Sony ERF-210AW01 User Manual

AIBO Life ERF-210AW01

4-652-029-11(1)

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© 2000 Sony Corporation

Notice to Users

©2000 Sony Corporation All rights
reserved. This manual and the software
described herein, in whole or in part,
may not be reproduced, translated or
reduced to any machine-readable form
without prior written approval.

EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET
FORTH IN THE SOFTWARE LICENSE
AGREEMENT, SONY CORPORATION
PROVIDES THIS MANUAL, THE
SOFTWARE AND THE OTHER
INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN “AS IS” WITH NO
WARRANTY AND HEREBY
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY
NONINFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS
FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE
WITH REGARD TO THIS MANUAL,
THE SOFTWARE, OR SUCH OTHER
INFORMATION. IN NO EVENT
SHALL SONY CORPORATION BE
LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL,

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CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL

DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED ON
TORT, CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE
ARISING OUT OF OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS
MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE, OR
OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN OR THE USE THEREOF.

Sony Corporation reserves the right to
make any modification to this manual
or the information contained herein at
any time without notice.
The software described herein may also
be governed by the terms of a separate
user license agreement.

This product contains software owned
by Sony and licensed from third parties.
Use of such software is subject to the
terms and conditions of license
agreements enclosed with this product.
Software specifications are subject to
change without notice and may not
necessarily be identical to current retail
versions.

Before using this software, please read the accompanying End-User License
agreement which governs use of this software.

Customer Support

How to contact the AIBO Customer Link.

In the United States

1-800-427-2988
Email address:
[e-mail]

In Europe

English line: [phone]
German line: [phone]
French line: [phone]
Email address:
[e-mail]

In Hong Kong

[phone]
Email address:
[e-mail]

In Singapore

[phone]
Email address:
[e-mail]

En

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“OPEN-R” is the standard interface for the entertainment robot
system that Sony is actively promoting. This interface expands
the capability of the entertainment robot through a flexible
combination of hardware and interchangeable software to suit
various applications.
“AIBO” ERS-210 and AIBO-ware ERF-210AW01 conform to
the OPEN-R version 1.1.

“AIBO,” the AIBO logo

, “OPEN-R,” and the OPEN-R logo are

registered trademarks of Sony Corporation.
“Memory Stick,” “

,” and “ ” are trademarks of Sony

Corporation.

Other information about AIBO is available on the Internet at the following
site: http://www.aibo.com/

“Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All rights
reserved.”

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Table of Contents

Getting started

About AIBO Life .............................................................................8

About AIBO-ware ..................................................................... 8

AIBO’s autonomous activities................................................... 8

AIBO is a robot. Why does it have to be raised? ...................... 9

AIBO’s modes and conditions................................................. 10

AIBO’s emotions..................................................................... 14

AIBO’s instincts ...................................................................... 15

Getting to know AIBO............................................................. 16

Living with AIBO

Charging AIBO’s battery pack .......................................................20

When you want to charge AIBO ............................................. 20

When AIBO wants to be charged ............................................ 21

Sleeping and waking up .................................................................22

When you want AIBO to sleep................................................ 22

When AIBO wants to sleep ..................................................... 23

W aking AIBO .......................................................................... 23

Waking AIBO at a specified time ............................................ 24

Communicating with AIBO

From you to AIBO .........................................................................26

Communicating by touch ........................................................ 26

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Communicating visually.......................................................... 28

Communicating by voice......................................................... 29

Helping AIBO to get up........................................................... 31

Having AIBO take a photo.................................................................. 32

From AIBO to you .........................................................................34

Lights ....................................................................................... 34

Sounds ..................................................................................... 36

Gestures ................................................................................... 36

Raising AIBO

Growing up.....................................................................................40

Babyhood................................................................................. 40

The later stages ........................................................................ 42

Finding out AIBO’s maturation stage ...................................... 44

Learning .........................................................................................45

Learning what is good and what is bad ................................... 45

Learning its name .................................................................... 46

Additional information

Notes on use ...................................................................................50

Service procedure (For the Customers in the U.S.A.)....................52

Troubleshooting .............................................................................53

For more information about “AIBO” ERS-210 (name of parts,
settings, “Memory Stick” use, safety precautions, etc.), please refer to
the “AIBO” ERS-210 operating instructions.

