Sony Teams Aibo Robot Dog With Secom for Home Patrols
Sony equips its Aibo robotic dog with a new home patrol feature through a partnership with Secom. The update allows the robot to recognize registered faces and report on their presence.
Sony partners with security firm Secom to transform its Aibo robotic dog into a friendly household watchdog. A free software update arriving in mid-February allows the robot to walk around designated areas of a home on a set schedule to check for registered individuals. Users simply register up to ten faces in the companion app, and Aibo subsequently delivers a report on who is present in the monitored spaces.
This patrolling feature marks the first time Aibo demonstrates its ability to remember and recognize physical spaces within a home. Sony senior vice president Izumi Kawanishi describes this new capability as "securi-tainment," blending security with entertainment so users feel safe while enjoying their robotic pet. Additionally, Sony plans to launch a premium subscription service in June that enables remote home inspections via real-time video feeds.
The collaboration targets Japan's aging population, which creates a growing demand for home security systems that offer peace of mind to elderly residents. Secom views artificial intelligence and the internet of things as essential tools for expanding these modern security services. Ultimately, Aibo serves as a smart component within a broader security network that recognizes every family member and learns the layout of the home.