In the 16 years since Sony introduced AIBO, the first robotic pet, consumer robotics has not exactly flowered. AIBO was a smooth-moving, shockingly intelligent and incredibly expensive product.

Sony, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Naio Technologies were some of the standout robot creators this year. A drone designed for aerial video production, an autonomous boat and a robot that hoes and ...

It initially proved a hit, but Sony halted production in 2006. Owners could take their robot to the company for repairs until 2014. (Sony released an advanced AIBO in 2018.

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Moon, Youngme E. "Sony AIBO: The World's First Entertainment Robot (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 503-095, April 2003. (Revised November 2005.) ...