6

Getting Started

Welcome to AIBO Life, a software application that helps you to
raise your AIBO into an entertainment robot that’s just right for
you.

This chapter provides basic information about AIBO, including
its six emotions and five instincts. You will find that gaining an
awareness of these emotions and instincts will be the key to
good communication with AIBO.

So before you start your life together, read this chapter to find
out what AIBO is and what it can do.

Getting Started

7

About AIBO Life

About AIBO-ware

AIBO by itself is capable of only the most basic movements. For more
complicated operations, AIBO must be loaded with AIBO-ware that comes on
a “Memory Stick.” It is AIBO-ware that gives AIBO its capabilities and
character, so you might think of it as AIBO’s “mind.” By combining AIBO
with different AIBO-ware and peripheral devices, AIBO can be enjoyed in a
variety of ways. AIBO Life is AIBO-ware that allows AIBO to move around
autonomously and helps you to raise AIBO into the kind of companion that is
best for you.

AIBO’s autonomous activities

AIBO comes with all the necessary hardware, such as a brain, sensors,
actuators and power supply , to move about on its own. What AIBO Life adds is
a set of emotions, instincts, learning ability and the capacity to mature.
Through AIBO Life, AIBO can act according to its own judgements, all the
while expressing emotions, collecting information from you and its
environment, learning and maturing. With AIBO Life, AIBO will let you know
by gesture and sound when it wants you to play with it, and may even go about
looking for you. On the other hand, when something catches AIBO’s attention,
it may ignore you even when you call its name. The key to getting along with
AIBO then is to understand its autonomous nature, and to help it learn and
grow.

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AIBO is a robot. Why does it have to be raised?

The reason is that AIBO was born to live together with people. AIBO is
capable of autonomous action based on external information from its various
sensors and from internal motivations (i.e., its emotions and instincts).
Nevertheless, AIBO will not be too self-centered and will always entertain
you.
AIBO Life gives AIBO the capacity to mature so that it can react to your
actions and its surroundings. For example, if you talk and play with AIBO a
lot, AIBO will grow to be sociable. If you prefer to simply watch AIBO, AIBO
will become independent and wander around as it waits for you to play with it.
In short, AIBO Life makes it possible for AIBO to adjust to you as it lives with
you and matures. We hope AIBO will become a good partner for you.

Getting Started

9

AIBO’s modes and conditions

AIBO Life provides AIBO with a number of modes and conditions.

Press the chin and back sensors at the

Autonomous mode

AIBO moves around on its own.

Off

same time for 3 seconds.

Something is caught in AIBO’s
leg joints.

10

Press the head
sensor for 3
seconds.

Rest mode

AIBO stops moving around.

On

Press the back
sensor for 3
seconds.

Lift AIBO up.

Press the chin sensor for 3 seconds,
or when the battery level is low.

Gently shake
AIBO’s body.

Sleep mode

Off

Getting Started

Press the head
sensor for 3
seconds.

Place AIBO on
the floor or press
AIBO’s head
sensor for 3
seconds.

Press the head
sensor for 3
seconds.

Jam
condition

Pick-up
condition

Station
transfer
mode

Flashing

Flashing

Flashing

AIBO’s joints become loose when
something gets caught in them.

*Energy Station is an

optional accessory.

Station mode

Remove from
Energy Station.

Place on Energy
Station

When Energy Station*
is used.

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x Autonomous mode

This is AIBO’s normal mode. AIBO carries out various actions based on its
own will.

x Rest mode

AIBO stops walking around. To switch AIBO to this mode, press its back
sensor for more than 3 seconds. The mode indicator turns on and AIBO lies
down or sits down.
To return AIBO to autonomous mode, press its head sensor for more than 3
seconds.

