Robot dogs are nothing new. We've seen plenty of them in the past, like the highly-intelligent Sony AIBO or the iCybie, which wasn't as smart, but was still a lovable dog.
A new product by a company called WowWee, however, is aimed at taking things to the next level. The device is called the Canine Home Intelligent Pet, or CHiP, and it's a cyber-pooch that is packed with sensors and features.
In the head of the device is an array of infrared sensors, giving the dog a complete 360-degree field of view that is used for things like finding a special ball and the dog's charging bed. Not only that, but the device also has Bluetooth compatibility, enabling it to connect with a special smart band. Users can wear the band, which helps the dog keep track of them.
While most of CHiP simply looks like a robotic version of a dog, its paws are completely different, instead taking the form of Meccanum wheels. What this means is that the device can roll around in pretty much any direction that it wants. Paired with a pretty impressive speed, CHiP is able to do things most real dogs can do.
The robo-dog is also able to tell when there are children nearby, and when it senses them, it stays still and waits for the child to pet its head. According to WowWee, the toy will soon include better touch sensors, which will give the dog more ways to interact physically.
The toy ball that comes with CHiP has sensors of its own, enabling for communication with the dog so that it can be "seen," or detected, when playing fetch or catch. Last but not least is the fact that CHiP will keep itself busy when the user is gone, and will get excited when they get home.
According to WowWee, a full charge will give the device up to two hours of use, while charging will take "a couple of hours." CHiP will cost $199, however, it won't be released until sometime in 2016.
Via: Slash Gear
