Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Miss your pet while you’re away? PetBot lets your furry friend send you pet selfies

Stephanie Topacio Long
By

Saying goodbye to your furry friend when you head out of the house doesn’t have to be so hard. PetBot is a new smart device that keeps pets connected with their owners when they’re apart through pet selfies, videos, and more. The company launched an Indiegogo campaign today for their gadget, which uses artificial intelligence technology to allow pet owners and their cats or dogs to interact at a distance.

Using a petcam, the device provides a live stream of your pet’s activities. PetBot’s AI tech recognizes when your cat or dog comes into the camera’s field view and begins recording. It then uses audio you select to attract your pet closer to get a good shot for a pet selfie. After it snaps a photo, you can share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and your pet gets a (literal) treat out of the deal too.

Recommended Videos

The treat dispenser doesn’t just dole out rewards for pet selfies. There’s an option for you to set your PetBot to dispense them at regular intervals. Alternately, you can control it manually, using the device to provide positive reinforcement when your animal is behaving well.

PetBot ad v.5

PetBot recognizes sounds from both the pet and owner, which can be helpful for training, as well as minimizing any separation anxiety your pet — or you — may be suffering. You can also upload mp3 files and even record audio. For those who want more information about their animals’ habits, you can use pet wearables and track data in PetBot’s Pet Care Hub.

Related

PetBot CEO Misko Dzamba came up with the idea behind the device to keep tabs on his own dog. The company was co-founded in 2013 by Dzamba, Zoran Grabovac, and Jason Yu. The trio have since been working to “improve the quality of life for all pets and pet owners, by creating a hub for pet-related devices.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long
Contributor
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
Always be a video call away from your pets with the PetChatz HDX
your dog can call you at work with petchatz hdx video camera no logo 091719

When the idea of indoor security cameras first came about, no one could have guessed one of their most popular uses would be to keep an eye on pets. In today's world, that's what a huge number of people use their camera for -- to make sure their four-legged furry friend isn't getting into mischief. Sometimes people check in on their pets throughout the day just to relax during a tough assignment at work. PetChatz HDX aims to be the go-to provider of pet-focused home security cameras.

According to PetChatz, the average pet owner spent $183 on their pets during the holiday season last year. The company figured that with another holiday season on the way, pet-focused technology would be the hot-ticket item, and thus, the PetChatz HDX was born. This 1080p video camera has a wide-angle lens, improved low-light performance, and Wi-Fi connectivity on both the 2.4 and the 5GHz bands. Perhaps most importantly of all, there are no monthly fees associated with the PetChatz HDX. You can check in on Spot all day long without any additional cost.

Read more
The Wave Mini makes sure the air you’re breathing inside your home is safe
airthings wave mini smart indoor air quality monitor lifestyle 1

With the summer heat and humidity in full swing, it might feel like you're breathing through a wet blanket. The outdoor air quality drops during the summer months, but what most people might not realize is that indoor air quality does too. Airthings wants to combat this issue with the Wave Mini, a smart, indoor air quality monitor.

The product was originally introduced at CES 2019. The Wave Mini sits inside the home and offers real-time analysis of the air quality by analyzing three major components that affect it: Temperature, humidity, and the total volatile organic compounds, or TVOCs. The Wave Mini presents this information visually, allowing users to see how their air quality changes over time. Knowing how and when the air quality changes makes it easier for people to take better control of what they breathe.

Read more
Best lawn mower deals: Cordless, gas, electric and robotic
A robot lawn mower in a backyard while a family relaxes.

Warmer weather is upon us, and that means it’s time to start keeping up with the yard work. A new lawn mower can go a long way toward keeping your yard looking nice, and right now you can shop with some savings in store. Tech advancements have introduced a range of new lawnmowers over the years, but whether you’re looking for something cordless, gas-powered, electric, or even one of the best robot lawn mowers, we’ve got some savings in store for you. We’ve tracked down all of the best lawn mower deals below, as well as some information on whether each deal will get you the right lawn mower for your needs.
American Lawn Mower Company 50514 — $139, was $160

The American Lawnmower Company has created a lawn mower that works well and isn't enormously heavy — a mere 20 pounds. With its 14-inch cutting width and absurdly low weight, you can zip through small jobs quickly and get back to whatever else it is that you'd prefer to be doing in a hurry. The only odd point, at least if you're coming from traditional lawn mowers, about the American Lawnmower Company 50514 is how it is a corded mower. This means you'll have to slightly adjust your mowing to be more like vacuuming with a corded vacuum. It also means that, even with an extension cord, you won't be able to stray too far from home with it. As a result of its weight and corded nature, the American Lawnmower Company 50514 is perfect for smaller homes (and people).

Read more