in 2006.

2006
Sony ended the production and sales of aibo.

2016
Ten years later the original engineers of aibo started on the development of a new aibo.

2017
The new ERS1000 was launched to the press in November 2017. Kazuo Hirai, present of Sony, promised that it would connect with people’s hearts and bring feelings of love that comes from raising an animal.

2018Fourth Generation
It was launched to the public in January 2018. The ERS1000 had Ai, to communicate with and learn from its owner and develop an individual personality

2023
In January, the ability to act as a watch dog was added.

2024
A New color ways, called kinako (soy powder) was launched on August 8th.


We will revisit aibo early next year in 2025, when Sony opens the new Ginza Sony Park, in January.
https://www.sonypark.com/e/about/



Learn more about aibo, from these selected links and sources.

https://us.aibo.com

https://aibo.sony.jp/?s_tc=ab_adv_ad_aibo_...

https://electronics.sony.com/more/c/aibo

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIBO

https://electronictoyswiki.fandom.com/wi...

https://virtualpaws.com/historyofaibo/#...!