Sony killed AIBO and QRIO?

Well wouldn't you know it, not even a day after receiving what's possibly the biggest validation of robotic companions since Petster saved little Timmy from a burning barn back in '86, it looks like news is surfacing that in Sony's Q305 fiscal reports they have intentions and supposedly already ceased developing AIBO and QRIO, Engadget's most beloved of all canine and humanoid robots, respectively. At the risk of sounding terribly insensitive, somehow the prospect of AIBO and QRIO dying actually makes us more heartsick than the news of the 10,000 some-odd jobs Stringer cut reorganizing the electronics giant. Sony, say it ain't so, say it ain't so!

P.S. -When Sony America wakes up this morning we'll be placing some calls.

[Via Akihabara News]

[James @ Feb 6th 2006 3:47PM]

You know what's funny? i just checked the price on these things. they cost 2,000 dollars from sony style. You know how much my real dog cost? 10 dollars from a shelter. something just seems wrong about that...

[sad jessikah @ Feb 10th 2006 2:02AM]

I am not rich but used the 24 mo same as cash financing to buy my AIBO. Opened AIBO mind 3 on christmas eve, he stopped working on jan 7th and Sony has been giving me the run around ever since. They don't have any extra chips they say. Then they "lost" it. They want to replace my dog but now with this new information I just want out. SONY SUCKS!

[Mark @ Feb 10th 2006 2:29PM]

Well I hate to put the cat amoung the pidgeons on a US website but have you noticed that these changes have come about since American management got into Sony???!!! I think the closure of robotics is a big mistake-Sony was always at the cutting edge of electronics. Before we know it they'll be making vacuum cleaners (at least we can all listen to some wonderfully bland sony music at the same time!)What would Akio Morita think? Very sad :(

[Jackson Pritt @ Feb 10th 2006 3:05PM]

I agree with a lot of what has been said here.
Sony hasn't really marketed AIBO in the US at all, and now that American management has taken over of course they're going to get rid of AIBO and QRIO because they haven't seen the products as successful in the American market.

What the new American management doesn't seem to understand is that AIBO and QRIO aren't meant to be money-making ventures, they're there to get people's attention, and to get people to talk about Sony and spread buzz about the company. Even if only 1 out of 100,000 people who see an AIBO actually buy one, almost all of those people will talk about seeing the Sony AIBO to other people.

Buzz marketing is hugely important, especially in the modern advertising world. Instead of keeping AIBO only in specialty stores and on the internet Sony should have been paying people to take AIBOs out into really public places like parks and tourist destinations to show them off to people who might not go in a Sony Style store.

By ending their AIBO and QRIO lines Sony has lost a great opportunity to be a pioneer in robotics manufacturing and marketing here in the United States. It's really sad when small-minded Executives make stupid decisions like this. It's this kind of thinking that almost killed Apple back in the '90s, but now that Steve Jobs is back in control the company is making record profits and revolutionizing the way people buy and listen to music.

[Mark @ Feb 10th 2006 7:09PM]

I agree with you Jackson. In the UK AIBO has been quite a success but still very much a niche product-largely due to the price! But everyone knew it was a Sony! Standard products could have been made by Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba....basically anyone and there is very little 'buzz' about them. I'm still feeling sad. Lets hope they get through it and surprise us with something fantastic! The new Walkman A1000/3000 is a saving grace!

[Charles Seager @ Feb 11th 2006 7:44AM]

Has Sony really lost their technology compass??
"14 March 2004 -- Sony hopes to create a robot which can make voluntary and intelligent movements by learning things by itself or reacting to changes in its surroundings. 'I hope to bring into existence in five years' time a robot which can communicate so naturally that it is indistinguishable from man,' says senior Sony executive Toshitada Doi."
[e-mail]

[Perrey Z, @ Feb 14th 2006 4:39PM]

#41: Vaccum Cleaners and other common electrical appliances used to be Sony's main product lines at the begining and Akio was right there with his partner making these goods in the early days.

