What would you like Ugobe to make next?

[amjoie]

This thread is for brainstorming ideas on what kind of critter Ugobe might want to research, for the future.

But before you list a whole bunch of critters, do a little thinking:

Why would this critter appeal to a large number of people in Ugobe's target ages (1-13 and 25+)?

Why is this idea either unique without being "off-the-wall" or a new slant on an old favorite that could capture a market share?

Does this critter lend itself to the rather chunky robotic innards necessary for a successful robot?

Does this critter fit with the "Ugobe Style" (compare your critter to Furby and Pleo for overall "feel")?

Is this an interesting critter that people believe would socialize with them, and be, to some degree, "cuddly" or engagingly interactive?

After thinking about it, share your idea, and discuss your thoughts on why your critter would be a good fit for Ugobe.

Poll added:

IF Ugobe had *already* made each of these life forms, which would you buy?

a feline (cat-like) life form
a canine (dog-like) life form
a dinosaur-like life form
none of the above
all of the above


.........................

I'll start out with my idea. :)

I love felines, as do a large segment of the population. But everyone is saying that kittens are too ordinary. Sooooo, I propose Ugobe makes a Lion cub and a Clouded Leopard cub!

The movie "The Lion King" was a very popular movie with the younger target audience. In fact, I think all ages loved that movie.

Everyone of all ages knows about endangered species, which would apply to the Clouded Leopard (as it would most wild felines). Ugobe could even get some PR offering to donate something to an organization trying to save endangered cats in the wild out of the proceeds of the cub sales.

Lion/Clouded Leopard cubs are too cute (the Clouded Leopard has gorgeous markings, in addition), and plenty chunky enough to make a sturdy robot.

Large cat cubs are believably cuddly and social. Everyone would expect interaction -- but they would not have as firm an idea of exactly how the cub should act compared to a kitten, so Ugobe could come up with some nice surprises without failing expectations.

Lion and Clouded Leopard cubs would appeal to both male and female humans: not too prissy, but still adorable. They make cute but not overly cute sounds. And Ugobe has a wide latitude for the actual finished look of the critters, so they will definitely fit in with the Ugobe style.

I rest my case for the consideration of a Lion cub and a Clouded Leopard cub. :D

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Great idea amjoie!! I think an elephant would be cool too, with great big ears that flap and a trunk that perhaps could be used to hook and carry a little bucket. It could use the same kind of skin as Pleo and basically the same technology (ie touch sensors etc)

[amjoie]

Great idea amjoie!! I think an elephant would be cool too, with great big ears that flap and a trunk that perhaps could be used to hook and carry a little bucket. It could use the same kind of skin as Pleo and basically the same technology (ie touch sensors etc)

Ooooo. A lot could be done with a trunk. Clever idea. :D

.... Just so they don't make it spray water. ROTFLOL ;)

[Pleofan89]

Amjoie, you make the best threads!

I, as I've said in a couple of my posts in other threads, would really like a baby polar bear. Don;t you think a fluffy polar bear would be cute for any age? well, I think so.

Just like the cat ordeal, I think a polar bear would be a great critter for Ugobe to develop because they certainly aren't ordinary. Ugobe needs to make exotic critters that's what I think.

I think it is chunky enough. They should make him fat though. Yes, a fat white puffy bear. More than enough room for a sturdy robot.

Also I think the ears should move, you know twitch now and then.

Well, I do hope Ugobe is listening right now because if they do choose to take my advice and make a baby polar bear and name him, idk, Poleo, lol, I'll be first to preorder it!

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

I love the idea Pleofan, especially the wiggly ears and name. I think a lot of people like polar bears too.

[junkroxy]

the elefant idea is great! What do you think of a baby exotic turtle?

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[Pleofan89]

hey those are African Sulcata tortoise! At the pet shop, there are those and the Leopard Tortoise. I have a leopard tortoise. It looks like that but the shell's a little more colorful.

A robot tortoise would be very cool because those tortoises grow up to 4 feet long and they only stay that small hatchling size for about half a year. A robot turtle would do away with the need of a big house to own one.

All of these ideas are great. I really like Pleoworldhost's elephant. In fact I think its better than my polar bear idea. A trunk and big flappy ears. And if the trunk can actually pick things up then I say make one now! lol.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Oh a robotic tortise would be very cool. I love turtles and tortises, I haven't ever owned one though. What a cool pet to have Pleofan!

[chudified]

I think that the next logical progression could be a baby dragon, or gryphon. That way you could utilize bright colors and incorporate the combination of smooth skin and soft fur. Add some flapping wings for extra expression and added animation. Give it some more flexibility and a longer tail and you've got yourself an exciting little creature.

I think the best way to go for Ugobe is to create things that exist only in our imaginations. Bringing to life the impossible.

[amjoie]

I think the best way to go for Ugobe is to create things that exist only in our imaginations. Bringing to life the impossible.

Well, I don't know where you live, but for me in the USA, owning a lion cub *would* be impossible. LOL ;)

... not that I would turn down a Unicorn. ;)

[raqqasa]

I like the idea of a dragon/gryphon but on the note of promoting endangered species what about a panda bear? They are large chunky have universal cuddly appeal and their natural movement tends to be slower and more methodical. Instead of a leaf you could use a bamboo stem and the panda would need to be able to sit as a natural response or walk on all four.

Though I would like to see male/female differences at some point. They could be subtle but that would be nice to know if my new pet is male female or be able to select that in the programming and get different sub patterns.

[amjoie]

I like the idea of a dragon/gryphon but on the note of promoting endangered species what about a panda bear? They are large chunky have universal cuddly appeal and their natural movement tends to be slower and more methodical. Instead of a leaf you could use a bamboo stem and the panda would need to be able to sit as a natural response or walk on all four.

Though I would like to see male/female differences at some point. They could be subtle but that would be nice to know if my new pet is male female or be able to select that in the programming and get different sub patterns.

Oooooo. Different gender sub-patterns. Maybe that's something our talented lay-programmers could do. I would sure be interested in giving my little girl a "feminine" program update. And who wouldn't want a "macho" dino .... Great idea! :)

[Pleofan89]

What about different eye colors? Blue or Green for boys and pink or yellow for girls?

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

I think that the next logical progression could be a baby dragon, or gryphon. That way you could utilize bright colors and incorporate the combination of smooth skin and soft fur. Add some flapping wings for extra expression and added animation. Give it some more flexibility and a longer tail and you've got yourself an exciting little creature.

I think the best way to go for Ugobe is to create things that exist only in our imaginations. Bringing to life the impossible.


chudified I would love a baby gryphon! It is so hard to find anything gryphon anyway, a robotic gryphon would be too cool.

[hardyfoster]

i would like them to make sonys version of the dream robot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33a33XEVHKE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POuxHMEM2_Q

as far as robots holding conversations, there is an area of AI called chatterbots. I haven't been impressed with any that I have seen. but they are rather interesting to talk to.

[amjoie]

i would like them to make sonys version of the dream robot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33a33XEVHKE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POuxHMEM2_Q

as far as robots holding conversations, there is an area of AI called chatterbots. I haven't been impressed with any that I have seen. but they are rather interesting to talk to.

Chatterbots. That's interesting. Could you post a link to some in the AI thread in Pleo Cafe?

edit: About Qrio -- wasn't it going to be sold for something like $40,000.00 or a similar nearly outlandish amount? It could sure do some really amazing things, though.

[Pleofan89]

The qrio? That was canceled though.

I think Ugobe should stick to making robot pets with skin. I've looked up chatterbots but could only find softwares.

[richyroolahs]

I'm liking the elephant idea. Ugobe could make it out of exactly the same components as the Pleo, just with the tail stuck on it's face instead of its
I'm kinda going down the african line. You could make all kinds of cool little animals such as Rhinos, Zebra, Hippos, etc. They all have a fat belly for hiding electronics, that all have knobbly stretchy skin, and they all move relatively slowly.
Thanks for reading.

[Pleofan89]

There are so many new ideas I've come up with since this thread was posted ((like a penguin or a ant-eater) but I still think the elephant idea beats all.

But I think it would be very interesting if Ugobe joined with the ever so popular Pokemon and make a pikachu or something.

Then, maybe a few years from now when their "life-forms" become more advanced, I think a baby gorilla that follows you wherever you go and can swing and climb trees and poles must be made.

[amjoie]

There are so many new ideas I've come up with since this thread was posted ((like a penguin or a ant-eater) but I still think the elephant idea beats all.


I love the elephant idea, too. But I think it may be a bit advanced for the current technology. The trunk would have to be able to close around something to pick it up -- *but* it would have to know it can't close around something so tightly that the object would be damaged or caused pain. I would imagine that the sensors needed to make it stop wrapping around, but still hold on, would be very advanced.

And the potential of the trunk hurting something by squeezing too tightly if there was a malfunction would be quite problematic.

I suppose you could get around the problem by having it only wrap the trunk around a toy, but that would cut down on most of the fun of having a working trunk on an elephant.

So I think we might have to wait on better technology before we can have an elephant with a working trunk. Sorry to say ....