Notes

• Do not put AIBO on an unstable surface where it might fall or be subjected to
vibrations.

• Do not place things near AIBO that may obstruct its movements.

x Sleep mode

To change AIBO to sleep mode, press its chin sensor and back sensor at the
same time for more than 3 seconds. AIBO will stop moving. If you gently
shake AIBO’s body, it will wake up. AIBO may also wake up by itself and
start moving around.

x Jam condition

If something gets jammed in any of AIBO’s joints, AIBO changes to this
condition and all of its joints become loose. The mode indicator flashes at this
time.

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To return AIBO to autonomous mode, press its head sensor for more than 3
seconds.

x Pick-up condition

AIBO changes to this condition when you pick it up. Its legs loosen to make it
easier to hold AIBO while its head and tail continue moving in a cute way and
the mode indicator flashes.
To return AIBO to autonomous mode, put it on the floor. If it doesn’t return to
autonomous mode after a while, press its head sensor for more than 3 seconds.

x Station transfer mode (for use with the optional Energy

Station)

In this mode, AIBO assumes the “charging posture” (page 20) that allows it to
be placed on the optional Energy Station (referred to as the “station”
hereafter). If you leave AIBO alone for five or more minutes without placing it
on the station, it will return to autonomous mode.

x Station mode

After being placed on the station, AIBO continues to make various
movements, but cannot dismount from the station on its own.

Getting Started

13

AIBO’s emotions

AIBO has six emotions: joy, sadness, anger,
surprise, fear, and discontent. These emotions

Joy

will change in response to a variety of factors,
affecting AIBO’s behavior and maturation as a

Sadness

result. Listed below are common scenarios in
which AIBO may be seen expressing emotions.

Anger

Joy: When AIBO is immersed in a favorite activity, receives approval,

finds its favorite color or plays with a ball.

Sadness: When AIBO cannot find anyone to play with or doesn’t have its

ball or something else that it likes.

Anger: When AIBO finds a color that it dislikes, is left on the station

when it is ready to assume activity , or is admonished.

Surprise: When the ball suddenly appears before AIBO, or when it hears

a loud noise.

Fear: When AIBO finds itself before a steep drop, or is unable to get up

from a fall.

Discontent: When someone shows a color that it dislikes, or when its

anger towards someone escalates.

AIBO expresses these emotions through its eye lights and sounds, as well as its
tail light and body language. For details, see pages 34 to 38.

Discontent

Fear

Surprise

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AIBO’s instincts

AIBO has five key instincts that provide motivation
for its actions: love instinct, search instinct,
movement instinct, recharge instinct, and sleep
instinct.

Love instinct: AIBO is naturally inclined to interact with people who

will give it care. If left alone for an extended period of time, AIBO will
feel an urge to play.

Search instinct: AIBO is a fun-loving, curious robotic creature who

enjoys discovering new things, satisfying its curiosity. If AIBO does
not see its favorite color or if it does not sense any movement in its
surroundings for a long period of time, it will become restless and will
look for something new.

Movement instinct: AIBO enjoys moving around, playing and having

new experiences. If idle for an extended period of time, AIBO will start
to move around on its own.

Recharge instinct: For survival, AIBO is well aware that it must “eat.”

Lithium ion batteries are on the bill of fare for AIBO and battery power
is craved almost like clockwork throughout the day between activities.
When AIBO is low on battery power, it will request to be charged and
will change to the charging posture on its own.

Getting Started

15

Sleep instinct: AIBO has a natural rhythm that alternates between sleep and

activity, and so it has an instinct that makes it desire sleep. This rhythm
changes according to AIBO’s stage of maturation and the life pattern that is
established between you and AIBO.

In response to its instincts, AIBO behaves in a manner that will satisfy its
particular desires. If a desire is fulfilled, it will be pleased. If a desire is left
unsatisfied, emotions such as fear or anger will grow within it.