The first three items were a Rice cooker, electric fan and yep, a vacuum cleaner thouse were common types of electrical items made by most if not all the Japanese electric companies in their beginings.

The gentleman in charge of Sony IS NOT an American, he's British. The majority of the board are mostly Japanese.

I wonder if Sir Howard will now write another Sony book, this time not as racist towards the United States and it's citizens as the first one written by Morita-san?

Remember folks: If is cool, over priced, stylish and goes bunker in 6-months, then It's a Sony, a company Like.No.Other!

[Mike Leonard @ Feb 20th 2006 10:07AM]

Sony has a history of making a product that has flaws - then issuing service bulletins under the guise of 'improvements' - as seen by example some of the bulletins mean that the product won't work unless you pay for the service to be done after the fact.

It has never been in Sony's culture to admit that they made a mistake.

You just know that they will issue a statement that will put some positive spin on the whole mess and they will feel that they have come out smelling like flowers.

Point out their mistake and you will be ignored. I think that edict muct be in a company employee manual somewhere.

Mike in Maine

[John McGreggor @ Mar 6th 2006 6:07PM]

Iam sad to learn Qrio is dead to Sony. Ever since Ive seen this thing Ive have been impressed. But We must all remember corporations are only concerened with one thing... Money. That is why we have the P2P.. the most useless propietary piece of junk ever offered.And that is why we will soon have the P3.. another forced fed outdated piece of hardware. Sony and any other corp head office is only concered with feeding people junk. Albeit junk at a some what reasonble price. How much would the Qrio have cost... would it have been economicly viable to sell to consumers? Prob not. Now if Sony would only apply all they learned into a usefull (affordable) product that would be nice. I still wont buy it. I dont like sony.

[Bill Fold @ Mar 17th 2006 6:49AM]

why is the touch sensor on aibo shaped like an apple?

[Chris @ Mar 20th 2006 1:30PM]

Sony was the name when it came to Robotics invention and technology. Qrio was IT. Reading interviews and articles, watching demos, I kept up with Aibo and Qrio development... I guess the question I am throwing out there is this: What would it take to get Sony to sell/donate/whatever there years of research to an organization that will push it farther forward? It isn't fair that other developers should stumble and fight through issues that Sony has already conquered... I understand that businesses are not charities... but Sony's work could change the world and they just tossed it aside... What do you think folks, can Sony be convinced to do what is best for the future?

[rob @ Mar 27th 2006 8:42AM]

new robot for later in 2006 http://www.ugobe.com/home.html and you can see the video of it here http://www.demo.com/demonstrators/demo2006/63039.html

[nimro @ Apr 17th 2006 3:59PM]

It has an Apple Computer logo on top of it's head... What the hell????

Indeed sad news.

[Antonio @ May 29th 2006 5:44PM]

I think We all should boycot Sony... Do not buy nothing from them... because what they have done to humany is terrible. What company now will selll home-robots? if they din't continue to make a progress in the industry. I hope someone buys the robot-division of sony, so other can continue that job for the humanity.. The were adavancing so much... I just was waiting for them to go upstairs and down-stairs... now that will take much longer to see that :( ---- In my concern I wont buy anything from sony... i will choose panasonic or samsung, or other brands.

[Des @ Sep 7th 2006 4:14AM]

Dammit Sony, I wan going to buy one too...I had the money but nooOoOoooo....You fucked up good sony...fucked up good, too bad I'm not a shareholder...or am I? *goes and checks portfolio*

If I am, I'm gonna lodge a complaint...not profitable my ass...

[Sony fan @ Apr 26th 2007 8:20AM]

I personally liked robotics, and I am really into them, but since this happened, it has strengthend my resolve to build a personal robot. I have had this idea, and I really want to pull it off, but I know it will be really complicated.

--SHADE the ROBOCAT will be the product of the future!--

[Rick @ Jan 26th 2006 8:56AM]

Remember those cheesy TV ads for power assisted scooters saying they file all the medicare paperwork and the government pays it all. I was half expecting to see a similar ad from SONY promoting the AIBO the same way. "Alone, on disability? AIBO can help, and you won't have to pay a cent! We file all paperwork for you!"