[PleoWorldHostCami]

I think gender routines would be cool too. As long as I don't have to stay up all night waiting for my teenage girl Pleo to come home from a date. LOL

[hardyfoster]

it's not too advanced. (the elephant) this could be done. it would just require the right programming and right feedback sensors.

the robot that can wash dishes faces this same problem. you wouldn't want the robot to grip something too tight to break it, nor not tight enough where it will drop it.

http://www.bornrich.org/entry/japanese-invent-new-multi-skilled-kitchen-robot/

[PleoWorldHostCami]

Good points hardyfoster. Do you think there is anyway I could have an elephant Pleo that washes dishes? The best of both worlds so to speak! :-D

[raqqasa]

Good points hardyfoster. Do you think there is anyway I could have an elephant Pleo that washes dishes? The best of both worlds so to speak! :-D


My pleo herd of elephant labor :D ... oh wait we can call it a "trick" so its not really labor but fun for the pleo herd ;)

[mweed]

I like the elephant idea, but elephants seem kinda ordinary. I thought about the hippo. You don't see many hippo toys, so it would stand out as different, but you'd have to make it waterproof!

I also like the penguin idea. they're popular right now, and it wouldn't require a lot of motors. Flapping wings, turning head, waddling feet, and you're done!

But I think the best choices are the imaginary creatures: dragon, unicorn, or completely made up (like the furby). A puppeteer once told me that when you work with kids, give them "creature" puppets, not human puppets. Because, people expect human puppets to act like humans, and if the action is even slightly off, it looks odd and distracting. While if the actions of a creature are off, no one notices, and since we don't know how a creature should act, any action it does is assumed to be normal for it.

Likewise, we would expect an elephant to act, look, and sound in a specific manner. But we would be more open to how a gryphon looks, sounds and acts.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Thank you for sharing that mweed. A dragon would be very cool, I am trying to not be biased against other creatures since I collect dragons but it would be awesome!

[amjoie]

it's not too advanced. (the elephant) this could be done. it would just require the right programming and right feedback sensors.

the robot that can wash dishes faces this same problem. you wouldn't want the robot to grip something too tight to break it, nor not tight enough where it will drop it.

http://www.bornrich.org/entry/japanese-invent-new-multi-skilled-kitchen-robot/

Yes, but can you bring it in for a price? The current technology isn't at the point that it can be miniaturized and put into something like a Pleo sized robot *for a reasonable cost.* At least, that is what I am gathering from reading things on the net.

I would love to be wrong about that .... :)

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

The larger robots like Asimo also have far more advanced technology. Asimo has facial recognition for example, which explains a lot about his price LOL

[ryane]

and dynamic walking

[amjoie]

If the Asimo technology could be obtained for a reasonable cost to the masses, even up to the price of AIBO, I think you'd see personal Asimos all over the place!

Wouldn't we all like one? LOL

But it will be a good long time before that happens ....

[mweed]

Are we limiting ourselves by thinking of animals to make? UGOBE could sell millions if they developed a little 1-foot tall functioning R2 unit. Stick a big hard drive in it, possibly an optical drive to slide disks in and out, with USB/firewire connector for your computer and some connectors for your TV, built-in speakers, digital/video camera, have the head rotate, flashing lights,have it talk with goofy bells & whistle noises, make it roll & waddle to follow you around the house, and voila! For $350 Star Wars geeks will be lining up around the block.

And while we're on the Star Wars theme, how about a Yoda?

[amjoie]

Are we limiting ourselves by thinking of animals to make? UGOBE could sell millions if they developed a little 1-foot tall functioning R2 unit. Stick a big hard drive in it, possibly an optical drive to slide disks in and out, with USB/firewire connector for your computer and some connectors for your TV, built-in speakers, digital/video camera, have the head rotate, flashing lights,have it talk with goofy bells & whistle noises, make it roll & waddle to follow you around the house, and voila! For $350 Star Wars geeks will be lining up around the block.

And while we're on the Star Wars theme, how about a Yoda?

I'm sure you're right about people loving that. There is just this small problem of copyright and paying what I'm relatively sure are exorbitant royalties. LOL

[Pleofan89]

I wouldn't mind seeing Asimos everywhere. We need to advance into the future quicker. Why wait?

There's a new type of 'robot-walking' that's called SHIN walk and it enables the robot to walk more like a person without having to bend its knees. Its featured in the Chroino rrobot and its cousins.

Asimo doesn't have that ring of life to him. Ugobe lifeforms are special because there's a presence of life with their creations. I will support Ugobe if it promises to be the worlds top pioneers for making the most realistic animal companions. We will leave the talking humanoid robots to the Japanese. Ugobe will become famous for their creations! lol, I'm kind of exaggerating, huh?

[amjoie]

I will support Ugobe if it promises to be the worlds top pioneers for making the most realistic animal companions.

I think Ugobe has a good start on that, already, with Pleo. :)

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

So other than walking what are the other features you all like in the really advanced robots?

[amjoie]

So other than walking what are the other features you all like in the really advanced robots?

I would like to see a way for a robot to maneuver itself out of a tight spot. For instance, the robot vacuum cleaners sometimes get themselves into a corner, and seem to have a tough time getting back out. The same thing happened with AIBO. I haven't seen it demonstrated, but I'm sure the more advanced robots can navigate tight locations better.

I'm not sure if Pleo can get back up after a fall, but that is a welcome advanced feature.

And going up and down an incline would be great. Or even up and down a stair system that is proportioned for the size of the robot.

I think one thing I appreciate most is the ability of the robot to re-balance itself when challenged by a bump or shove. That is so central to other more complicated maneuvers.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

I would be the first one in line if Asimo sold for a reasonable amount. However unless Asimo can ride me piggyback around town I can not spend more on a robot than the cost of a new car. Asimo better start lifting weights ;)

[Pleofan89]

^^^I see no giid reason for me to get Asimo. If he can come with me on my morning jogs or do all that a butler can then maybe i might consider him (of course at a cheaper price).

1 million is just too much for me.:rolleyes:

[mweed]

I remember quite a number of years ago reading in the "Weekly World News" (one of those ridiculous checkout lane rags) that scientists had genetically engineered miniature whales for people to raise as pets in aquariums. That would make a cute pet. Defineatly a bulky shape for the mechanics, just not very cuddly. ;)

That reminded me of the scene in Spy Kids 2 where the scientist had developed a collection of "mythical" creatures, such as a bullfrog (head of a bull, back legs of a frog), catfish, bird dog, spider monkey, etc. There could be some interesting new additions to the line of new lifeforms for UGOBE to bring to life...

But in reality, I'd be excited if my pleo had some other types of dinosaur friends to play with.

[Pleofan89]

Weekly World News is one of those fake newspaper, right? I actually thought there were real miniature whales for a minute there. That would be very interesting though.

I don't really want another dinosaur. i think that idea gets old quick. I still love that elephant idea.

[amjoie]

Weekly World News is one of those fake newspaper, right? I actually thought there were real miniature whales for a minute there. That would be very interesting though.

I don't really want another dinosaur. i think that idea gets old quick. I still love that elephant idea.

I would like to discuss the whole idea of "ordinary" and "boring" for a minute. Realistically, what kind of creatures have already been "done," that the general public is getting jaded about?

Let's see:

Cat: There was an all metal cat, released only in Japan, with very little widespread acceptance, even there. Then there was a "living dead" cat that was so real it was kinda spooky, also *primarily* in Japan, and with no widespread acceptance. Then there are assorted small toys that purr when petted, but have no AI and do not move around. So, in conclusion, *there has NEVER been a well marketed cat/kitten AI life form in the USA that is cute, cuddly, and Pleo-like, or in Europe for that matter*! (For the masses, a purring Pleo-like cat would be a huge and innovative "first" in most of the world. Boring, indeed. Hmpf. I think not!)

Dog: It started with small animated dogs that barked, moved, and fell off tables. Then small robots like iCybie, et al. Along came AIBO, in its adorable puppy form. It caused a small amount of excitement among robot enthusiasts. Then the "German Shepherd" form gained widespread acceptance among robot enthusiasts. Then came its "Snoopy" form, and everyone started hearing about AIBO. Soccer teams were formed that garnered attention. But AIBO was expensive (out of reach expensive, for most people), and definitely robotic. So, in conclusion, *there has NEVER been a "produced for the masses" cute and cuddly AI life form that everyone can afford, and that really looks like a dog, and is Pleo-like and sporting all the life form characteristics. (Do you honestly BELIEVE that most of the general public would look at a really cute puppy dog that can do what Pleo can do -- and then shrug, and walk away saying "oh, how ordinary"?)

Dinosaur: Now we have quite a few very robotic critters to choose from. All the Robo-this-and-thats, for instance, which most robot enthusiasts seem to already have. And the truly silly monster toys for the kiddies, found in toy stores. And a few other assorted monster type dino-sorta robots scattered around. Actually, it is the heaviest genre of marketed robots. *But despite that, Pleo (as a dinosaur life form) is being hailed as truly INNOVATIVE and unique and exciting! So why is that, when the field is already littered with dinos? Because nothing looks, or acts, or even comes close to Pleo. And Pleo is affordable by the masses. Many countries are eagerly waiting for their chance to pre-order.*

Are you catching on to my point, here? No matter what Ugobe makes next, it will NOT be ordinary or overdone! If they come out with a kitten/cat, it will be hailed as unique and amazing. A Pleo-like cat or kitten will have a wide-open market throughout the world, and most probably be as run-away successful as Pleo is poised to be.

If Ugobe comes out with a cute looking puppy/dog, it will be "eaten up" by the masses, who are eager to have a doggie life form that looks like a doggie -- because dogs are ever popular and every kid wants one. Many AIBO fans, who have been deserted by Sony, will most likely embrace a "currently supported" canine life form, although they will inevitably compare it to AIBO (and want all AIBO's advanced features for the same $349.00 they paid for Pleo). To my mind, because of the AIBO comparisons, a canine is the riskiest way to go -- but it would still be likely to be a run-away success.

