Sony unveil new robo dog

Sony today announced the European launch of their futuristic Aibo robotic pet - and boasted about the machines new capabilities.

The hard edged silver Aibo ERS-220 looks less cuddly than previous versions of the robotic dog, but retains many of the functions of previous models.

An increased number of touch sensitive areas mean the robot is more responsive than ever, and has a host of other improvements that should prove entertaining. It has the ability to remember phrases, get excited and enter a special 'surveillance mode', taking sneaky pictures of things that it sees.

Sony representatives hope that the new model will boom as much as the previous one. "We continue to listen to the market and have decided to further expand ourproduct line. The ERS- 220 will appeal to the most discerning tech-savvyrobot enthusiasts," said Nicolas Babin, General Manager of SonyEntertainment Robot Europe.

Pre-sale orders will be taken from next week. The cost? You can pick up your robo-dog for a mere £1,300 including VAT.