Sony ERS-210 AIBO Life 2 ERF-220AW01E, ERS-220 AIBO, ERF-220AW01E User Guide

4-659-724-11(1)

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Notice to Users

©2001 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 END-USER LICENSE
AGREEMENT, SONY CORPORATION

En

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, CONSEQUENTIAL,
OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER

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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.
THIS DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR
STATUTORY RIGHTS.

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 Corporation 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.

• This software or document is protected by copyright, and distributed under
licenses restricting its use, copying, and distribution. No part of this software or
document may be reproduced in any form by any means and rental of this
software may not be allowed without prior authorization of Sony Corporation.

• Sony Corporation assumes no responsibility for any inconvenience caused by
misuse or any use not stated in this document.

• The supplied software cannot be used with any device other than those devices
herein.

• The specifications of the supplied software are subject to change without notice.

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13

Customer Support

How to contact the AIBO Customer Link.

In the United States and Canada

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

In Europe

English line: [phone]
German line: [phone]
French line: [phone]

In Australia

Call [phone] (toll free within Australia)
E-mail address: [e-mail]

In Hong Kong

Sony style
Tel: [phone]
E-mail address: [e-mail]

In Singapore

[phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

4

“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 Life 2” ERF-220AW01E confirms to the OPEN-R version

1.1.2.

“AIBO,” the AIBO logo
trademarks of Sony Corporation.
“Memory Stick,” “
Corporation.
In this manual, the “™” and “®” marks have been omitted.

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.

, “OPEN-R” and the OPEN-R logo are registered

” and “ ” are trademarks of Sony

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Table of Contents

Getting Started

Checking the supplied accessories ............................................................. 10

About “AIBO Life 2” ................................................................................. 11

AIBO ERS-210 and ERS-220 ....................................................................14

Preparing AIBO .......................................................................................... 31

Living with AIBO

Charging AIBO’s battery pack ................................................................... 36

Sleeping and waking up.............................................................................. 39

6

About AIBO-ware........................................................................... 11

AIBO’s autonomous activities........................................................ 12

AIBO is a robot. Why does it have to be educated?....................... 13

For a user of ERS-210 (notes on descriptions used in

this manual) .................................................................................... 14

Modes and conditions of AIBO...................................................... 18

Emotions of AIBO.......................................................................... 28

Instincts of AIBO............................................................................ 29

When you want to charge AIBO..................................................... 36

When AIBO wants to be charged ................................................... 38

Having AIBO sleep ......................................................................... 39

Waking up AIBO ............................................................................ 41

Communicating with AIBO

From you to AIBO...................................................................................... 44

Communicating by touch................................................................ 44

Communicating visually ................................................................. 48

Communicating by voice ................................................................ 49

Helping AIBO to get up.................................................................. 50

From AIBO to you...................................................................................... 51

Lights .............................................................................................. 51

Body language ............................................................................................ 56

Sounds ............................................................................................ 57

From AIBO to AIBO .................................................................................. 58

Raising AIBO

Growing up ................................................................................................. 62

Baby stage....................................................................................... 63

Child stage ...................................................................................... 65

Adolescence .................................................................................... 66

Adult stage ...................................................................................... 67

Finding out AIBO’s maturing stages and character........................ 68

Learning...................................................................................................... 69

Teaching what is good and what is bad (Training)......................... 69

Learning the name ..........................................................................70

Learning actions ............................................................................. 72

Training........................................................................................... 76

7

Playing with AIBO

Having AIBO take a photo ......................................................................... 82

Viewing pictures taken by AIBO.................................................... 84

Playing with sounds.................................................................................... 86

Mimicking ...................................................................................... 86

Have AIBO hum a melody ............................................................. 86

Have AIBO emit a melody ............................................................. 87

Turn on AIBO step.......................................................................... 87

Have AIBO sing a song .................................................................. 87

Additional Information

Notes on use ............................................................................................... 90

Troubleshooting.......................................................................................... 92

Reference Materials

Words understood by AIBO ....................................................................... 96

Maturing stages ........................................................................................ 100

Maturing stage of ERS-220 .......................................................... 100

Maturing stage of ERS-210 .......................................................... 102

What can AIBO do at each maturing stage?............................................. 104

For more information about “AIBO” ERS-210/220 (name of parts, settings,
“Memory Stick” use, safety precautions, etc.), refer to the “AIBO” ERS-210/

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220 Operating Instructions.

Getting Started

Welcome to “AIBO Life 2,” a software application that helps you
to raise your AIBO into an entertainment robot that is just right
for you.
This chapter provides basic information about AIBO Life 2 to
help you to get along well with AIBO.