And would people buy another dino, once they have a pair of Pleos? Wouldn't you? It would have to be different enough, with maybe with an added feature or two, but I really can't see anyone turning down a Pleo-friend second dinosaur life form. I don't know that I would advise Ugobe to make this their next life form, though. But perhaps, their fourth. It would be "new" again, as the fourth form released.

For the sake of opening a fun discussion, I "bought into" the notion that any life form Ugobe should consider would be less than ordinary. And it is fun to hear everyone's ideas. But I think we should all understand that any life form that is to be accepted by the masses must be "ordinary" enough that people feel comfortable with it, while still being unusual enough that it grabs attention and market share. The truth is that ANY life form Ugobe cares to make will be unusual enough. Any life form. Carte Blanche.

Disclaimer: All this has been only my opinion. My opinion has been known to vary widely from other people's opinions. I am still open to other opinions. I am sure other people's opinions are just as valid (or more valid, as the case may be) than mine. I do not believe anyone's opinion is stupid. Neither is mine. Just, maybe, different. I think everyone's opinion should be expressed. I look forward to hearing other opinions.

OK, I'll get off my soap box now. LOL

[hardyfoster]

your post made me think....

what is it people are looking for ? is it a fun robot ? or is it a life-like companion / pet / friend ?
i have read several accounts where people enjoy the robot pets because for some reason or another, the owners are too young, too old, have an illness, etc to take care of a real pet. Also, some of these robot pets keep company with people that are lonely. They are also therapeutic to some.

I got off where I wanted to go to....
But if the Tamagotchi was a successful product... what is it people are really looking for? The tamagotchi was an lcd pet in a plastic case (i loved mine as well !). so I don't think its so much the animal as it is what the pet can bring.

up to now, no one has made an affordable, autonomous robot. Pleo is a first. So outside of the geeks, robot fans, and the people above, there will be plenty of uses and market demand for pleo.

i also forgot to mention, some parents use robot pets to see if their kids will take care of it. if they do, then they get them a real pet.

for those who don't know, here is a tamagotchi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamagotchi

http://www.tamaplanet.com/About-Tamagotchi.aspx

[PleoWorldHostCami]

Well thought out opinions amjoe, they make good sense.

I remember those hardyfoster. My kids had some and I had to babysit them while the kids were in school. LOL

Being a diehard pig collector (I couldn't begin to count the statues, plush, etc I have) I would love to see a cute little piggy Pleo!

[raqqasa]

While i think dogs and cats are great ideas I really wouldn't want one as a robot. I want something that I can't go out and adopt. Dinosaur, Panda Bear, Dragon, etc.

[amjoie]

Well thought out opinions amjoe, they make good sense.

I remember those hardyfoster. My kids had some and I had to babysit them while the kids were in school. LOL

Being a diehard pig collector (I couldn't begin to count the statues, plush, etc I have) I would love to see a cute little piggy Pleo!

Like in Charlotte's web. :)

But, oh please, *not* Miss Piggy! LOL (just kidding)

[hardyfoster]

tamagotchi was my first virtual pet. aibo the second. they gave me a small idea on experiencing when babies are crying at all hours of the night.
aibo did that while i was sleeping. i remember tamagotchi making noise as well. i wanted to kill it !

[mweed]

Weekly World News is one of those fake newspaper, right?

Yeah, there the type that specialize in UFO and Elvis sightings. A couple of weeks ago they had the headline of still living babies found in the wreckage of the Titanic, with the picture of a chubby little baby peering out of a porthole.

[ryane]

i believe you are probably right amjoie. ugobe could make any life form they choose and make it a success. i don't doubt that one bit.

pleo is truly amazing given the price tag.

ugobe seems to be made up of a lot of talented people, and i'm sure they could do it again in any shape or form.

i think every idea i've read here is great! i wish we knew what's up their sleaves right now, chung's ideas for the future (he supposedly has several). i guess we all have something to look forward to beyond raising our pleos.:D

[Pleofan89]

I'm telling you guys. Pokemon would be hot!! Its a 5+ million dollar industry. I wouldn't mind a Ugobe pikachu.

[amjoie]

I'm telling you guys. Pokemon would be hot!! Its a 5+ million dollar industry. I wouldn't mind a Ugobe pikachu.

Two words: copyright, royalties.

That means no Disney characters, no Pokemon, no non-Disney other movie characters, no game characters, no book characters from book illustrations, no comic characters, no celebrities (animal or people), and not even free use of your artwork without your permission.

In other words, unless the people at Ugobe come up with the design/art themselves for the new critter, "it ain't gonna happen." :)

[roschler]

Two words: copyright, royalties.

That means no Disney characters, no Pokemon, no non-Disney other movie characters, no game characters, no book characters from book illustrations, no comic characters, no celebrities (animal or people), and not even free use of your artwork without your permission.

In other words, unless the people at Ugobe come up with the design/art themselves for the new critter, "it ain't gonna happen." :)

Ah, but the rogue hacker and modder community will not let that stop them for an instant so there will still be plenty of stuff happening like that. How about a Pleo that talks like Homer Simpson? :)

Pleo: "Umm, Marge, I don't feel so good right now. Mmmmm, leaves..."

[mweed]

Ah, but the rogue hacker and modder community will not let that stop them for an instant so there will still be plenty of stuff happening like that. How about a Pleo that talks like Homer Simpson? :)

Pleo: "Umm, Marge, I don't feel so good right now. Mmmmm, leaves..."

When I read another post asking if the pleo could right itself if it were knocked over, my first thought was some hacker programming the balance sensor so that if a pleo was laying on it's side it could call out "Help! I've fallen and can't get up!" :p

What I can't figure out is why, other than adolescent scatalogical humor, they mounted a 2nd speaker at the back end? :confused:

[amjoie]

Ah, but the rogue hacker and modder community will not let that stop them for an instant so there will still be plenty of stuff happening like that. How about a Pleo that talks like Homer Simpson? :)

Pleo: "Umm, Marge, I don't feel so good right now. Mmmmm, leaves..."

A Minnie Mouse or Tweety Bird Pleo. Oh, that's just not right (said with the intonation heard in Galaxy Quest) .... :p

I like the sounds that Pleo makes much better than the sounds the Flintstone's pet dino makes. LOL

[mweed]

Sound effects are probably off-thread for this discussion, but I'm sure they will be one of the first, if not most common modifications, as even UGOBE is offering new downloadable sounds. Maybe we should start a new thread for suggestions.

[amjoie]

Sound effects are probably off-thread for this discussion, but I'm sure they will be one of the first, if not most common modifications, as even UGOBE is offering new downloadable sounds. Maybe we should start a new thread for suggestions.

Why not? :)

To change the topic:
I wonder if Ugobe could engineer a viable lop-eared-Bunny-Rabbit-like critter. I'm not sure what kind of robot innards that would require, but a bunny exterior sure could be cute. Lots of expression. Very cuddly. Quiet little sounds. Twitches its nose. Eats leaves, carrots. Likes to interact with people. Nice to pet. Hops, or walks slowly. Sits up and washes its face. All around "endearing" factor.

(And if anyone is under the impression lop-eared bunnies are for sissies, they haven't been around a male lop-ear defending his territory. LOL)

[roschler]

I pray the first SDK Ugobe comes out with is a sound modification kit. I'm dying to try my hand at new sounds for Pleo!

[mweed]

(And if anyone is under the impression lop-eared bunnies are for sissies, they haven't been around a male lop-ear defending his territory. LOL)

I've never had a lop-ear. Just mini Rex. But I've seen what an ill-tempered rabbit can do for Monty Python... :eek:

I also still have my Tamagochi, packed away in a box somewhere.

But what I remember fondly was my pet tribble. It was battery powered, furry, and when squeezed it vibrated and made noises. Totally useless, but it was cute.

[PleoWorldHostCami]

But what I remember fondly was my pet tribble. It was battery powered, furry, and when squeezed it vibrated and made noises. Totally useless, but it was cute.

But I bet it was no trouble at all. ;)

[roschler]

Tribble Jokes!! That's it, I'm breaking out the big puns! :)

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

rofl roschler very puny! Ok now really was there a tribble toy?

[Gobi]

They're coming. They're ALL coming. It's just a matter of when. We've had dogs, we've had cats. Sooner or later there will probably mini-robotic Noah's Ark sets with pairs of many varieties of animals. And there will be the useful robots - generations above Roomba.
For now . . . if I were working at Ugobe and wondering what to design to focus on next . . . I'd take the Pleo concept the next step. I would add more AI - perhaps the voice recognition. I'd add the IR recognition between owner and "pet." I'd probably give some simple speech. I'd improve the motions and allow the life form to learn more tricks and interaction. I'd design it to respond to "come here."
I'd take all those improvements and encase them in a form that will make people want not only look at them and ooh and aah over their abilities . . . but make people want to love them; to cuddle them; to take them home and nourish them. For that type of reaction I would prefer something cuddly. I love the idea of a baby polar bear. Furry, cuddly, big blue eyes and an adorable snout. (As long as his training fish didn't smell like a fish!) But wouldn't a Panda be darling as well? Or a big cat like lion, leopard and cheetah?
Why can't Ugobe have a main internal design and multiple species?
Dragons and Gryphons? Awesome as well. I could use a dragon to light the pilot light on my stove or perhaps my husband's cigar. Now, wouldn't that be cute? They're not so cuddly but they appeal to so many and have much potential.
So, what would I like Ugobe to make next?
A menagerie.

[zooropa]

I love the idea of "bringing back" extinct animals, although unfortunately a robot elephant may fit the bill in a couple decades... if we stick with the dinosaur theme then I wouldn't mind seeing a triceratops, something along those lines, I think a robotic T-rex or raptor would be too campy.