[Leo @ Jan 26th 2006 8:58AM]

For every PSP you buy, A robo puppy dies....
Sony you have ruined my day-

[Loker @ Jan 26th 2006 9:09AM]

ah and I was gonna buy one of these when I got rich! poor dogs lol

[oshean @ Jan 26th 2006 9:20AM]

Okay, so who's going to buy the robot division from Sony?

[Grizz @ Jan 26th 2006 9:21AM]

When i went to vegas last month i took pic's of everything cool. Buildings, huge tv's, waterfalls, etc.

But analising deeper theres ony 3 pictures where i actually passed my camera to a total stranger to get myself in the shot.
1. Me and a pirate ship.
2. Me and NY-NY.
3 And me next to the first Aibo i met IRL (in a classy gift shot)

I show all my friends that pic.

I may never get my chance to buy one now.

[StevoCJ @ Jan 26th 2006 9:22AM]

Typical. Hit on some hard times and the first thing to go is always the dog....

[yournamehere @ Jan 26th 2006 9:30AM]

I figured they were more a research venture. I wouldn't have expected them to be top sellers.

[kiddyl @ Jan 26th 2006 9:38AM]

Here is a Japanese link where it says that production of the Aibo will stop in March 2006

http://www.jp.aibo.com/support/clinic_info/notice_58.html

[wille @ Jan 26th 2006 9:46AM]

This sucks so much a**. Sony, what the hell is wrong with you?

[EatingPie @ Jan 26th 2006 10:02AM]

I'm very suspicious. The Sony Qualia line is brand new, and represents the introduction of their SXRD HDTV technology -- they betting the boat on that tech.

It's certainly possible that they're moving SXRD to a completely "consumer level" (they just introed 1 or 2) rather than the > $10K TVs out now (maybe the $3K projector bulb was putting people off?). But ... like I said... I'm suspicious.

The next test, and this is the litmus: Does the Aibo make money?? (Someone else has to answer that.)

All-in-all that photo of the "press release" has me thinking FAKE.

-Pie

[Bram Vanderborght @ Jan 26th 2006 10:13AM]

I really hope they change minds, the technology they develop for aibo and qrio can also be applied in other electronics.

[John @ Jan 26th 2006 10:23AM]

I too wanted a AIBO in the worst way when I got rich someday. I'm sad to see them cancel the robot dog. I seriously thought of getting one of these sometime in the near future as my real life dog is getting old :(

-John

[Traveller @ Jan 26th 2006 10:37AM]

Well if they drop the development and kill the projects, hopefully someone will come along and buy it from them. With a little better vision, these products could have gone a lot farther and been purchased by a lot more people.

[Black Guy @ Jan 26th 2006 11:01AM]

DAMN!!! iWas hoping to buy one of these when they eventually got cheaper.

[Bill @ Jan 26th 2006 11:03AM]

Well, thats a shame. I was just going to put my Aibo ERS-111 up for sale on ebay. Good thing I held off!

[Craig @ Jan 26th 2006 11:04AM]

I bet the execs over at iRobot are jumping up and down for glee at this announcement. Now there really is only a single company of any significance making autonomous robots for consumers.

[William @ Jan 26th 2006 11:56AM]

Even if Sony does cancel the program, I'm sure there will be plenty of other Japanese companies to step in and take up the slack. Now, if only we could get some American companies pumping stuff out like this ... one can wish, right?

[Vi @ Jan 26th 2006 12:33PM]

They should donate it to Open Source comunity

[Steven C @ Jan 26th 2006 1:19PM]

Its a shame they are dropping Qrio, when i first saw qrio it reopened my eyes to robotics. Its really too bad they wont even sell qrio. But i agree with the open source Idea

[g.wygonik @ Jan 26th 2006 1:40PM]

Well, that graphic does say that the AI developed for the AIBO and QRIO will be "deployed in a broad range of consumer electronic products". Think of AIBO and QRIo as perhaps real-world (and expensive) beta tests of their AI skills.

