Sony has announced it will cease sales of its robotic puppy, "aibo," in Japan, marking the end of an era for the interactive android pet that gained popularity following its latest model's release eight years ago. The decision comes as the company reassesses its product lineup and focuses on new technology developments. Despite a strong initial reception, the sales halt reflects changing market dynamics and consumer preferences. Sony's move signals a shift in its strategy as it looks to innovate and adapt to evolving trends in the tech industry.
Humanoid
Robot Manufacturer
Education & Research
Press Release
Original from TechXplore:Robotics: Sony discontinues Japan sales of robot puppy 'aibo'
Sony discontinues Japan sales of robot puppy 'aibo'
RobotToday Initiative
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
China Dominates Humanoid Robot Patents with 60.8% Share, Impacting Global Competition
China has significantly increased its share of humanoid robot patents, reaching 60.8% as of the first half of 2026, according to data from the Intellectual Property Office. This rise marks an increase from 51.8% in 2024, while the US and South Korea saw declines in their shares, holding 21.8% and 4.6%, respectively. The implications of China's patent domi...
All News
Humanoid Robot Industry Growth: Profitability and Market Dynamics Explored
The humanoid robot industry is projected to experience significant growth, with global shipments reaching approximately 19,000 units in the first half of 2026, a nearly threefold increase year-on-year. Goldman Sachs has raised its 2035 market forecast from $38 billion to $138 billion, predicting sales of 6.48 million units, a 4.7-fold increase from previo...
Humanoid Robots Industrial Automation Market Analysis
Nations Technologies and SIAT Launch N32H785 Dual-Core MCU for Humanoid Joint Motors
On September 23, 2026, Nations Technologies and SIAT introduced the N32H785, a dual-core MCU designed for joint-motor drives. This reference design boasts a rated torque of 20 N·m and a peak torque of 60 N·m, along with a current loop frequency of 20 kHz. The launch of the N32H785 is significant as it addresses the growing demand for advanced motor contro...
Challenges of Safety for Free-Standing Humanoids in Robotics Industry
The article discusses the fundamental safety principle in industrial robotics, which states that a stopped robot is a safe robot. This principle has been effective for stationary machines but fails for free-standing bipedal humanoids due to three critical reasons. The significance of this issue lies in the evolving landscape of robotics, where humanoids a...
Allgemein Anwendungen & Lösungen Humanoide Robotik
ULTRA Enables Humanoid Robots to Move Boxes with Target Guidance: IROS 2026 Best Paper Candidate
The IROS 2026 conference has nominated a paper highlighting ULTRA, a system that allows humanoid robots to move boxes simply by providing a target. This innovation showcases advancements in robotic mobility and task execution. The significance of ULTRA lies in its potential to enhance the efficiency of humanoid robots in various applications, particularly...
Robotics Automation AI
Humanoid Robots May Lead the Way for Solid-State Battery Applications
Recent developments suggest that humanoid robots could be the first large-scale commercial application of solid-state batteries, rather than electric vehicles. This shift highlights the potential for advanced battery technology to enhance robotic capabilities, making them more efficient and versatile in various applications. The significance of this trend...
Robotics Automation AI
Research Highlights Risks of Smart Systems Including AI, Robotics, and Bioweapons
Recent discussions have highlighted the risks associated with advanced technologies, including industrial robots, drones, and AI systems. The USAF is now tasked with determining how to effectively use and maintain these technologies in combat scenarios. Meanwhile, ANYbotics has developed robot dogs capable of navigating secured facilities while adhering t...
AI and Robotics
Study Reveals Gender Disparities in Robot-Assisted Surgery Opportunities for Surgeons in Japan
A recent study in Japan has highlighted significant disparities in opportunities for female surgeons to perform robot-assisted surgeries compared to their male counterparts. The findings indicate that female surgeons are often underrepresented in this advanced surgical field, which could impact their career advancement and skill development. This disparit...