Getting to know AIBO

First of all, let’s get AIBO ready to move.

1

Grasp AIBO securely by the body, turn
it upside down, and open its stomach
cover.

Notes

• Lift AIBO by the body, and not by its extremities.

• Do not touch the charging terminal with your hand. Doing so may soil the

terminal and cause poor contact.

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2

Insert the supplied AIBO Life
“Memory Stick” in the direction of the
arrow with the label side towards the
rear part of the body.

Note

Do not set the safety switch of the “Memory Stick” to
“LOCK.” Doing so will make it impossible for AIBO’s

learning and maturation functions to work.

Getting Started

3

Insert the battery pack supplied with
AIBO in the direction of the arrow until
it clicks into place. Then close the
stomach cover.

4

Set AIBO’s clock and adjust its volume level of the musical tone.

For details, see the “AIBO” ERS-210 operating instructions.

Push down here.

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5

Place AIBO on the floor as shown on
the right.

Place it on a flat, non-slippery surface, such as
a carpet with a short nap. And choose a quiet
place so that AIBO can hear whatever you say
to it.

Note

Be sure to place AIBO on the floor as shown above. This will prevent AIBO
from moving unexpectedly and being damaged when you press and release the
pause button to start AIBO moving.

6

Press the pause button on AIBO’s chest.

Pause mode ends and the chest light will light
up green. After a little while, AIBO will begin
to move.

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Living with AIBO

This chapter explains AIBO’s feeding (charging) and sleeping
(sleep mode) habits. The first thing you should do, however, is
set AIBO’s clock and adjust the volume level of the musical
tone that it emits. For details, see the “AIBO” ERS-210
operating instructions.

Living with AIBO

19

Charging AIBO’s battery pack

AIBO operates on battery power, so the battery pack should be recharged
whenever it grows weak.
Since the battery pack is only partially charged at the factory, the first thing
you should do is charge it. AIBO can operate for about 1.5 hours (in
autonomous mode) with a fully charged ERA-201B1 Lithium Ion Battery
Pack.

When you want to charge AIBO

x Charging with the AC adaptor

Before you start charging the battery pack, press the pause button to make
AIBO stop moving. For details, see the “AIBO” ERS-210 operating
instructions.

x Charging with the Energy Station (optional)

1

Press AIBO’s chin sensor for more than
3 seconds.

The mode indicator flashes and AIBO changes
to the charging posture.

Charging posture

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2

Place AIBO onto the station.

Charging begins. AIBO will continue making
various movements as its battery pack is being
charged (it will not dismount by itself). For
details about charging AIBO on the station, see
the operating instructions for the station.

When AIBO wants to be charged

When AIBO’s battery pack grows weak, AIBO will
let you know that it wants to be recharged by
emitting a sound, making a gesture, and then
changing to the charging posture. When this
happens, place AIBO on the station, or press the
pause button to stop AIBO movements and then
connect the AC adaptor to AIBO’s AC adaptor plug.

If you don’t recharge AIBO at this time, it will stop
moving and its chest light will turn off. For more
details, see the “AIBO” ERS-210 operating
instructions.

Living with AIBO

Charging posture

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Sleeping and waking up

AIBO “sleeps” when it stops moving on its own and changes to sleep mode.
While AIBO is asleep, the battery pack discharges slightly, and AIBO does not
respond even if you touch it or speak to it. To make AIBO hear you, wake it by
gently shaking it (page 23).

When you want AIBO to sleep

To change AIBO to sleep mode, press its chin sensor and back sensor at the
same time for more than 3 seconds. AIBO will stop moving. After some time
has passed, it will wake up and begin moving again.

x Placing a sleeping AIBO on the station

Before moving AIBO to the station, shake it gently to wake it (page 23),
change it to charging posture (page 20) and then place it on the station.

