Home Petbot Loona
Robot pets are becoming more capable and affordable. One of the latest interesting developments is a small animal-like robot called Loona, which can be programmed to teach new tricks.
Loona is a nimble four-wheeled robot with a height of 172 mm and a 2.4-inch LCD screen instead of a face. It broadcasts a pair of cartoonish eyes that mimic cognitive functions and inner experiences that are very easy to believe. But this is clearly not the case where it is scary to be deceived. The robotic animal can freely roam the house, respond to petting, answer the call, fetch the ball, chase the laser pointer, do tricks, greet and follow the owners, as well as explore the neighborhood, sneeze and dance. At the same time, there is no need to feed him, walk him and clean up waste.
Loona is equipped with microphones for voice commands and cameras for face recognition and navigation, motion tracking and fall prevention. It can easily be programmed using the app.
Loona developers are currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. The developers originally planned to raise $20,000, but have already received almost $2 million. However, early contributors can still get Loona for $299. The price of the robot after entering the market will be $150 higher. First deliveries are scheduled for February 2023.
