Casio has opened pre-orders for the furry robotic pet Moflin. He does not follow his owner around the house, but performs an anti-stress function: he is held in hands and hugged, and he establishes something like an emotional connection with the owner, which is expressed by unique sounds and movements.
Image source: casio.com
The development of the toy was carried out with the participation of the Japanese startup Vanguard Industries, but now only Casio is engaged in production and distribution. The Moflin pre-order price is 59,400 Japanese yen ($398), and the robot will go on sale on November 7. Casio also offers a Club Moflin subscription for 6,600 yen ($44) per year, which includes discounts on repairs, cleaning and even complete fur replacement.
Casio Moflin is not a toy like Sony Aibo, but an anti-stress device. When he is held in his arms, he moves his body and head as if he is trying to cuddle up to his owner; The robot also has some artificial intelligence functions. Over time, Moflin tries to recognize the person who interacts with him the most by voice and manner of address, and highlights the relationship with him with unique sounds and movements, simulating an emotional connection.
The robot also develops its own simulated senses and personality, which can change over time. When interacted regularly, it expresses happiness, calm and security. If the Moflin is ignored, it will begin to act tense, anxious and sad, although it will not annoy its owner. You can certainly determine his emotional mood through a mobile application, which also allows you to adjust the volume of the sounds he makes.
Further enhancing the illusion that the Moflin is a living being is the fact that there is no need to connect a cable to it. The robot comes with a small bed in which it “sleeps” while charging. A fully charged Casio Moflin battery will last for five hours; Charging takes three and a half hours.