Sony is developing a robot dog with smart home capabilities and plans to announce it next month, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The device would be a spiritual successor to the AIBO series of robot dogs that Sony released in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.
The new dog is said to feature improved movement and internet connectivity that will enable it to control household appliances. Details on whether it will use the Aibo name or how much it will cost are unclear. Previous AIBO robots sold for as much as $2,500.
While the AIBO line wasn’t a mainstream commercial success, with former CEO Howard Stringer unceremoniously killing it in 2006 as part of his cost-cutting efforts, Sony has recognized it as an iconic chapter in the company’s history. AIBO featured in an Xperia campaign from a few years back, and many models were on show at Sony’s recent 70th-anniversary exhibition.