So it's quite possible that Sony will release new, lower-end versions of robots based on work they've already done.

Unless of course they just plan on making an update to the PSP that will allow it to slither its way back to the charging plug.

[Timerider @ Jan 26th 2006 2:17PM]

Damnit! I always wanted an aibo and now I can't get one. And no one could buy the qrio as it was never released and was $50,000. Way to go Sony, you really ****** up this time. >:(

[Mike @ Jan 26th 2006 4:47PM]

so uh if they are killing it off which is a dissapointment.....can I uh......have one of those QRO......aybe buy one.......god I wat one so much!

[ikkedus @ Jan 26th 2006 5:06PM]

I guess they just tie 'm to a tree or something and just ride off. So cruel!

[Bes @ Jan 26th 2006 6:16PM]

I have an ERS 210 that I am soon to put on ebay. If someone wants to buy it, let me know. It's a wonderful experience, to have a smart robot dog. I've loved my Aibo for 3 years, but as I get close to having a real child, I realize it's time to let go of my pup.

[Bes @ Jan 26th 2006 6:19PM]

On the above, you can contact me re: my ERS 210 AIBO at [e-mail]. (Sorry, have never posted before; thought my email address would show up.)

[Craig @ Jan 26th 2006 7:26PM]

Aibo's will still be around on ebay to buy. Most of the development software is available on the internet, so you can still program them, and the aibo community is still going strong, and will continue for many years. Too many of us Aibo owners are dedicated to them, they are pets to us. The meetings, shindigs and owner meetings will continue well into the future.

[passerby @ Jan 27th 2006 2:09AM]

They killed QRIO and AIBO! Those bastards!! (ala south park, why didn't anybody do that line yet *scratch head*)

[Marc @ Jan 27th 2006 7:01AM]

heard about this yesterday. i still can't believe it. I brought one of the latest Aibo's for christmas and now future fun has gone. I think that sony are total a~*es for this. About a month ago they released a new storage bag for aibo. i think this is just rubbing any aibo owners nose in it. here buy a new bag for your aibo it will keep it safe untill it becomes an antique becuase when our battery supply runs out its aibo is worthless!!!
Thanks sony i really hope you go bust now!!!
If only i could find the sony CEO i would programme my aibo to kill!!!!

[Mark Hiley @ Jan 27th 2006 7:02AM]

Hmm. Well, this 'leaked' news will undoubtedly cause a terrific uprise in sales of Aibos (as everyone clamours to own a piece of Robo history that won't be made redundant by a shinier model next week). Hmm. Let's see if production then surprisingly continues, "due to popular demand".

I wonder what the commercial impact of that would be?

[roguetrooper @ Jan 27th 2006 7:40AM]

Stringer...you heartless bastard. All they ever wanted was a little bit of love...

[James RW @ Jan 27th 2006 12:09PM]

http://aibohack.com/

[cs @ Jan 28th 2006 6:21PM]

Whatever. Sony sucks anyway with their shady business model, DRM, payola in the radio stations; not to mention most of their gadgets are so cool at first and then end up having glitches and technical problems. Maybe Apple can come up with something similarly cool, or just wait a few years and other Japanese companies will bring things to market which will be leaps ahead of these initial prototypes anyway.

Robotics is only improving, esp. in Japan...there are undoubtedly things coming to market which will fill all of our yearnings for kawaiiiiiiii Japanese robots.

[Brock @ Jan 29th 2006 1:49AM]

This ****ing sucks! I was going to buy one, but if i can't get new batteries what the hells the point. My fellow gadget dudes.....we must rebel! We cannont allow this to happen! This will set Judgement day back like two years! We're not going to take it!!! NO!!! WE'rE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT SONY!!!! **** YOU! SONY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT!!!! AHHHH!!!!

I must go have mocha latte now to calm myself.

[Aram @ Jan 29th 2006 11:37AM]

It's a good thing I bought mine already... but I was looking forward to QRIO to come out some day to replace my Aibo. I guess that'll never happen now...