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Robots - Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Robotic Dino Maker Ugobe Raises $12.8M

You can get one of Ugobe's Pleo pet robotic dinosaur on Amazon on sale for $295 (list price is $350). If you are a parent and make a good living we imagine you will be buying at least one of these at some point.

For this price you will get a prehistoric pet that interacts and behaves like a one-week-old dinosaur. Infrared transmitters allow Pleos to identify, and communicate with one another if you have more than one or are on a play date. Its maker boasts that Pleo doesn't simply do what he is told - he also develops his own unique personality, moods, and habits that are shaped by the time and experiences he shares with you.

Emeryville's Ugobe has raised $12.8M in a third funding round led by current backer Hyield Venture Capital.

Pleo has over 100 custom-designed gears, and 14 motors for highly-articulated movement. Each motor has a force feedback sensor that makes them sensitive to forceful grabs at the dinosaur's legs, neck, tail and torso, causing him to shut down during trauma to avoid internal damage. He will purr and growl and make other sounds. He responds to being petted or stroked. In fact his reactions can be slow but are mostly appropriate. He knows when something is in his mouth and will make feeding sounds or, if you take him on he will growl and play tug-o-war.

Pretty cool.

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