Blame it on cost-cutting and organizational restructuring but Sony, which dreamed up the Walkman, VCR and Camcorder now has given up its dreams of robocompanions. Despite selling over 150,000 Aibos (robotic dogs) since 1999, Sony has had to do away with the Aibo line as a result of its need to focus on “profitability and strategic growth”.
The $2,000 pet Aibo that was in its third generation had become more of a technological marvel than a consumer necessity. Debuting as an early application of Sony proprietary technologies, Aibo gradually added enough sophistication to speak 1,000 words, respond to commands or action, blog with pictures snapped by their behind-the-eye cameras, besides play music. One Aibo fan even published these pictures online to reveal shots largely of ankles and table legs given the short stature of the robot.
Sadly with the end of the Aibo line marks the defeat of Sony's argument with US robot makers over the greater viability of companion robots vis-à-vis job performing robots. On the other hand US manufacturers like iRobot have done reasonably well making robots for repetitive, mundane or dangerous tasks. CEO of iRobot, Colin Angle observed in 2004, "Ever since Rosie from The Jetsons, robots have been the next big thing but the business case was never there. It is easy to build a robot that is prohibitively expensive".
Aibo, which graced numerous tech-shows and expositions it appears will now become a yesteryear show piece even as the last few of them are sold off. However, Sony also hopes to keep the Aibo sibling humanoid Qrio displayed without further development, while the knowledge is harnessed for forthcoming but un-related products. Sony however has promised buyers of Aibo of customer support for another seven years.
Sony's new CEO Sir Howard Stringer in driving Sony's efforts to be competitive has relegated the technology developed by the artificial intelligence divisions for deployment elsewhere. But Sony is not alone in the struggle to make robocompanions marketable. Even Honda's Asimo, which literally walks, runs or even climbs stairs, remains largely a research project. Many industry watchers however still believe that robotics is a massive business opportunity atleast for certain realms like toys, industrial robots and educational purposes.
But the surprising aspect about Sony's decision is that it comes at a time when the company has reported robust financials, largely as a result from whopping sales of games consoles and LCD TVs. That Stringer believes that Aibo's going is as critical to Sony's 'revival' as is the letting go of 10,000 jobs by March 2008 is unexpected given Aibo's showpiece status and closeness to Japanese sensibilities.
