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News around the Web

Sony Puts Aibo, Qrio to Sleep

Sony Halts Robot Production, Development

by Anton Shilov

[ 01/27/2006 | 02:27 PM ]

Sony Corp., a major maker of consumer electronics, quietly announced – among other refocus and plant closing plans – intentions to abandon development and production of its entertainment robots Aibo and Qrio.

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Sony’s Aibo and Qrio robots unveiled years ago were designed for entertainment only. While Sony used to “upgrade” the robots’ capabilities at least once a year in the past, the pace slowed-down recently, whereas the price was still high: about $2000 per unit. By contrast, competing products cost much less.

“The success stories of WowWee’s Robosapien and Roboraptor and iRobot’s Roomba robot vacuum also served to highlight the price chasm between them and Aibo’s $2000 robot and their sub-$300 and sub-$200 offerings, although Aibo was always the more powerful robot with more motors, flexibility and artificial intelligence,” ExtremeTech web-site wrote in its news-story.

Sony will continue research and development of artificial intelligence.