There are few ways to describe the struggles that a person with a degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s goes through on a daily basis. Such was the case for Thomas Stevens’ mother. It was a double blow for her as she had started to train their two-year-old Goldendoodle to be aggressive to her caretaker. Tom had to then take the animal away and find it a new home. “My mom was devastated,” Stevens told Reuters. “So, I started looking around then for substitutes for live animal companions, didn’t find anything that she liked or would respond to, so I started wondering whether technology might be able to play a role.” That’s when Stevens had a brainwave. He decided to develop a super realistic robot dog which he called Tombot. Tombot is equipped with full-body sensors and programmed to respond to sound, touch, and even wag its tail.
“Tombot is the world’s most realistic robotic animal. Designed to emulate a live puppy’s appearance and behavior, Tombot provides ongoing fun, happiness, and emotional support at a reasonable price.” reads the description of the product.
On their Kickstarter page, the team behind Tombot explains: “To improve the quality of life for people with health problems, it is essential for them to stay emotionally attached and socially engaged. While live animals can serve this role, that is not a safe or practical choice for everyone.” Tombot is “designed to delight and improve the quality of life for anyone who cannot have a live pet.” The robot helps to provide valuable companionship, relieve loneliness, and reduce anxiety in patients, just as a real dog would.
“Studies show that robotic animal companions can reduce the need for psychotropic & antipsychotic meds by helping to reduce dementia behaviors,” the company explains. “Tombot’s robotic emotional support animals are an invaluable tool for increasing social engagement, and for redirecting ‘challenging’ behaviors.”
So there are some major differences between Tombot and a real dog of course. Tombot doesn’t need to be fed or walked or petted. This unique robot provides an alternative option to families when having an actual dog (or any pet) isn’t safe or practical. According to the company, the dog is fitted with 16 different motors for specific movements. It is also able to tell the difference between a soft and vigorous touch. The makers have plans to release Tombot onto the market in early 2020, with a price quoted at around $450. Considering the other robots with similar features, this is pleasantly inexpensive. If you’re interested already, feel free to order your very own Tombot on Kickstarter.