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When AIBO wants to sleep

AIBO will nap when it has nothing to respond to
or is tired of playing. After it has had enough
rest, AIBO will wake up again on its own. It is
possible to wake AIBO by gently shaking its
body, but AIBO is sometimes unhappy when its
rest is disturbed.

Waking AIBO

x Waking AIBO when it is off the station

Gently shake AIBO’s body a couple of times.
AIBO will wake from sleep mode and begin
moving on its own.

x Waking AIBO when AIBO is on the

station

Take AIBO off of the station and place it on the
floor.

Notes

• If you press the pause button to stop AIBO’s movement or if the AC adaptor is
connected to AIBO’s AC adaptor plug, AIBO will not wake up even when you
shake it or take it off the station.

• If you connect the AC adaptor to AIBO’s AC adaptor plug while AIBO is in
sleep mode, AIBO will stop all movement. To make AIBO start moving again,
press the pause button.

Living with AIBO

23

Waking AIBO at a specified time

If you use the AIBO Fun Pack ERF-PC01 software application, you can set the
time that AIBO wakes up on your PC. For details, see the user’s guide for the
AIBO Fun Pack.

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Communicating with AIBO

In order to communicate with AIBO, you will need to know the
various ways communication with AIBO takes place. This
chapter explains the sensors that AIBO has and the words that it
can understand. It also explains how AIBO expresses its
emotions and instincts through the use of lights and sounds.

Communicating with AIBO

25

From you to AIBO

There are number of ways that you can communicate with AIBO.

Communicating by touch

AIBO’s body has a total of seven sensors consisting of four types that allow
AIBO to perceive touch. So pet AIBO at these various places on its body
whenever you want, or whenever AIBO asks to be petted.

Head sensor

Back sensor

Chin sensor

Paw sensors (4)

By lightly and momentarily pressing any of AIBO’s sensors, you can let AIBO
know that you want to communicate with it.

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x AIBO’s head sensor

Through AIBO’s head sensor, it can know when it is being praised,
admonished, or asked to give its attention.

Praising AIBO

Gently press the head sensor and move your
fingers up and down two times. AIBO will sense
that it is being approved and will do more of its
current behavior.

Admonishing AIBO

Give the head sensor a firm, quick tap. AIBO
will understand that it is being admonished and
will do less of its current behavior.

Drawing AIBO’s attention

Gently press the head sensor for a moment.
AIBO will understand that you want to
communicate with it.

Communicating with AIBO

27

Communicating visually

A color camera and a distance sensor provide AIBO with sight, allowing it to
recognize colors, movements, and distance.
If you show AIBO the pink ball that came with it, and then praise AIBO, AIBO
will grow to enjoy playing with the ball. AIBO also likes certain colors and
dislikes others. AIBO will become happy when you show it your hand.

Eye (color camera and
distance sensor)

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Communicating by voice

AIBO uses a stereo microphone as its ears and can recognize a variety of
sounds and words. In the beginning, it will recognize only a few words. When
you talk to it, AIBO will tilt its head in puzzlement. As it matures, AIBO will
come to understand more and more words.
The next page shows some of the words that AIBO knows. Use them to talk to
AIBO. Keep in mind, though, that even if AIBO understands you, it may
choose to ignore you, depending on its mood.

Note

When you call out to AIBO, speak very clearly and under quiet conditions.

Ear (stereo microphone)

Communicating with AIBO

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x Commands

Good boy! / Good girl!

One word for praising AIBO.

Don’t do that! One word for admonishing AIBO.
Name registration

Command for registering AIBO’s name (page 46).

Take a picture! AIBO will respond by taking a photo of the scene that it is

currently looking at. To view the photos taken by AIBO,
you must use the optional AIBO Fun Pack ERF-PC01
(page 32).

x Name-related words

AIBO / Registered name

AIBO recognizes that it is being called and responds.

What’s your name?

AIBO answers by saying its registered name in its own
special voice (page 46).

x Greetings

Good morning. / Good night. / Hello! / Good bye.

AIBO recognizes the greeting and responds.

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