[mweed]

rofl roschler very puny! Ok now really was there a tribble toy?

There really was. I got it somewhere around the late 70s or early 80s. It had brown fur, and ran on two AA batteries. It had a draw string opening on its underside to access the battery compartment. And was about 6" long. A quick check on eBay shows they are still making them (2007 models available).

[jtforums]

I think they should make a bird!

Or a Panda.

[cmadmacs]

I think they should stay in the jurassic period. Dinosaurs are popular.

[jtforums]

Ok, not a bird, But a Pterydactil!!!!

[amjoie]

Ok, not a bird, But a Pterydactil!!!!

I can see it all now:

mom: you've demolished your new robot (viewing the mess of broken parts strewn on the floor)

child: but mom, Pterydactil are *supposed* to fly

;)

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Perhaps it would fly, someone has a dragonfly out now, Flytech I think, a baby pteradactyl would be adorable :D

[amjoie]

Perhaps it would fly, someone has a dragonfly out now, Flytech I think, a baby pteradactyl would be adorable :D

I watched a program on the Science channel (or National Geographic, or maybe Discovery) where a whole group of scientists and robotic engineers tried to make a Pteradactyl that would look and act like a Pteradactyl on the ground, and still actually fly. They couldn't do it.

It is a really hard design to make fly. A dragonfly is easy, because it is light weight and balanced. The shape of the Pteradactyl is so odd, that it is almost impossible to replicate in a form that can stay airborne, if it can also move like a Pteradactyl when on the ground.

Even without body fur, they couldn't get it to work. So I don't think it would help just to have rubbery skin.

But I shouldn't be a total complete realist on a list like this, should I? LOL

Go ahead and dream about a flying Pteradactyl. It *would* be adorable. :)

edit: I would have suggested a Saber Tooth, a long time ago, but they are so *ugly.* LOL

[mweed]

If we stick with the prehistoric theme, and go with some earlier posts suggesting an elephant, a baby woolly mammoth would be cute.

[jtforums]

It would be awesome.


It would have the body of one of a pterydactil but the same, uber-cute eyes that Pleo has. Perhaps a different color though.


Can't you just picture it?

[hardyfoster]

ugobe has bigger plans on what to make next instead of just churning out dinosaurs.

[mweed]

I'm sure you're right. I love the idea of his automatically configuring chair, and I prefer the idea of "functional" robotics. But the point of the thread is "What would you like Ugobe to make", and I personally, would like my Pleo to have a "friend" to play with that was similar in nature without being an identical twin.

I have no doubt Caleb and his crew at Ugobe are quite capable of and will be producing some awesome new life forms in the near future. And this thread does not presume to dictate what they do. I eagerly wait to hear their plans. We merely post our thoughts and hope it helps provide Ugobe with some valuable market feedback.

But there may also be some really good financial reasons to spin off a few more dinos before moving on. I know I would more readily buy another dino for my pleo to play with than a baby panda. And, another dino could be rolled out without completely starting from scratch.

[PWOKristy]

Hello,

I'd love to have any animal robot Ugobe comes out with!

Regards,
Kristy.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Hi PWOKristy, welcome to the PleoWorld Forums. Please feel free to let Cami or I know if you need any help or have any questions :)

[PWOKristy]

Hi PWOKristy, welcome to the PleoWorld Forums. Please feel free to let Cami or I know if you need any help or have any questions :)

Thank you very much. Will do. :D

Edit: By the way, I would absolutely love to have robotic Pokemon and Digimon! I'd really, really love if the makers of Pokemon and Digimon are down for that/would do that in the near future!

[hepatitusk]

I want to push Ugobe to a new level. All the comments I've seen on new creatures have resembled that of Pleo himself. All of which still have the same amount of limitations as Pleo does. Floppy ears, longer tails, or longer noses just doesn't seem to add enough unique abilities to capture the target audience.

What I want to see perhaps a baby gorilla. This will still give the ease of four legged movement but also add two-legged functionality. He'll be able to express himself more clearly standing upright and simply add more entertainment to the owner.

Again, we're talking about a future Ugobe project and I believe this is very feasible.

[monikabatra]

wow thats a really really good idea! i can just imagine the baby gorilla sitting on my lap, mimiking what i do. HOW CUTE!

[roschler]

I want a Pleo I can ride to work.

[Pirka]

I think that the next logical progression could be a baby dragon, or gryphon. That way you could utilize bright colors and incorporate the combination of smooth skin and soft fur. Add some flapping wings for extra expression and added animation. Give it some more flexibility and a longer tail and you've got yourself an exciting little creature.

I think the best way to go for Ugobe is to create things that exist only in our imaginations. Bringing to life the impossible.

I second that. I think that they should try something never seen before...something Leonardo-esque... ( http://robotic.media.mit.edu/projects/Leonardo/Leo-intro.html )...something furry. Imagine how incredible that would be!

But, really, at the same time...I just thing Ugobe should go with the flow and do whatever they want to do next!

- Pirka

[pleoguy101]

I think that the next logical progression could be a baby dragon, or gryphon. That way you could utilize bright colors and incorporate the combination of smooth skin and soft fur. Add some flapping wings for extra expression and added animation. Give it some more flexibility and a longer tail and you've got yourself an exciting little creature.

I think the best way to go for Ugobe is to create things that exist only in our imaginations. Bringing to life the impossible.

AWSOME IDEA chudified!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pleoguy101]

[QUOTE=Gobi;947]They're coming. They're ALL coming. It's just a matter of when. We've had dogs, we've had cats. Sooner or later there will probably mini-robotic Noah's Ark sets with pairs of many varieties of animals. And there will be the useful robots - generations above Roomba.
For now . . . if I were working at Ugobe and wondering what to design to focus on next . . . I'd take the Pleo concept the next step. I would add more AI - perhaps the voice recognition. I'd add the IR recognition between owner and "pet." I'd probably give some simple speech. I'd improve the motions and allow the life form to learn more tricks and interaction. I'd design it to respond to "come here."
I'd ta




i'm going WAYYYback to the beggining of your message here. you can teach pleo any trick. you can teach him to come here and stuff but with sound or hand motions. I do hope ugobe makes Pleo able to understand speech though

[pleoguy101]

I hope ugobe makes another dinosaur or somthing.Except when you first get it its in an egg. ( well it depends on the size of the robot.)you charge it then it starts hatching.. and with more battery time. WOULDNT THAT BE COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gobi]

Okay. I'm going way out on a limb here.
But you know how a snake will shed it skin as it gets bigger? Well . . . what if we had a dino that "grew?" It would be the AI software that would transfer to the next size up.
We'd get a dino egg . . which hatches with our little dino. We'd have that little dino for about 6 months or so. Then . . . the "next age" would arrive in the mail and somehow the AI of our little dino would be transferred into the next one. We could recycle the egg and newly hatched dino if we wanted to keep costs down - and the same with the next ages. Maybe the next one would last another 6 months and then after that a year.
But in all cases as soon as our dino had reached a point where we wanted it to grow up more - it could. There would certainly have to be a limit though. Otherwise we'd have full size dinos running amok in the suburbs!

[MajorHavoc]

Great ideas!! My first thought when I saw this thread was an upright humanoid walking on 2 legs.
However, wouldn't it be very cool to have a bunch of different animals (dog, cat, bear elephant, etc etc.) all interacting with each other in a farm or jungle like atmosphere?? Even if the bot mechanics 7 software were all mostly the same!
It would also be good for Ugobe business if we all wanted to have a number of bots!!

What do you guys think?

[ryane]

Great ideas!! My first thought when I saw this thread was an upright humanoid walking on 2 legs.
However, wouldn't it be very cool to have a bunch of different animals (dog, cat, bear elephant, etc etc.) all interacting with each other in a farm or jungle like atmosphere?? Even if the bot mechanics 7 software were all mostly the same!
It would also be good for Ugobe business if we all wanted to have a number of bots!!

What do you guys think?

definately! i think everyone on this forum would love to get there hands on a number of different bots from ugobe. i do hope they evolve the ai with each new life form. we all would like to see speech and face recognition in the future. am i wrong? i know it can be done with the software given enough memory. the question is when and at what cost. ugobe has to make life forms affordable to stay competitive.

oh, and about your first thought, (an upright humanoid walking on 2 legs), it's an awesome idea! why not? life forms walk on two legs too. it wouldn't have to closely resemble a human, or even come close. they could make up a new creature. i hope Caleb and co. are reading this stuff!

[amjoie]

No matter what kind of life form Ugobe makes, I hope they make the personalities interchangeable. I want my favorite Pleo to become a "shape-shifter." I want to be able to put the first Pleo personality into other forms, and see how that changes him.

Or, if the later Pleo type bodies become a lot more advanced, I want my first Pleo to be able to trade up. I may not actually do that, but I do want the option.

So I hope no matter what they make next, that it is personality backwards-compatible.

[PWOKristy]

I'd love to be able to ride a Pleo.

I agree, I do want a Dragon and/or a Griffon.

And I really hope they stay inexpensive.

[pleoguy101]

i would like them to make sonys version of the dream robot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33a33XEVHKE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POuxHMEM2_Q

as far as robots holding conversations, there is an area of AI called chatterbots. I haven't been impressed with any that I have seen. but they are rather interesting to talk to.

I like that little qiro dude, but I think I heard he didn"t get past the factory!!:(

[pleoguy101]

I second that. I think that they should try something never seen before...something Leonardo-esque... ( http://robotic.media.mit.edu/projects/Leonardo/Leo-intro.html )...something furry. Imagine how incredible that would be!

But, really, at the same time...I just thing Ugobe should go with the flow and do whatever they want to do next!

- Pirka

that things kinda creepy lookin!!!:eek:

[pleoguy101]

Okay. I'm going way out on a limb here.
But you know how a snake will shed it skin as it gets bigger? Well . . . what if we had a dino that "grew?" It would be the AI software that would transfer to the next size up.
We'd get a dino egg . . which hatches with our little dino. We'd have that little dino for about 6 months or so. Then . . . the "next age" would arrive in the mail and somehow the AI of our little dino would be transferred into the next one. We could recycle the egg and newly hatched dino if we wanted to keep costs down - and the same with the next ages. Maybe the next one would last another 6 months and then after that a year.
But in all cases as soon as our dino had reached a point where we wanted it to grow up more - it could. There would certainly have to be a limit though. Otherwise we'd have full size dinos running amok in the suburbs!

maybe the first dino you had just grew with some gears inside with a timer to slowly pop higher and wider as the months go by until the dino "maybe another animal" is about 1ft:) !!!

[amjoie]

As a horse-loving little girl, my greatest fantasy was waking up in the morning to find all my toy horses had come alive, and were at the door waiting to go outside and play in the back yard.

I would love to see chunky little robot ponies play together, "graze" on a section of grass-like carpet in a tiny fenced enclosure, paw the ground and rear up, and nicker while nudging my hand for a carrot or sugar cube.

They could release a bay and a pinto at the same time, and double their sales, because everyone would want both colors.

Once they had a pony, it would be super easy to also have a unicorn (white body; blue eyes; with very light gold wavy mane, chin "beard," leg feathering, and part-velvet-part-full tail; and deer-antler-colored split hooves and horn on head).

Next they could make a Pegasus, with tiny baby wings (and say he was too young to actually fly, yet).

So, Ugobe could have three unique creatures for almost the price of one research/development process.

Then, one morning I could wake up, and my toy ponies really would "come alive." :D

[roschler]

Ugobe will probably make a full size adult Camarasaurus soon enough. The problem is that the shipping charges on a 40 ton robot dinosaur will be far more than at least I can afford. :)

[teawithsteph]

As a horse-loving little girl, my greatest fantasy was waking up in the morning to find all my toy horses had come alive, and were at the door waiting to go outside and play in the back yard.

I would love to see chunky little robot ponies play together, "graze" on a section of grass-like carpet in a tiny fenced enclosure, paw the ground and rear up, and nicker while nudging my hand for a carrot or sugar cube.

They could release a bay and a pinto at the same time, and double their sales, because everyone would want both colors.

Once they had a pony, it would be super easy to also have a unicorn (white body; blue eyes; with very light gold wavy mane, chin "beard," leg feathering, and part-velvet-part-full tail; and deer-antler-colored split hooves and horn on head).

Next they could make a Pegasus, with tiny baby wings (and say he was too young to actually fly, yet).

So, Ugobe could have three unique creatures for almost the price of one research/development process.

Then, one morning I could wake up, and my toy ponies really would "come alive." :D

As the mother of a horse-nut all I can say to this is wow. This would totally make bank for any company. Toy horses are extremely popular and enduring.

[alibaba]

I don't know, did you see 'Butterscotch' the robot horse? I wasn't sure whether to be disappointed that it couldn't walk or just creeped out by the way its eyes followed you around...

AB

[mweed]

I don't know, did you see 'Butterscotch' the robot horse? I wasn't sure whether to be disappointed that it couldn't walk or just creeped out by the way its eyes followed you around...

I saw those on sale last Christmas. But I'm not sure I would call it robotic. Animatronic, perhaps. But I agree, "creepy" is a better term. I do like the concept they were trying for. I'm sure Ugobe could turn it into something quite amazing. The size might be an issue though.

But for now I'll just stick to trying to find a saddle for my pleo... :)

[amjoie]

I don't know, did you see 'Butterscotch' the robot horse? I wasn't sure whether to be disappointed that it couldn't walk or just creeped out by the way its eyes followed you around...

AB

I never saw the point of Butterscotch. It was a neither/nor, as far as I was concerned. It didn't do enough -- or maybe it did too much of the wrong thing. I read all about it, and looked away. I think a lot of people did that.

BUT, if Ugobe made a Pleo-sized pony that followed the Pleo concept, it would be the heart throb of every horse loving little girl -- and quite a few of us who remember what it was like to be young and love horses more than anything else on earth. LOL

[pleoguy101]

I think ugobe should just give us a while to love and enjoy pleo before we go on to another ugobe lifeform, but, if ugobe makes there next lifeform with the same IR sensor things:D, then we wont forget about pleo and the two ugobe lifeforms can interact, so pleo does'nt end up in the back of the closet:eek: ..... what I'M saying is, we will want to play with bolth robots "pleo and ?" if they can bolth interact with us and eachother.... so, when the next ugobe lifeform comes out, pleoworld will be changed into pleo AND steagasaurous,or polar bear or turtle or leapored world:D

[cmadmacs]

Pleoguy101, that is a great idea.

[amjoie]

I think ugobe should just give us a while to love and enjoy pleo before we go on to another ugobe lifeform, but, if ugobe makes there next lifeform with the same IR sensor things:D, then we wont forget about pleo and the two ugobe lifeforms can interact, so pleo does'nt end up in the back of the closet:eek: ..... what I'M saying is, we will want to play with bolth robots "pleo and ?" if they can bolth interact with us and eachother.... so, when the next ugobe lifeform comes out, pleoworld will be changed into pleo AND steagasaurous,or polar bear or turtle or leapored world:D

I think that will be the plan, more or less. Real pets play together and form relationships with other species. So I can't imagine Ugobe would isolate them, entirely. But perhaps two lion cubs might have certain forms of communication for just each other -- even though they would still very much enjoy playing with Pleos. I think that would be fun, to see some form of preference for their own species, without it making them stand-offish to other life forms.

[pleoguy101]

Weekly World News is one of those fake newspaper, right? I actually thought there were real miniature whales for a minute there. That would be very interesting though.

I don't really want another dinosaur. i think that idea gets old quick. I still love that elephant idea.

if you think mini whales woud be weird look at this!!!http://www.genpets.com/meet.php

[amjoie]

if you think mini whales woud be weird look at this!!!http://www.genpets.com/meet.php

How on earth did you find that website???

I think someone is making a very strong statement about the ethics of human/animal biological and genetic testing/manipulation. Similar to the message in the Arnold S. (before he was a California Governor) movie about cloning humans and pets. It's being touched on in the TV show, Kyle, also (although that is more drama than message, at this point).

If we don't take legislative steps to write specific laws against it, something like genpets could happen for real, in the future.

Creepy, isn't it.

I'll just take a Pleo, thank you ....

[Gobi]

Genpets? That is absolutely the scariest thing I have seen in a very long time.

LIke Amjoie, I'll simply take a Pleo.

[pleoguy101]

I would also take a pleo :) pleos cute charm wins over those mutated chipmunks any day:D

[PWOKristy]

Hello,

And good day.

I'd love to have miniature, calf whales and/or dolphins. I'd buy different species of those, particularly amazing whales. lol

Bye.

Regards,
Kristy.

[cmadmacs]

Pleo over genpets in my book.

[mweed]

I admit the genpets look pathetic, but the idea of a living, breathing little dinosaur like Pleo would be neat.

[Gobi]

I mean no offense to anyone who might feel otherwise . . .

But "genpets" are just wrong. No matter what life form they take or who's DNA they share . . . it's just wrong to even consider genetically engineering a life form so that it can "entertain" us.

Pleo is wonderful. With a cup of robotics, a bit of imagination and a pinch of AI we have a pet we can love and nuture. But add that tablespoon of DNA and we have stepped over that line.

We are an advanced civilization and we reap the benefits. But let us mortals try to mimic the Gods and beware! Just ask the Greeks and the Romans what happened in their worlds. Caution, I speak. Lest the same befall us.

[cmadmacs]

Gobi that was well spoken.

[notoriusMAT]

Here Here, Gobi, that was amazing insight and well written...totally agree!!!

[pleoguy101]

ya me too robots like pleo are ok, but genpets are wrong!!!!! why not be happy with the life already on earth, animals were'nt put here for us to take there DNA and turn them into some ugly mutant!!!!!!!"such as genpets"

[cmadmacs]

Once again, amen pleoguy101.

[PWOKristy]

Yeah, I hear ya.

[ryane]

it's sick and twisted to engineer life like that. i feel sorry for those genpets forced into hibernation in plastic boxes. it's just wrong.

pleo will be the best man made pet!

[amjoie]

it's sick and twisted to engineer life like that. i feel sorry for those genpets forced into hibernation in plastic boxes. it's just wrong.

pleo will be the best man made pet!

Unless I am very much mistaken, the genpets are not real. The website about genpets is designed to sicken the reader, because they are making a point. Our science is not *yet* that advanced, but close. And if we don't take steps now to make laws against it, then something like this *might* happen in the future. That is the point of the website, I believe.

And although I really think that genpets do not exist except as a photo and a warning, the other links about what is already going on in the scientific community ARE real; and in my mind, even scarier than the website.

Read the links and you will see that humans are already playing god. They are already mixing human genes with animal genes. They are already putting human brain cells in rodents. Where this might lead is anyone's guess.

Even in computers, research is being done to use biology to store data rather than using metal chips or hard drives. Once the "innards" of a computer are biological, it will be tempting (very tempting) to put those innards into a biological organism capable of supporting life functions. Add some genetic manipulation, and you have something creepy like a genpet. Sometime within the next 10-50 or so years, it will be possible. Maybe sooner rather than later.

