At a time when even basic human interactions are discouraged for safety reasons, there is an even greater demand for alternative sources of company. But if you’re not ready for the responsibilities of a dog or a cat, Panasonic has introduced another companion robot that carefully pay attention to you through flatulence attacks – just like a real pet.
Nicobo is not easy to describe; it’s as if someone overturned a bowl, gave him some animated eyes, a tail that gave and then wrapped it in an old sock. It has no ability to locomotive – it won’t come when you call it – but it is attached to a moving base so that it can rotate from side to side and look up and down. Co-developed with robotics researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology Michio Oka Laboratory, Nicobo also includes a face recognition camera, several directional microphones for voice recognition and return to pay attention, touch sensors, so to he knows when a light sensor is touched or hugged, so that, like a cat, he can enjoy a nap in the bright sunlight.
Instead of lifting your laundry or cleaning your floors, Nicobo refers to providing simple company. So when someone takes care of him, the robot’s tail starts to appreciate. But it can also have days when it is the mood is not so pleasant and probably when you will not think twice to pass around you.
Nicobo can talk too, but at first, speaks only one word (similar to The Guardian of the Galaxy’s Groot’s limited vocabulary, but expressive), but in the end, mutter complete sentences in katakoto – the Japanese word for broken language or talk about children. You will never have a long conversation with Nicobo, but his rude murmurs will help strengthen the feeling that he is really attentive and listens to your feelings, even if he can’t do anything about them. Sometimes that’s all a man needs.
Getting your hands on Nicobo is a bit complicated. For starters, Panasonic plans to initially manufacture 320 units of the small robot, priced at about $ 360. But it handles pre-orders its own crowdfunding platform in order to raise 10,000,000 YEN (about $ 95,000) before production actually takes place. After the first six months, Owners are also expected to cough about $ 10 a month to use what sounds like even the simplest features of Nicobo, such as smartphone connectivity and software updates. We hate to see companies that use nickel and dime, but the monthly expenses make Nicobo feel more like a real pet.
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The other complication is that it looks all pre-orders for Nicobo are already claimed at this time – about six hours after the launch of the crowdfunding campaign. However, there could be cancellations and there is always the chance that if Panasonic finds that it has a quick blow on its hands, it will increase production. Until then, especially if you are outside of Japan, finding a Nicobo can be more difficult than the challenges of raising a puppy or kitten.