Skip to main content

You can now feed Sony’s Aibo robot dog with virtual food

A new update to version 2.5 of the software powering Sony’s adorable Aibo robot dog enables programmable tasks, as well as the ability to feed it with virtual food.

A previous update for Aibo from earlier this year introduced version 2.0 and the Aibo Patrol feature, which Sony described as “a new service built on the concept of ‘securitainment’ (security and entertainment).” The latest update for the robot dog further delves into Aibo’s robotic half.

Related Videos

The version 2.5 software update launches a web-based application programming interface that offers access to the Aibo Developer Program for seasoned developers and Aibo Visual Programming for novice programmers. Access to the API is free, but Sony said that it is not capable of changing Aibo’s emotion, character, or mood.

The Aibo Developer Program lets you create new applications, traits, and experiences for Aibo. It’s really meant for serious programmers, while Aibo Visual Programming is a tool Aibo owners with limited coding experience can use to create tasks for their robot dog, with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop user interface.

Raw video of some of the office's first interaction with Aido.

The software update for Aibo also improves the My Aibo App with a new feature named Aibo Food. Owners will be able to use bonus coins to purchase meals called Aibocrisps (really!), virtual food that may be fed to the Aibo. The feature will also work in the future with a new food bowl accessory, which the app will recognize and fill with virtual food for Aibo to enjoy.

Owners earn bonus coins by signing in to the My Aibo App at certain intervals, and through special events. There is also an option to purchase coins in exchange for real-world money.

With the addition of a feeding option, it’s only logical to think Aibo will need some potty training as well. Sony thought so too, adding that with a new Mapping feature. Aibo can now also be trained to “be quiet,” and to be carried in an upright position.

Aibo comes with a hefty price tag of $2,900, so taking care of the robot dog is definitely not for everyone. But the million dollar question isn’t whether you can afford it. It’s “can Aibo replace Fido?” If you’re thinking about it, read what happened when our own Kim Wetzel introduced Aibo to her life … and her 4-year-old. In a word: we’re smitten.

Editors' Recommendations

Your Whirlpool smart oven can now act as an air fryer, too
The Whirlpool Smart Oven line is getting an air fry mode.

One of the major perks of smart home technology is that you don't necessarily have to buy a new appliance to get new features. Whirlpool made that all the more obvious at CES 2022 today when the company announced a software update coming to the Smart Slide-in Gas and Electric Ranges, as well as the Smart Single, Double, and Combination Wall Ovens through an "instant over-the-air upgrade." Imagine that: A software update that adds the functionality of a completely different appliance to something you already have.

The addition of the air fry functionality isn't all that Whirlpool smart ovens are getting, either. They'll soon be able to connect to the Yummly smart thermometer. This might seem like a minor update, but there's actually a lot of functionality packed into the smart thermometer, too. The thermometer's app has a lot of recipes packed in, and it can start preheating your oven based on which recipe you're using. The thermometer can connect to your smartphone from up to 150 feet away and can guide even the most inexperienced home cook toward a delicious finish. If you're not confident in the kitchen, the main thing to remember is that heat is your best friend and your worst enemy. Too much heat and you burn your dish, but too little and it comes out gross. A smart thermometer can help zero in that Goldilocks temperature.

Read more
Hyundai’s new MobED robot can carry booze and babies
hyundais new mobed robot can carry booze and babies hyundai

Hyundai has unveiled the Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED) robot that’s capable of carrying everything from booze to babies.

If the design of MobED looks a little on the simple side, that's because it is. But beyond the four wheels and platform, it's actually got a lot going on.

Read more
You can now download the first Android 12L Beta on your Google Pixel
Android 12L shown for a larger display.

Google announced on Wednesday the first beta release of Android 12L, the next feature drop for the recently released Android 12 operating system. Aimed primarily at tablets and larger-screened devices, Android 12L will focus on changing the Android experience from the much-critiqued blown-up-phone look to a discrete experience that takes the larger canvas of tablets into account.
What's new?
Today's beta release includes the refreshed interface for larger screens, including a column view for the notification shade and lock screen. A new multitasking dock is being introduced to allow faster access to split-screen and drag-and-drop, and Google's now done work to allow every Android 12 app to work with split-screen mode regardless of whether developers have built for it.

The big problem with big-screen Android
Unlike iOS, the Android experience on tablets and larger-screened devices has been abysmal. It's a little understandable when one considers that Google shifted its tablet focus from Android to Chrome OS a few years ago. While Chrome OS currently has a decent tablet experience, one that the current Android 12L seems to want to replicate when looking at the dock and split-screen multitasking, the app experience for both has remained lacking.

Read more