The important point: Just because scientists *can* doesn't mean they *should.* But absent a law against it, they will most probably do something just because they can.

[mweed]

I assumed the genpets site was a parody or political satire to make a point. And I assumed the creators of the site want you to come to the realization that we shouln''t let genetic engineering continue unchecked.

[cmadmacs]

The movie "Godsend" shows what can go wrong when you try to genericly creat humans.

[pleoguy101]

did you read the rest of the site, It seems they are ready to sell genpets soon:eek: !!! I could be wrong, but look at it and tell me what you thinkhttp://www.genpets.com/index.php

[pleoguy101]

they put air holes in the boxes, and heart beat detectors on them while in hibernation in the boxes, (if they are real, hope they dont come out near me:eek:)

[notoriusMAT]

Yes I agree that genpets are wrong and according to this website very fake, http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/genpets.asp
However, I think that we are getting off the topic here. We are all very excited and very happy that Pleo is coming and reading some of this creepy genpet stuff is bringing me down. Can we get back to the question at hand? Plz
Pleo is very cute but what about some other juvenile dinos, like a triceratops, or stegosaurus, or like an earlier post some mythological creatures....definately cool

[pleoguy101]

MAT is right, no more genpets, I would like a dragon or a yellow stegasaurous would be nice:)

[amjoie]

Or a pretty little chocolate point Siamese colored kitty ... :D

[cmadmacs]

How about a skeletal form of pleo to display? Make it kit.

[amjoie]

How about a skeletal form of pleo to display? Make it kit.

... and maybe a tiny curled up "inside cracked egg" type Pleo skeletal fossil, either as a kit or just a display.

[cmadmacs]

That will work too.

[PWOKristy]

Ew. No, that wouldn't work for me.

[roschler]

Meerkat, with a family of tiny baby meerkats!

[amjoie]

Meerkat, with a family of tiny baby meerkats!

I would *love* a Meerkat, and you are right that it would have to be in a family group that recognized it was family -- even if they were all the same size. :)

But can you imagine the technical difficulties with that -- not only would every component have to be miniaturized beyond current capabilities, but the Meerkat would have to be able to stand upright as well as scamper away quickly on all fours.

But we can dream ...

Didn't Ugobe say it was about making today's dreams, tomorrow's reality? ;)

[cmadmacs]

Amen amjoie

[pleoguy101]

and even though ugobe makes robotic companions "such as pleo" what if they made lawn mowing or vacuming robots "such as roomba" but they could talk to you like "where should I vacuum?" or "wich part of the lawn should I mow?" but i"m talking about things happening WAAAAAAY in the future, and if we buy all those robots that do that sorta stuff, vacuum, mow lawns and all the other things that come in the future, we"ll all be REALLY lazy, "what if theres a tv channel changing robot:eek: :rolleyes: :D "

[hardyfoster]

papero can change channels....

in caveman fashion, a person already tells the roomba and the mower "where to clean".

the voice recognition is merely another input mode to instruct a computer what to do. you can browse the internet with voice in the opera browser.

a friend of mine understood more of what a robot is when I told him
"all a robot is, is a computer that interacts with its environment instead of just sitting on a desk"

[PWOKristy]

I would love to have a Papero!

[KayCureCF]

I love star wars and would love to see an ewok come to life.

[Pleox]

I think Ugobe should make something like Pleo, something that existed or something that is fantasy.

[pleoguy101]

like someone else said, ugobe could do dragons and griffens, there not real but like someone else said ugobe should make things from our imaginations, dinos count because no human has ever seen them, and.. There not alive anymore so..

[mweed]

dinos count because no human has ever seen them, and.. There not alive anymore so..

Humans haven't seen them because they hide in the bushes out in the back yard. Try leaving a cup of hot cocoa out on the back porch at night. That usually works for me. Try the type with the little marshmallows. Dinosaurs like marshmallows.

http://pleowhisperer.com/forums/dino_cocoa.jpg

[pleoguy101]

LOL funny:D!!! you dont know the truth until you leave a cup of hot coco on your porch:D!!!

[Pleox]

If Ugobe made a creature that humans never seen before, you don't know what it was or how it lived so it seems to be more like living creature, not a robot. But if Ugobe made something, like a cat, we know about cats(well, most of us)and it would seem like a robot because a robot cat would probably have very slow movement which would not appear very realistic compared to a real cat.

[mweed]

You are absolutely right! Since we don't know what a camarasaurus sounded like, what color it's eyes were, or how it reacted, anything Pleo does we ASSUME to be normal. Same with a furby. But a cat, dog, or horse, we EXPECT it to look, sound, and behave is a specific way. Even the slightest difference is easily noticed and distracts from the believability. That's why humanoid robots are so hard to get right.

Ugobe has worked hard to make the Pleo as close to true as possible, but ther are many things we will never know, and Ugobe has admitted to making changes to better suit the robotics (shortening the neck and tail, etc.). But nobody buying a pleo will look at it and say "That neck's too short. It can't be real."

So, let's hope Ugobe stays with those creatures we've never seen before.

[Pleox]

I agree.:D From what i've seen, a baby camarasaurus seems to be the perfect creature to be made as a robot...most of the other dinosaurs i've heard of seem to be too hard to make...well, I think there are still some...

[amjoie]

I still want a kitty, even if it isn't exactly like a real kitten. I'll suspend disbelief, just to have some meows in my house, again. Sigh.

[roschler]

How about if Pleo meows a bit? :)

[mweed]

A meowing pleo? No problem. Just give me a few days after Ugobe releases the development kit.

[amjoie]

LOL! Your guys are great -- I'll look forward to the "meows." :D

And maybe purring? What do you think -- I know you can make the purring sound, but is it possible to link purring to a "feel good" state of mind (from a programming standpoint)?

And I'm sure Pleo can handle nuzzling without any problem ... but what about the whiskers? ;)

[BeccaLovesPleo]

Hehe, ^^ I would love the meowing... :p
I would like to see a chubby type of Pandaish animal...
:) But fantasy related of course. :D That would be nice.

[Pleox]

I don't know if man will ever have the technology to create a realistic robot cat...I'd rather just get a real cat.:D Since cats can smell, has anyone ever heard of a robot that can smell?

[mweed]

I dunno, I've seen a lot of cheap robot toys that really stunk!

[amjoie]

I dunno, I've seen a lot of cheap robot toys that really stunk!

LOL! You are so right. Some smell like a real skunker. :p

[Brokenh3art]

i would like for ugobe to create a lifelike intelligent baby chimpanzee, or a human life form, like a minature man not a midget just a shrunken down man

[hardyfoster]

there aren't any robots that can smell. but there will be . all they need to add is the smell hardware to the robot and interpret the data via a program.

scroll down and there is some info on the smell chip as well as some articles on electronic smelling.
http://www.androidworld.com/prod19.htm

[amjoie]

there aren't any robots that can smell. but there will be . all they need to add is the smell hardware to the robot and interpret the data via a program.

scroll down and there is some info on the smell chip as well as some articles on electronic smelling.
http://www.androidworld.com/prod19.htm


I think Valerie is bogus, but this isn't:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/21/dog.chip.ap/

However, I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why a companion robot would need to smell -- unless it acts as some kind of alarm detector. But those already hang on the wall.

I'm open to suggestions ....

I suppose, in some distant future, a cleaning robot would benefit from being able to smell. They would know when to empty the trash, and bathe the dog, without being told to. And it would definitely be a good thing for a cooking robot!

But in a companion robot? What's the point? I don't think I want to pay extra, just to get a fussy eater. LOL

[lucky711]

hey a dragon or gryphon would be amazing i would love to also see another kind of dinosaur like a t-rex of triceratops, or even a flying dinosaur(doesn't really have to fly lol), and Ugobe could make all different kinds of dinosaurs!!:rolleyes:;)

[Heatwave316]

hey a dragon or gryphon would be amazing i would love to also see another kind of dinosaur like a t-rex of triceratops, or even a flying dinosaur(doesn't really have to fly lol), and Ugobe could make all different kinds of dinosaurs!!:rolleyes:;)

I agree with the dragon....that would definitely be cool...:)


I would love to see a panda!!! They are just so adorable, who wouldn't want one. Plus, baby penguins would be great as well, especially with all the success of March of the Penguins

[pleoWhisperer]

A baby penguin would be sooo cute!

[amjoie]

hey a dragon or gryphon would be amazing i would love to also see another kind of dinosaur like a t-rex of triceratops, or even a flying dinosaur(doesn't really have to fly lol), and Ugobe could make all different kinds of dinosaurs!!:rolleyes:;)

Well, I've seen those toooo cutesy dragons all over the place. I'm bored with dragons. They are either over-the-top-cute or really grossly ugly. None of them come close to what I imagine would actually have sat down to start a good conversation with a unicorn.

And none of them look even remotely qualified to guard a demi-god's treasury, let alone the treasury of a god of gods. They were supposed to breathe out such powerful glory that they knocked 'em all dead. That was reduced to a pitiful puff of fire, in folk lore, like some carnival act. Sad. I don't see how a dragon can be anything but a disappointment. :p

A unicorn, however, would be unique among robots ... :D

[lucky711]

i still think a dragon would be awesome, panda would be cool too but they should start to make new and different kids of dinosaurs like t-rex, raptors, triceratops, and even fly ones to(don't really have to fly but wings could move lol) and each dinosaur should have its own and unique personality and actions but all should be babies not big ones lol, i think that would be cool and they also all could interact with each other,...but one thing i am mad about is the price of Pleo i no hes a robot and such but as months go on they should lower the price:mad:, bc my parents will never buy me something higher then $100-$150 lol:p

[mweed]

,...but one thing i am mad about is the price of Pleo i no hes a robot and such but as months go on they should lower the price:mad:, bc my parents will never buy me something higher then $100-$150 lol:p

Well, I'm disappointed the price has gone up. But it's still a heck of a good deal for what all you're getting. The Pleo may seem expensive compared to a $100 Wow-wee robot, but Pleo's features compare much more with the Aibo, which could cost $1000 or more.

