Sony Aibo Updated, will Greet You at the Door

Seems to be only assistant system left that makes a claim to being mobile and family friendly.   Home oriented.   With elements of a home pet emphasized.   We visited their lab early on, and that was one of the claims.  But it never seems to have reached that.  Notably similar in aims to the Kuri, now defunct.

Sony's Aibo robot will now greet you at the front door.  So, so adorable.
Nick Summers, @nisummers in Engadget

Sony’s robotic Aibo pup continues to learn new tricks. Thanks to a new software update, the android companion will now predict when you come home and sit patiently at the front door. Or that’s the idea, anyway. According to Sony’s website, you’ll first need to assign a meeting place — the entrance to your front home — by saying a phrase like “this is where you should go.” Aibo should then lower its head and ‘sniff’ the ground to indicate that it’s storing the location. If the process is successful, a door icon should appear on the map located inside the companion app.  ... "

Claims of over 100K sold in various forms, costing as much as  $2,900 each. There had seemed to be some indications it might be abandoned,  but this recent software update would say otherwise.   Glad the general idea continues, it has a place. 

Some detail in the Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIBO

Sony AI Intelligent Image Sensors

What appears to be a considerable means of creating IOT intelligence based on such chips.

Sony Says It Created World’s First Image Sensor With Built-in AI
By Takashi Mochizuki and Vlad Savov in Bloomberg
May 14, 2020, 3:00 AM  

Sony Corp. touted on Thursday the world’s first image sensors with built-in artificial intelligence, promising to make data-gathering tasks much faster and more secure. Calling it the first of its kind, Sony said the technology would give “intelligent vision” to cameras for retail and industrial applications.

The new sensors are akin to tiny self-contained computers, incorporating a logic processor and memory. They’re capable of image recognition without generating any images, allowing them to do AI tasks like identifying, analyzing or counting objects without offloading any information to a separate chip. Sony said the method provides increased privacy while also making it possible to do near-instant analysis and object tracking.  ...  "

See also Sony AI Initiatives:   https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/sony_ai/

Sony Launches IoT Chip

Low power, 60 mile range, but just in Japan for now.  Seems would be ideal for Smart city applications.  Most notable a new means to gather data and deliver applications remotely.

Sony built an IoT chip with a 60 mile range
It will use Sony's proprietary low-power wide area (LPWA) network launching this fall.   By Steve Dent, @stevetdent in Engadget

Sony is quietly launching a chip that could change how e-bikes, cars, street lamps and all kinds of other connected devices can relay information. The module, when installed on any IoT object, will allow it send data to Sony's proprietary low-power wide area (LPWA) ELTRES network launching this fall. It can transmit up to about 60 miles and work in noisy urban environments on objects moving at high speeds, opening up a lot of new applications in security, monitoring, tracking and more. ... "

Sony, CMU looking at Cooking Robots

The idea of further looking at task oriented interaction with recipes, techniques and recipes.  As a long time cook, and having worked in the Food industry.  Also involves close cooperation with people.  Been examining how assistants work with recipes.  Its a natural place to think about AI.  Lots of data, understood goals, sub-tasks and resources readily defined. 

Sony, Carnegie Mellon form partnership to research cooking robots
The skills needed for food preparation and delivery could be applied to a number of other industries and tasks, Sony and CMU said.      By Stephanie Condon for Between the Lines

Sony, Carnegie Mellon Form Partnership to Research Cooking Robots 

" ... Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Sony are working together to study how artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics can be used to improve food preparation, cooking, and delivery. The researchers want to teach machines to handle fragile and irregularly shaped materials, skills that could be applied to other household or small business tasks. The project, which be run primarily out of CMU's School of Computer Science, has the potential to make the vast possibilities of AI and robotics more familiar and accessible to the general public, according to project lead Hiroaki Kitano, president and CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories. ... " 

Sony Advanced Robot Aibo Dog

Saw the early version of the Aibo dog demonstrated in Japan.    Tried to get a demo for our space, but it never happened.   Japan was and is interested in eldercare: 'friendly' robot solutions.  Reminds me a bit of the Kuri robot, which aims to be a friendly family member, with some assistant components.  The Alexa assistant has been described as friendly,  with hints of being a family member.   Is this a component that will sell home robotics?  Will mere friendliness sell? Note the many sensors included.

Sony Unleashes New Aibo Robot Dog    by John Boyd

Eighteen years after unveiling its original Aibo robot dog, Sony is now reviving the iconic product using advanced mechatronics and AI to create a cuter, smarter, and more lifelike version. The new Aibo is crammed with ultracompact actuators, two cameras, touch sensors, microphones, and a 64-bit quad-core CPU. According to a Sony executive, the robot uses AI to create "a bond with its owners that can grow over time." Sony will start selling Aibo early next year. ... " 

Sony's Smart Speaker Powered by Google Assistant

Another example of a smart speaker.  Powered by Google Assistant, the same intelligence that is powering Google Home.   An example of voice activated virtual assistance. Sony's involvement is interesting.

Sony LF-S50G Wireless Speaker with Google Assistant
By iNinja -

A Virtual Assistant in Your Ear

In the BBC:   Sony Xperia puts AI assistant in owner's ear ... By Leo Kelion.  And much more about hands free additions to smartphone interaction.   See also their other Xperia labeled voice applications.

Sony Xperia Agent

A product that will challenge the Amazon Echo?    In Business Insider: 

" ... Sony showed off a prototype of its Experia Agent, a smart home that would compete with the Echo, at Mobile World Congress 2016. And when the time comes, it could surpass Amazon's product.

