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The following information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
September 5, 2001
New "AIBO" Entertainment
Robots,
"LATTE" and "MACARON" Join The AIBO Family |
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| Orders accepted by Internet
and telephone, as well as through regular retail channels |
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"AIBO" LATTE [ERS-311] (left) and MACARON [ERS-312] (right) respectively |
(Tokyo, Japan) - Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc. (SMOJ; president: Kei Kodera;
headquarters: Minato-Ku, Tokyo) today announced a new line of Entertainment
Robots affectionately called LATTE [ERS-311] and MACARON [ERS-312]. LATTE
and MACARON have different personalities (LATTE to be "adorable" and MACARON
to be "mischievous"). In addition to the established method of AIBO order
taking by Internet and telephone, the new LATTE and MACARON "AIBO" in
addition to the 2nd generation AIBO [ERS-210]
will be available at regular SMOJ appliance dealers.
| Product name |
Sale begin |
Suggested retail
price |
"AIBO" Entertainment
Robot
LATTE [ERS-311] and MACARON [ERS-312] |
September 22, 2001 |
98,000 yen
(tax excluded) |
| NOTE: |
Orders accepted at SMOJ
dealers from Thursday, September 12, 2001
Internet and telephone orders accepted from 10:00am, September
12, 2001
Internet: http://www.aibo.com
Telephone: 0570-008811
(03-5470-0666 for cellular/PHS phone; open 10:00~18:00 Monday to
Sunday) |
The "AIBO" LATTE and MACARON are autonomous robots specifically designed
to be cute and loveable. The new models are equipped with 15 degrees of
freedom, enabling smooth movement of the head and four legs for friendly
interaction. LATTE and MACARON introduce several new features such as
touch sensors on the head, bottom of feet and tail that respond to stimuli
as well as sound, voice and image recognition from embedded microphones
and camera capture. The new "AIBO" models blink a horn-shaped lamp on
the top of their heads, emit sounds and perform movements to express a
variety of emotions such as happiness, sadness and anger for intimate
interaction with people.
There are two kinds of AIBO-ware Software available, Memory Stick media-based
software sold separately, that give different personality, features and
ways of interacting with the new models; "AIBO Friend" [ERF-310AW06J]
that allows owners to enjoy a fully matured AIBO with a varied personality
and "AIBO Life" [ERF-310AW01J] that allows owners to enjoy the growing
and maturing process of their "AIBO".
The basic personalities of adorable LATTE and mischievous MACARON are
set by the AIBO-ware software "AIBO Friend" [ERF-310AW06J]. The aforementioned
personalities are pre-programmed on the Memory Stick containing the AIBO-ware
Software. By inserting the Memory Stick into the body, LATTE and MACARON
download their respective personality and interact with people. Human
communication and the surrounding environment may alter the basic personalities
of LATTE and MACARON.
"AIBO" LATTE and MACARON [ERS-311/312] Key Features
- 1) Memory Stick-based AIBO-ware Software (sold separately):
- By inserting "AIBO Friend" AIBO-ware software [ERF-310AW06J] into
the body, LATTE (ivory) and MACARON (gray) can express different basic
personalities. With "AIBO-Friend", LATTE acts "adorable", and MACARON
acts "mischievously".
"AIBO Life" [ERF-310AW01J] features eight growing stages from infant
to adult. In the course of this growing process, the basic personality
of LATTE or MACARON will change in accordance with the environment
they "grow up in".
Memory Stick-based AIBO-ware software:
"AIBO Friend" [ERF-310AW06J] (for [ERS-311/312]): 9,000 yen (tax excluded)
"AIBO Life" [ERF-310AW01J] (for [ERS-311/312]): 9,000 yen (tax excluded)
- 2) Multiple Features for Intimate Communication:
- 1. Voice recognition: Approximately 75-word vocabulary
- 2. Name registration: Remembers and responds to the name it is given
as well as the name of its owner. The [ERS-311/312] expresses emotion
when it hears its owner's name.
- 3. Communication capability: Interacts and responds to other AIBO
[ERS-311/312] in AIBO language
- 4. Sound interaction: Composes a melody based on the distance between
its nose (distance sensor) and a hand held in front of it. The [ERS-311/312]
also replies in a melody, based on the music notes that its owner
hums to it.
- 3) Media Link Functions (with "AIBO Friend" [ERF-310AW06J]):
- The [ERS-311/312] responds to certain sounds from a television or
radio and the Internet; it expresses different emotions, depending
on the sounds it captures.
* An animated television program "Piroppo" starring
the adorable LATTE and co-starring the mischievous MACARON will start
from 23:09 to 23:15, Thursday, October 11th,
2001 and is scheduled to air every Thursday at 22:54 to 23:00 on Fuji
Television Network in Japan.
- 4) Horn-shaped lamp expresses emotions:
- The [ERS-311/312] blinks a horn-shaped lamp on its head to express
emotions.
- 5) Photo-taking Function:
- Responding to the verbal instruction "Take a picture", the [ERS-311/312]
takes up to 7 pictures with the CMOS image sensor embedded in its
mouth. The JPEG pictures are stored on the "AIBO-ware" Memory Stick
inserted in its body.
Key Specifications:
|
LATTE [ERS-311] and MACARON [ERS-312]
|
| CPU |
64bit RISC Processor |
| Main memory |
32MB |
| Program supplying media |
Memory Stick for AIBO |
| Degree of freedom |
Neck x 3 joints, legs x 3 joints x
4
(total 15 degree of freedom) |
| Input socket |
Battery charge connector |
| Input Switch |
Volume adjustment switch |
| Image input |
100,000 pixels CMOS image sensor |
| Sound input |
Stereo microphone |
| Sound output |
Speaker |
| Embedded sensor |
Infrared distance sensor, acceleration
sensor, switch (inside of head, tail, pads), vibration sensor, inclination
sensor |
| Power consumption |
Approximately 5W (regular mode) |
| Temperature in operation |
5 deg C ~ 35 deg C, 10% ~ 80% |
| Operation duration |
Approx. 2.5 hours(with the use of fully
charged [ERA-301B1] in the regular mode) |
| Battery charging time |
Approx. 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Volume |
Approx. 177mm (width) x 280mm (height)
x 240mm (depth) |
| Weight |
Approximately 1.5kg (including battery
and Memory Stick) |
| Included accessories |
AC adapter, conversion plug, lithium
ion battery pack, stand, pink ball |
Peripherals
(sold separately) |
- Energy station core
[ERA-301P2] (for [ERS-311/312])
Suggested retail price: 9,000 yen (tax excluded)
- AIBO carrying bag
[ERA-210C1/P, L, B, BX] (pink, blue, black; artificial leather)
Suggested retail price: 15,000 yen (tax excluded)
- Lithium ion battery pack
[ERA-301B1] (same as the accessory battery pack above)
Suggested retail price: 9,000 yen (tax excluded)
- AC adapter
[ERA-201P1] (same as the accessory AC adapter above)
Suggested retail price: 10,000 yen (tax excluded)
- Portable battery charger
[ERA-301P4] (for [ERS-311/312])
Suggested retail price: 8,000 yen (tax excluded) |
Customer inquiries:
"AIBO Info Desk"
Tel: 0570-008844 (navigation dial),
03-5470-0660 (from cellular/PHS phones)
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