Grandparents. Who has time for them, right?
Hasbro continues its quest to help you see your grandparents even less with the second product in its Joy For All line of robotic pets. In November 2015 we were introduced to the Companion Pet Cat, now the toy juggernaut is introducing the Companion Pet Golden Pup, a golden retriever robot dog that hopes to be your grandparent’s new best friend.
At $120, your lonely loved ones interact with the Companion Pet Golden Pup by talking to it, which causes the robot dog to look at you and make “puppy-like noises.” You can also pet the robot dog on its back to feel a heartbeat and create that close-knit bond.
The Companion Pet Golden Pup robot dog will also react as it’s pet on its cheeks and head. If you don’t interact with it for a few minutes, it will go to sleep. To wake it up, simply walk by or give it a gentle pat on the head.
And don’t worry, the robot dog won’t have accidents, so no need to worry about a robot vacuum creating a giant mess. The Companion Pet Golden Pup isn’t your average dog. No, no. It can’t walk, which will certainly help Nana and Papa be less sedentary than they already are.
The Companion Pet Golden Pup robot dog is so “life-like” that Hasbro recommends some safety tips, such as:
- Never putting it on the floor to avoid tripping over it.
- Place it on an elevated surface when it’s not in use, especially at night.
- Don’t ever get it wet.
- Wipe dirt off immediately.
Hasbro’s Companion Pet Golden Pup robot dog goes on sale this fall in the US. But, hey, maybe your grandparents don’t want to see you more than they already do either.
All kidding aside, a 2008 study showed Sony’s AIBO robot dog helped nursing home residents in the U.S. feel less isolated. So there’s evidence robots can replicate that human-pet relationship. But, c’mon, we can do better than this.