Robotics Automation AI
Cute Robot Japanese Kitchen in Milwaukee Permanently Closes After Two Years
Cute Robot Japanese Kitchen, located at 704 S. 2nd St. in Milwaukee's Walker's Point, has announced its permanent closure after approximately two years of operation. The owners, Marc and Janet Boettner, expressed their heartbreak over the decision but stated it was the best course of action for them. The restaurant originally opened in August 2024. This c...
Restaurant Closure Small Business Community Impact
RobotToday Weekly September 21 – 25, 2026
Cognex buys RealSense, Qualcomm acquires PickNik, the IFR counts 5 million factory robots, AGIBOT deploys 300 robots at Chimelong, and Tekever raises $580 million.
RobotToday Weekly
PAL Robotics Unveils TIAGo Pro Arm for Advanced Manipulation and AI Research
PAL Robotics has launched the TIAGo Pro Arm, a standalone robotic manipulation platform designed for researchers in robot learning and physical AI. This new system is being showcased at IROS 2026 in Pittsburgh, running from September 27 to October 1. The arm features seven degrees of freedom and is built on ROS 2 and ros_control, incorporating Series Elas...
O-ID Secures $1.2 Million Pre-Seed Funding for Modular Humanoid Robots in Japan
Tokyo-based O-ID has successfully raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to advance its modular humanoid robot towards production, focusing initially on the automotive manufacturing and logistics sectors in Japan. The funding, with participation from Tawani Ventures, Hustle Fund, and Techstars, will enable O-ID to prepare its first robot for deployment o...
AI AI Funding & Investment Robotics
GMO Humanoid Lab
Japan
Tokyo Physical AI lab opened April 2026 by GMO Internet Group, running whole-body humanoid control research and Japan's Humanoid Hack hackathons.
Hubei Jingchu Humanoid Robot Co., Ltd 湖北荆楚人形机器人有限公司
China
HUST-spinout Wuhan maker of direct-drive humanoid and quadruped robots, including the compact Jingchu Xiaochu and heavy-duty Jingchu Heibao.
Humanoid
United Kingdom
UK startup building commercially scalable, general-purpose humanoid robots via its KinetIQ VLM/VLA framework, offered as RaaS.
Yuanqi Innovation (Xiamen) Robot Co., Ltd. 元启创新（厦门）机器人有限公司
China
yuanqirobot.com resolves to a Xiamen-based robot company; directory lists it as Qingdao YuanQi Intelligent Robot Tech — city mismatch requires verification.
OM Robot Technology Co. Ltd. 东莞全向机械科技有限公司
China
Chinese manufacturer of mecanum wheels, omnidirectional wheel bases, and mobile robotic platforms for AGV applications.
Techman Robot Inc. (TM Robot) 達明機器人股份有限公司
Taiwan
Techman Robot is a Taiwanese cobot maker producing AI-powered collaborative robots with integrated built-in vision for manufacturing automation.
BioRobotics Laboratory, Korea University of Technology and Education
Korea, Republic of (South)
South Korean university research laboratory focusing on haptics, exoskeletons, rehabilitation robotics, and autonomous ground vehicles.
McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute
Canada
Hamilton, Ontario applied manufacturing research center at McMaster University; runs a 21,000 sq ft facility with seven research labs.
Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
United States
The REC Foundation is a US nonprofit that runs VEX-based robotics and drone competitions reaching 1.1 million students across 70 countries.
Lantronix
United States
Nasdaq-listed (LTRX) Irvine, California IoT and edge-compute company, founded 1989, now building edge-AI platforms for military drones.
Mitsubishi Motors
Japan
Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors signed a July 2026 MOU with Highlanders to mass-produce humanoid robots at its Kyoto Plant from early 2027.
Probot Oy
Finland
Oulu, Finland robotics integrator founded 2006; KUKA System Partner and OMRON Certified Partner; makes Dolly AMR; Finnish distributor of Unitree robot dogs.
Join the RobotToday community on LinkedIn
Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.
Leave a comment