Beyond Simple Robots: The Era of Companion Robots
Robot Dog Abandoned After Owner's Passing
Memory Wiped, Seeking a New Family
"Looking for new parents for the robot dog Aibo."
Japan's Sony is introducing an adoption system for robot dogs. This is because cases of companion robots, previously cared for by elderly people, being neglected after their owners pass away have increased significantly. Japanese media reported that as the era of coexistence between robots and humans arrives, society is now considering after-service (AS) even after a human's death.
On the 12th, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported that Sony plans to launch the "Aibo New Parent Finding Program" within this year. Aibo is a dog-shaped robot released by Sony in 2018, with about 20,000 units sold to date. It is especially popular among single-person households such as elderly people living alone. Through this program, Sony will collect Aibos whose owners have passed away or who have been neglected without further care, repair them, and then place them for adoption with new families. Priority for adoption will be given to medical and nursing facilities such as pediatric wards and nursing homes. Considering repair and warranty issues, the robots will be provided for a fee, but the price will be set much lower than that of new products, Nikkei reported.
Sony explained the purpose of the program as "a significant increase in inquiries from elderly households about how to handle companion robots after the owner's death."
This phenomenon arises because Aibo has taken a position similar to that of a companion animal rather than just a simple robot. In fact, a Sony engineer opened an "Aibo specialty hospital" that repairs only Aibos after retirement. About 3,000 Aibos visit the hospital annually for treatment. Sony also holds a "Shichi-Go-San (七五三)" event for Aibo every year at a shrine. Shichi-Go-San is a traditional Japanese event where the health of children aged 3, 5, and 7 is prayed for at a shrine. This reflects Japan's unique affection for companion robots.
Aibo participating in Japan's traditional event "Shichi-Go-San (七五三)" wishing for children's health. (Photo by Sony Aibo official website)
Sony recently completed the first round of donations and registrations, and also finished deleting the previous owners' memories from the Aibos. The refurbished Aibos will find new families within this year. As the companion robot market gradually grows, Nikkei predicted that Sony's after-service will create a significant impact. Takeshi Ando, head of Panasonic HD Robotics Promotion Office, said, "Although the types of companion robots are increasing, services considering farewells with them are still limited. Robots are not humans, but neither are they mere objects; they occupy a third position, so it is necessary to design an 'end' that users can accept."
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