The Experia Agent has some capabilities superior to the Echo because it can do more than simply listen, according to WIRED. Sony designed the Experia Agent with multiple sensors, a projector, and a camera in order to offer a different product and experience from the Echo.

Sony's product also has gesture recognition technology that allows users to control it with their hands rather than their voices. Users can also tap on the projected display to control the projector. ... "

More.

Sony and IOT

In GigaOM: 
" .. The first is that Sony is forming Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) from all the units contributing to Playstation, hardware, software, and network, effective April 1. Sony has set the new company up with a US headquarters — San Mateo, CA — with a single CEO, Andrew House ... 

.... The second is that Sony is buying Altair, a chip manufacturer for IoT smart appliances. This is a $212 million investment, taking the company way out of its niche in smartphone camera chips. Last year, Sony bought Toshiba’s image sensor operations, which is part of the same strategic plan: to grow into a major IoT manufacturer of chips and sensors.... "  

Light Bulb as Single Source for a Smart Home

Update: More out of CES.  New solutions for the smart home.
Edison would be impressed.  A Challenge to Amazon Echo?

In Business Insider: 
" ... It's a lightbulb that's also a Bluetooth wireless speaker. It can also search the web, read your calendar for appointments, and text or alert you if it detects noises like a smoke alarm or a baby crying. Oh, and of course, it will also light a dark room.  ...  "

The Sengled Voice bulb.   A technical look.

Update:  Very related, the Sony Multifunctional Light.  More AI will be everywhere,

Sony Commercial Drone

In Spectrum IEEE:  More on the Sony Commercial Drone.  " .... Last month, Sony Mobile announced a partnership with ZMP to build drones. Or rather, “to collaborate on the development and launch of enterprise solutions using autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles for image capture combined with cloud-based data processing.” .... " 

Sony Crowdfunds Products

New approach by Sony.   " .... It could be the start of a new Sony -- a company that's trying to recalibrate its new product compass by throwing nascent ideas and projects to the public... and asking for money. Perhaps Sony's most interesting move might be launching First Flight, its very own crowdfunding platform-slash-online store expressly for its employees' pet projects.  .. " 

Sony Drones for Enterprises

In CIO,   Mobile in three dimensions. Expect a further dimensionalizing of data acquisition. " ... Drones are officially taking over. Not content to cede the market for autonomous vehicles to Amazon and Google, Sony announced today that it is launching a joint venture to design and build drones for enterprise clients.  ... The project is being led by Sony Mobile Communications, Sony’s mobile phone and device subsidiary, in collaboration with ZMP, another Japanese company focused on automotive and robotic design. Sony said it would be taking a controlling stake in the venture, with a 50.005 percent share.

The new company, which will be called Aerosense, will be incorporated next month with 200 million yen ($1.6 million). Aerosense will focus on enterprise solutions using autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles for image capture combined with cloud Relevant Products/Services-based data Relevant Products/Services processing, according to a blog post by Sony Mobile. ... " 

Stylish BMW AR Goggles for in Car

In Engadget: Augmented Reality designed for driving a specific car?  Still a BMW concept design with no delivery time suggested.  I do wonder about its distraction. Better than adding  the usualcameras and warnings in a dashboard screen?  The reviewer like it.

" .... Augmented reality is supposed to be the future, but its current usefulness is pretty fuzzy. Sony's SmartEyeglass is reminiscent of your old monochrome monitors, Microsoft's HoloLens' games look intriguing, but who knows when that's coming out and Google Glass, well, we're not sure what the future holds for Glass. BMW's vision of augmented reality is still a ways off as well, but it's recently partnered with Qualcomm to announce something rather unexpected: a pair of AR glasses meant specifically for, of all things, driving a Mini. It looks and sounds ridiculous. But the thing is: It's actually pretty damn impressive. .... " 

Virtual Reality Emerges

Peter Fader, Wharton Marketing Prof, and others weigh in on the wearable-enabled, virtual reality marketplace.   Lengthy detailed piece.  Will this finally make them real as a new kind of interface?   One recommendation is: Emphasize business applications to avoid making them appear as a joke.   I agree:  Focus.  The general applications will follow if they make sense.

" ... A slew of new product introductions indicate virtual reality technology is coming into its own — but it’s a sector that is still waiting for a breakthrough product to win over consumers.

Following several product entries into the emerging field of virtual reality from companies like Samsung, Sony, Canon and Facebook’s Oculus Rift project, Microsoft recently launched the HoloLens, an augmented reality headset, and HoloStudio, a software development kit for the product, in hopes of jump-starting a market that could impact areas from gaming and entertainment to collaboration and business. ... " 

Sony Competes with Google Glass

In CWorld: Early this year was involved with a proposed project with Google Glass that regrettably did not happen, read more about that here.  Now Sony is competing with an hands free information model.
Toshiba and others are already operating here.  " ... Sony high-res OLED screen attaches to any eyewear ... Sony shows off latest SmartEyeglasses prototype ... sony smart glasses 620 ... Sony releases SmartEyeglass developer kit ... " 

Unilever Spending, Partnerships Up

In AdAge:   This looks to be a considerable development:  " ... Unilever has struck global partnerships with Samsung, Sony's Arcade Creative Group and EA Sports as the packaged-goods giant looks to expand its universe of deals on the heels of a nearly 40% increase in digital spending last year. ... Programs are still in development, but the Samsung partnership will involve advertising and content creation for smart TVs, smart appliances and mobile applications. Initial projects will involve Axe and Hellmann's, said Gail Tifford, Unilever's senior director of media for North America. ... "