Robotic pet

Robotic pets are artificially intelligent machines that are made to resemble actual pets. While the first robotic pets produced in the late 1990s, were not too advanced, they have since grown technologically. Many now use machine learning (algorithms that allow machines to adapt to experiences independent of humans), making them much more realistic. Most consumers buy robotic pets with the aim of getting similar companionship that real pets offer, without some of the drawbacks that come with caring for live animals. The pets on the market currently have a wide price range, from the low hundreds into the several thousands of dollars. Multiple studies have been done to show that we treat robotic pets in a similar way as actual pets, despite their obvious differences. However, there is some controversy regarding how ethical using robotic pets is, and whether or not they should be widely adopted in elderly care. The first known robotic pet was a robot dog called Sparko, built by the American company Westinghouse in 1940. It never got sold due to poor public interest. The first robotic pets to be put on the market were Hasbro's Furby in 1998 and Sony's AIBO in 1999. Since then, robotic pets have grown increasingly advanced. The shapes of the robotic pet includes: familiar animals nonfamiliar animals imaginary animals or characters Some popular robotic pets today are: Joy for All (by Hasbro) Companion Pets Zoomer Interactive Animals (Usually Kittens and Puppies) PARO Robot Seals by Intelligent Systems Co. AIBO (upgraded) by Sony FurReal Friends by Hasbro Little Live Pets by Moose Toys EMO Pet by Living AI Hatchimals Pets Alive by the Hong Kong-based company ZURU Present Pets by Spin Master The primary consumer group is elderly people that live alone or in nursing homes, who often suffer from loneliness and social isolation. For this group, robotic pets can be helpful because they often are unable to consistently walk, feed, or otherwise take care of an actual pet.