Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Oh no, Sega's creepy robo-cat really is coming to life
news.cnet ^

Posted on 07/12/2009 5:21:13 AM PDT by JoeProBono

When we first caught sight of Sega Toys' meowing, purring robo-feline, we fervently hoped Lucky the robo-dog or some other bigger, stronger robot would come along and scare the creepy cat out of the neighborhood.

Alas, that's not to be. "Yume-Neko Venus," or "Dream Cat Venus," is slated for a July 30 release, according to Sega (PDF in Japanese). The fake feline will cost 10,000 yen (about $108)--not bad considering you'll be saving a bundle on kitty litter and toy mice.

The battery-operated robo-cat is equipped with five touch sensors that let it engage in real-life behavior like rolling on its back, blinking its eyes, moving its legs when you rub its belly, and sleeping a lot. Sega says the target age is four and above, and/or anyone who likes cats but can't have them due to allergies or co-habitating with animal haters.

The bot, which is modeled after the Norwegian forest cat, measures about 20 inches by 9 inches by 9.5 inches, making it the size of a (smaller) real cat. As far as we can tell, it'll only be available in Japan for now, but if you see a white cat with oddly vacant eyes slinking around your garden anytime soon, you'll know robo-cat went global.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: bladerunner; cat; doandroidsdream; kittyping; ofelectricsheep; philipkdick
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

1 posted on 07/12/2009 5:21:13 AM PDT by JoeProBono
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

I can has plastic cheezburger?


2 posted on 07/12/2009 5:32:38 AM PDT by Reaganesque
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

The article says it’s for people with allergies, but what is the fur made of?


3 posted on 07/12/2009 5:35:25 AM PDT by DejaJude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono
Will it bring half disassembled robotic mice to show that it loves me (or to show that it thinks I am vastly too imcompentant to feed myself)?
4 posted on 07/12/2009 5:38:27 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Chrysler and GM are what Marx meant by the means of production.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

I showed it to my cat telling him that it doesn’t steal chairs from it’s owner. He gave me a look at went back to licking his paw while resting in DH’s chair.


5 posted on 07/12/2009 5:40:05 AM PDT by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghan Honor Roll students.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

I’m sure it will do a dandy job keeping the mice out of my barns.


6 posted on 07/12/2009 6:17:12 AM PDT by mrs. a (It's a short life but a merry one...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mrs. a

we have had a robo cat for about 6 years. It does not have fur, but paint. However it is light, movement, sound and touch sensitive. If you pet it, it purrs and flexes its tail. It runs away if there is a loud noise. It goes to sleep, after a purring sequence if ignored. Light or sound wake it. You can program it to say a few words, play a song or to wake you up in the morning. Brand name is KITTY. They also make dogs (of which we have one) and parrots.


7 posted on 07/12/2009 7:14:50 AM PDT by cotton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono
Photobucket
8 posted on 07/12/2009 8:11:00 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono
I pulled the batteries out of mine so that it can sleep all the time.It's a joke people.
9 posted on 07/12/2009 8:18:16 AM PDT by usmcobra (Your chances of dying in bed are reduced by getting out of it, but most people still die in bed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

10 posted on 07/12/2009 8:31:11 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

11 posted on 07/12/2009 8:35:56 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono; Slings and Arrows; Glenn; republicangel; Bahbah; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; ...
I'll take the real thing.


12 posted on 07/12/2009 4:21:06 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Crazy is the new sane.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows

I gots five of the real thing.


13 posted on 07/12/2009 4:24:27 PM PDT by patriot08
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

:-D )))


14 posted on 07/12/2009 4:24:33 PM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: patriot08

I’ve only got three, but the day is young.


15 posted on 07/12/2009 5:16:38 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Crazy is the new sane.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

Hmmm. No kitty litter investments....

Nah, I love my babies. :-) It would be interesting to see how they would interact with the robo cat, though.


16 posted on 07/12/2009 8:06:14 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Proud heterosexual.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: usmcobra

This is too creepy. I dreamed about some sort of robotic animal last night and the only way I could get it to shut up was by disconnecting the batteries.


17 posted on 07/13/2009 4:53:02 AM PDT by Mercat (Scary middle aged people take the street)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows
"I’ve only got three, but the day is young."

You have a queen about to give birth? I wish I were there.

18 posted on 07/13/2009 5:13:46 AM PDT by TheOldLady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: DejaJude

Fur from a dead cat?


19 posted on 07/13/2009 8:33:42 AM PDT by Sunshine Sister
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TheOldLady

No, but strays have a way of finding me. I apparently have “sucker” tattooed on my forehead in ink that only cats can see.


20 posted on 07/13/2009 9:27:22 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Crazy is the new sane.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson