© dpa

... will initially only be launched on the market in Japan in limited numbers. The cost per unit: 198,000 yen (equivalent to 1500 euros). Sony also wants to make money over the lifetime of the robot dog: A subscription service is required so that the toy robot can learn. This will cost a further 2980 yen (22 euros) per month or 90,000 yen (680 euros) in one go for three years. For 20,000 yen (150 euros) per year, Sony also offers a 50% discount on repairs and inspections. For 'Aibo' itself, you can also buy a plastic bone to play with for 2980 yen.