[amjoie]

Well, I'm disappointed the price has gone up. But it's still a heck of a good deal for what all you're getting. The Pleo may seem expensive compared to a $100 Wow-wee robot, but Pleo's features compare much more with the Aibo, which could cost $1000 or more.

And when AIBO was in production, it was closer to $2000. Pleo is a "steal of a deal" compared to that!

[Pleofan89]

^ Great way to look at it... instead of "being the guinea pigs"...lol...

I still like the original elephant/polar bear/ panda ideas...

[PWOKristy]

Yeah, I'm disappointed too that the dang price has gone up. And Ugobe should be closer to Wow Wee, in pricings.

[mweed]

^ Great way to look at it... instead of "being the guinea pigs"...lol...

I still like the original elephant/polar bear/ panda ideas...

Did you see the robotic guinea pig that was posted earlier? Itwas petty cute.

[MyCool]

Lots of good ideas. How about an insect, beetle or dragonfly?
I know animals are good choices too but how about a fish or crab? Ha
Does any body want a human representation?

[Primus]

I would love for Ugobe to make a Pleo-like Mr. Snuffleupagus.

[amjoie]

If you want something bipedal, I'd rather see a chimp than a human, just to stay in the animal category.

Other's are making humanoids. One is being discussed in other threads in the forum. It can get itself off the floor from a prone position, face down. So they have made real headway.

My problem with humanoids is that they are not supposed to be dumb as a post. A dino can get by with something other than blazing intelligence, and still look "normal." But a humanoid should have skills that we cannot yet give them -- unless you are spending up the Yingyang on development, and willing to charge in the tens of thousands of dollars per bot, once completed. Not exactly Ugobe's niche. LOL

[Oldtrekkie]

Another dyno, with scales that are solar cells, to help the batteries last longer?

[kchamster]

now that i've had a furby and a hopefully soon to be pleo i don't mind what they make....... :)
(aslong as it's not a hamster eater)
:D

[Siren]

Another type of dinosaur would be cool. But the market is so full of dog and cat robots its insane.

I'd love to see more extinct and even fantasy creatures. The idea of having a baby dragon or unicorn is so tempting. Or even some other types of animals not tried yet. Imagine if they made a robotic elephant that could lift small object with its trunk. For the motion I see in the tail of Pleo, I think a trunk is possible in the future. So maybe a baby elephant or mammoth.

Or instead of doing a regular dog or cat, I'd love a little wolf or leopard cub. I rather have robotic pets I can't have as live pets at all. I own dogs and cats, real ones. I don't really want a robotic one. But for how realistic Pleo looks, having a robotic unicorn, dragon, wolf, etc....much more inviting.

[VeggieGirl]

I choose a feline form like a baby saber-tooth cub! They could call him Smiley (-:

[Ridgeback]

i agree with the exotic theme. somthing most people cant get in real life. a robot dog/cat would alway be compared to the real thing and fall short of it. a dragon on the other hand would be interesting. Afledgling is not a far leap from a dino. just add two imature wings that flap every now and then.

[brian55127]

I think the best way to go for Ugobe is to create things that exist only in our imaginations. Bringing to life the impossible.[/QUOTE]

I agree! Although maybe something fantastical could be alien-like too (although still cute) like that alien that David brought home in his backpack in Flight of the Navigator. I thought that was soooo cute when I was a kid.

[seanmcdona121]

That should make another type of baby dinosaur like a triceratops or parasaurolaphus or something!

[Siren]

A hippogriff :D

But yes, making a dragon is very easy for what they already have. Being its a baby, its understandable it couldn't fly or breath fire and still be realistic :P Some little wings that move a bit, and just some overall style changes. A couple of horns, some fangs, claws, maybe a cool sail on the back or something on the tip of the tail. And the color scheme could be a lot of fun too. Windstone have the coolest looking dragon styles. Something like this with the personal Ugobe touch.
http://www.thecrystalfox.com/images/windstone/dragons/hatchlings.jpg

[Keith]

Pleo needs some dino buddies.

There numerous four-legged sauropods to choose from, a apothosaurus/bracchiosaurus with long neck and tail, ankylosaurus, tricerotops, diplodocus, stegosaurus, etc. One just has to watch a rerun of Walking with Dinosaurs to get an idea.

[mugwee]

Oh a robotic tortise would be very cool. I love turtles and tortises, I haven't ever owned one though. What a cool pet to have Pleofan!

I would like for u to make a chimpanze. it would be such a plesure. and with the monkies and chimps being every one favorites. as they are on lots of clothing an accesseries ithink they woul please every age not just the children. you could call him or her Mugwee. when you do mke one put one on hold for me. you can e mail me at my email address.

[jimbim121]

I have a few ideas that Ugobe could possibly make. A baby dragon, a baby bunny, a turtle, a lamb, a duckling, a baby chimp, a parrot, a cute and friendly alien, a cute chibi anime type character, a piglet, a bear cub, a baby unicorn, a baby deer, a baby elephant( like someone said before), a baby penguin, a furry, soft cute and cuddly gizmo(from gremlins) type creature, a min short circut johnny 5 type ("alive') robot amd finally a fairy. Well, that's all I can think about right now. What do you think? What are the Ugobe crew thinking about making next?

[Falseprophet666]

They should make personalized collars!:p

[Falseprophet666]

:eek:I think ugobe should try something different. Another sauropod will seem like another gimmic of Pleo. look at all the different Furbys and Teknos. They are all basicly the same. Ugobe should make something irresitably cute, someting that is cuddly and soft, maybe even something that speaks english. Also, they should make each one look different. I am expecting my little Pleo on Monday, and I know I will be taking him with me everywhere I go, but it bothers me that they all look thge same. There really should be collars or something for them

[Siren]

I am not nothing that they look the same. Look at lions, wolves, deer, crocodiles, blue jays, etc. All animals look the same. Yes there is very slight differences in markings for animals to identify each other and I bet if you put two Pleo's together and inspected them carefully, you would find slightly different paint patterns on them. I bet every Camarasorus looked the same. Making them look different is taking away the illusion of being real. One species looks the same. Humans are one of the few species that have such individualized looks.

[Falseprophet666]

Fair enough, but I still think that there should be some sort of acsessories. Collars at least.

[Siren]

If they made and sold collars, it would be nice, but any puppy collar would do. Or you could go one step better and make your own like others have.

[Caaahl]

I like the fact that Pleo isnt a "real" animal, so you dont compare him all the time with the real thing. So, I voted for "non of the above" cause i would like to have another "fantasy" beeing. Not another dino, that really exists, but maybe a fantasy dino-like thing.
A human like buddy wouldnt be the best thing to do next, I think, because i think, "Zeno" has great potential for that already (although i dont want to advertise competition products ;) ), which should be on the market within the next 2-3 years.

[ryane]

i would love a "human like buddy". not human but possibly a new species in a humanoid form.

zeno looks great but i don't think they can really market it in 2 years for 200 bucks! i think that is crazy optimistic.

i would love to see ugobe create a bipedal robot with speech/speech rec. implement an ai program similar to alice...

i think ugobe has the passion to make anything we dream up come to life.

[Falseprophet666]

I dont know... I only wanted pleo because he was a cute little dinosaur... I looked up zeno and well... A humanoid robot? Dunno. I have friends I can hold an intelligent conversation with. I dont think I need some demented looking person thingy babbling things he just found on the internet.

[ryane]

i was holding a christmas toy,
looking at it's brown felt covering, and thought it would
be great fur-like skin for an
animal lifeform. it's soft, looks
good if applied well, and is
probably inexpensive. also
capacitive touch sensors should work well under it. any thoughts about my idea? good, bad,
terrible?

[Siren]

Fur would solve any paint issues. And I think I know the fabric you mean. Its soft and feels fuzzy, but isn't technically faux fur. It seems thin enough to keep it from overheating too.

[jas2190]

<img src="http://www.sjohnsmith.com/hounddog.jpg">Amjoie mentioned a bloodhound, and I totally agree with that or another hound dog puppy...so here is my mockup of a hounddog puppy on Pleo's frame...maybe some type of tough faux velvet for skin? I would immediately see a problem with the current Pleo structure and this with the head possibly being too heavy, hanging ears he could trip on, and the eyes needing to move forward on his skull. His lips could also get caught up in his mouth too. I really give a hand to Ugobe for choosing a baby Camarasaurus and working the design so well for balancing, walking, (hanging by the tail...oh my!), etc., and a good skin for what we could believe as dinosaur skin. The work and money they put into this is phenomenal. I LOVE MY PLEO! I would also love a bloodhound! :p

[jas2190]

<img src="http://www.sjohnsmith.com/bobcat.jpg">...and how 'bout a mean, wild, alley cat???:eek:<br clear="all">
<img src="http://www.sjohnsmith.com/piglet.jpg">...
...or how 'bout a piglet? many have brought this up...my first robot (or should I say stuffed animal that moved) was "Pudgey the Piglet".

[Caaahl]

I prefer lifefroms, that doesnt exist already, so we dont comapre the robot to the "real" thing. :o

[ryane]

Fur would solve any paint issues. And I think I know the fabric you mean. Its soft and feels fuzzy, but isn't technically faux fur. It seems thin enough to keep it from overheating too.

yup that's what i'm talking about. it was a rudolph toy that had the felt on it.

[Siren]

Not sure how it would work though with all the moving joints. The rubber seems to bend at the joints well, so it doesn't get caught in the joints. Fabric can be a less than pleasing fellow and may get caught in the gears and joints. Not sure. Guess it depends how they lay the fabric onto it. If they place guards at the gears and joints to keep the fabric from getting pulled in and caught, then it could work. But if they decide to do a more mammalian animal next time, it would be something to think about. I wouldn't like a Pleo with the fur though. The rubbery skin feels more natural on Pleo. I have a bearded dragon and its all bumpy like that.

[brian55127]

i was holding a christmas toy,
looking at it's brown felt covering, and thought it would
be great fur-like skin for an
animal lifeform. it's soft, looks
good if applied well, and is
probably inexpensive. also
capacitive touch sensors should work well under it. any thoughts about my idea? good, bad,
terrible?

Is it like Furby's fur?

[ryane]

i was kind of thinking about a lifeform based on an animal that would usually have fur. possibly a future lifeform a couple of years from now(i love pleo how he is;)) the felt would be attatched directly to the plastic frame, meaning there would be no air space and the joints would move freely, because the felt would simply not cause any friction. it would be layered directly onto his body. i may need to find a picture...

[ryane]

Is it like Furby's fur?

not really. it's a very thin fabric. it would just give a lifeform a bit of softness rather then hard plastic. i believe pool tables are covered in green felt.

[ryane]

imagine a baby pig lifeform, hard plastic underneath, pink felt over it. just one possibility...

[Siren]

A lot of Webkinz has the sort of fabric I think you may be thinking off. Charcoal cat for instance has it.

[kchamster]

yes...i got my little cousin a webkinz....she brought all 9 of hers to our grandparents house....shes been talking about webkinz eversince we got here....she needs 1 more to get an award or something....




EDIT:i just noticed this was really off topic

[Siren]

My daughter has 10 or 11 now...3 more for Christmas too :) She goes nuts over them. I like them too. Cute toy to play with and online access to a safe, kid friendly site :)

[kchamster]

i noticed that.......right now she's playing with her pig and her.....elefant? and she's asking to use my camera to film a webkinz show put on by her and i'm guessing taked by me...BRB! ;)

[Emilie]

I would like a baby polar bear too, but I would think that no company would be willing to make an animal that is currently living because it would be too difficult to replicate its actual movements.

[Pleo100]

I bet they could make a "Waterhorse" modeled after the star of the movie by the same name. That would be quite cute

[Falseprophet666]

actually I think a baby rex would be adorable

[Falseprophet666]

Webkinz is a horrible corporate empire that capitalizes on exploiting childrens affinity to all things cute helpless by selling over priced, generic little dolls and doll clothes that are equally overpriced.

[Lu Bu]

I'd like a baby T. Rex.

[jas2190]

I know that many have said that a real animal shouldn't be re-produced, because it is hard to recreate it to look and act like the real thing...but I really think Pleo's Holiday download is adorable (as well as others), and WE ALL KNOW dinosaurs didn't sing Christmas songs in the December month!!! Do we really want humans to re-create things exactly as they are already? What's the point of that? Give a puppy or kitty cute looks, but a very UNREAL personality...I think it would be cute to have a really sad, droopy puppy, or a really mean kitty with attitude that they could talk back in English, Spanish, (or other language). Therefore, the real thing isn't tried to be imitated, only the cuteness enhanced with a very strong personality (which Pleo has)....HAL never looked like a person, but he had a PERSONALITY with a soft, reflective voice that people interacted with...it's what we connect to.

[jas2190]

...we were of like minds at the same time...I posted in another thread in this forum with velvet-like skin(<a href="http://forums.pleoworld.com/showthread.php?t=45&page=19">click here</a>) - better than felt, as felt can be heavy...I'm a doll doctor and I know they've been doing this since the early 20th century. Stretch velvet and other textile technologies have advanced the "furry" or "soft" fabrics by leaps and bounds. As long as this wouldn't over heat a Pleo and the sensors can be "felt" then I cannot see why this wouldn't worlk, unless it got caught in movements.

[Siren]

Webkinz is a horrible corporate empire that capitalizes on exploiting childrens affinity to all things cute helpless by selling over priced, generic little dolls and doll clothes that are equally overpriced.

As a former seamstress, I will tell you the items are not over priced. The materials they use and the stitching is top notch and durable. While I had to mend a lot of Ty Beanie Babies, no such thing has happened to any of the Webkinz. And they are not generic little dolls and doll clothes. They are stuffed animals and not many companies make clothes for stuffed animals. And those items aren't overpriced either. Plus they are a lot easier to put on/take off than Barbie doll clothing, which is VERY cheaply made. And how is Ugobe not doing the same by capitalizing on exploiting children's affinity to all things cute and helpless with Pleo. Pleo costs $350 and is worth every penny. Webkinz cost average $12 each and give the child both hands on play as well as nearly unlimited online play, with free online access to play games, many educational, as well as network with friends, all while being safe and sound and not able to be contacted by strangers.

[Ridgeback]

I've been asked to post a T-Rex. The tail can help with balance, it's fat to hold all the motors and it can hug.
And the guys want it to track based on sound...They want it to chase their kids.

[seanmcdona121]

If so leave a reply on what type of dinosaur you think they should make?
I think a triceratops would be cool!

[gie]

A baby winged pterodactyl walking around my bedroom would be cool- or a viscious but cute baby tyrannasaurus (or other 2 legged dino) would be excellent dino robot resurrections

[P1e0]

I think they could even try a saber toothed tiger. i'd like to see some thing like that.:D

[Caaahl]

I dont think it would be a good idea to make another product with the same capabilities and "just" new looks. Robot toys...or pets nowadays become famous and interesting because of their new abilities, their new hard- and software. I am quite sure, UGOBE knows that and has the strong will, to go further and develop everytime something new...something better.

Therefore im looking forward for new UGOBE products...and not just some new skin.

[seanmcdona121]

Well ya i meant teh same thing really!

[Caaahl]

Ok, after i watched A.I. i definitely want a "Teddy". :p

http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content05/chatty-tom-supertoyteddy.jpg

http://endofdays.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/teddy_david_break.jpg

And i mean with the same capabilities, of course. ;)

[pleoguy101]

maybe UGOBE should make one of those swimming dinosaurs, they sort of look like what you think a lochness monster would look like, buit UGOBE can make it cuter:)

[attom40]

Hey fellow Pleonians

I think a baby Wooly Mamoth or Saber-tooth tiger.. making animals that are extinct and ones that we don't have access too at zoos or on TV....:)

[Ridgeback]

Now a wooly mamoth would be cool. Put touch sensors on the end of the trunk. head is closer to the body so it can be bigger. The puzzle with pleo was the more sensors in the head the heaver it got and the more motor power was needed to lift it. Down side is the touch sensors will have problems working right unless the woolyness was very thin fibers. There will be a lot of shedding with this one.

[Caaahl]

Mhm... a mammoth is a good idea indeed.

http://www.sunnytoys.com.au/Toy_Sales/images/SC16523a.jpg

They could use the experience from the tail for the trunk...and yeah, put sensors in it. :p

[brian55127]

Ok, after i watched A.I. i definitely want a "Teddy". :p

http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content05/chatty-tom-supertoyteddy.jpg

http://endofdays.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/teddy_david_break.jpg

And i mean with the same capabilities, of course. ;)

And he would definately have to say, "I am NOT a toy..."

[Ridgeback]

Now a woolly mammoth would be cool. Put touch sensors on the end of the trunk. head is closer to the body so it can be bigger. The puzzle with pleo was the more sensors in the head the heaver it got and the more motor power was needed to lift it. Down side is the touch sensors will have problems working right unless the woolliness was very thin fibers. There will be a lot of shedding with this one.

Along this line how about a Pygmy Mammoth..Found only on the California Channel Islands, it's believed to be no bigger than 5-8 feet tall as and adult. It would be fatter than Pleo and with longer legs but that will also house for more motors for the trunk. Elephants communicate a lot of emotions through their trunk. It would have to be flexible enough to show that emotion. ie move only the end of the trunk to 1/2 of it to all of it. And strong enough to carry things. Don't forget the ears. Mammoths are thought to have smaller ears then today's elephants. good news for those motors. Unless they choose to create Dumbo (from Walt Disney):rolleyes:

Their toy, peanuts of course.:p

[ryane]

Ok, after i watched A.I. i definitely want a "Teddy". :p

http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content05/chatty-tom-supertoyteddy.jpg

http://endofdays.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/teddy_david_break.jpg

And i mean with the same capabilities, of course. ;)

i wish! ai is my favorate movie and to have an artificial companion like teddy would be incredible!:D

i highly doubt ugobe will make something like this but someday maybe some robotics company will.

oh, i like the mammoth idea, (the trunk would be great!), but i don't think it would be anywhere near as special as pleo if you know what i mean.;)

[Falseprophet666]

:mad:Comparing Pleo to webkinz is blasphemy at its worst.

[Falseprophet666]

I want a baby rex... I would call him George... They could make him extra sensitive to sound so he would follow you, his tail would be strong to balance him, he could look something like chomper from the land before time

[jas2190]

Ok, after i watched A.I. i definitely want a "Teddy". :p

And i mean with th