* In this manual, “AIBO Life 2” ERF-220AW01E is referred to as “AIBO Life 2”

hereinafter.

Checking the supplied accessories

Check to see if you have the following accessories before you play with AIBO.

x AIBO-ware “Memory Stick”

x User’s Guide (this manual)

x Quick Guide

x End-User License Agreement

10

About “AIBO Life 2”

About AIBO-ware

AIBO-ware is software that can be executed with AIBO. AIBO by itself is just a
“physical body,” and is capable of only the most basic movements.
For more complicated operations, you must use an AIBO-ware “Memory Stick.”
AIBO-ware 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, you can enjoy AIBO in a variety of ways.

“AIBO Life 2” 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.

Getting Started

11

AIBO’s autonomous activities

AIBO comes with all the necessary hardware, such as a brain, sensors, motors, and
power supply, to move about on its own. AIBO Life 2 has a set of emotions,
instincts, learning ability and the capacity to mature. Through AIBO Life 2, AIBO
can act according to its own judgments, all the while expressing emotions,
collecting information from you and its environment, learning and maturing.
With AIBO Life 2, AIBO will let you know by gesture and sound when it wants
you to play with it, and may even call your name. On the other hand, when
something catches AIBO’s attention, it may ignore you even when you call its
name. Your understanding of AIBO’s autonomous character helps you to enjoy
playing with and living with AIBO.

12

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

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 2 gives AIBO the capacity to learn and 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 2 makes it possible for AIBO to adjust to you as it lives with
you and matures.
We hope AIBO will become a good friend.

Getting Started

13

AIBO ERS-210 and ERS-220

AIBO Life 2 is compatible with both ERS-210 and ERS-220.

For a user of ERS-210 (notes on descriptions
used in this manual)

Although sensors or lights of ERS-220 function in the same manner as those of
ERS-210, the names, shapes and locations of some ones are different. In addition,
ERS-220 has the unique sensors and lights. In this manual, the parts names, shapes
and/or locations refer to those of ERS-220. If you have ERS-210, see the table
below to identify the differences.
Parts indicated with the same number mainly function in the same way, but the
names, shapes, or locations may be different.

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1 Head sensor

Press in the
forward direction.

ERS-220

Head sensor

Give a firm and
quick tap.

ERS-210

Getting Started

Press in the back
direction for 3
seconds.

Press in the back
direction.

2 Face front light A
3 Face front light B
4 Color camera, distance sensor
5 Retractable head light

Press for 3
seconds.

Move your fingers
up and down two
times while
pressing.

The ears of AIBO move.
The mouth of AIBO moves.
Color camera, distance sensor

–

15

ERS-220

6 Face side lights

Red (Rear)

Blue (Center)

Blue (Front)

ERS-210

Eye lights

7 Face sensor
8 Chest light
9 Stereo microphone
0 Mode indicator

16

Chin sensor
Chest light
Stereo microphone
Mode indicator

qa Tail lights

Tail lights (left/right)

Blue Blue

ERS-220

Tail lights

Tail lights

ERS-210

Getting Started

Blue

Tail light (center)

Red

qs Tail sensors (Left/right/center)
qd Back sensor
qf Back multi-indicators
qg Paw sensors

Tail lights

Orange

–

Back sensor

–

Paw sensors

17

Modes and conditions of AIBO

Autonomous mode

AIBO moves around
on its own: basic
mode of AIBO Life 2.

The mode
indicator
turns off.

Lift AIBO up*.

*When you lift up AIBO slowly, it may not enter Pick-

up condition. In such a case, lift it up more quickly.

Place AIBO on the floor or push the head

sensor in the back direction for 3 seconds.

18

Push the head

sensor in the
back direction
for 3 seconds.

Push the back
sensor for 3
seconds.

Rest mode

AIBO stops moving around.

The mode
indicator lights.

Press the face sensor and back sensor at
the same time for 3 seconds, or say

to AIBO.

night”

Gently shake the body of AIBO.

Something is caught in AIBO’s joints.

Push the head sensor in the back

“Good

direction for 3 seconds.

Pick-up condition

When you lift
up AIBO, it
becomes still
and quiet in
this mode.

The
mode
indicator
lights.

Place AIBO on
the Energy
Station.

Move AIBO from

the Energy

Station.

Getting Started

Station mode

AIBO plays even on the
Energy Station.

Applicable
when you use
the Energy
Station.*

Sleep mode

AIBO sleeps in this mode.

The
mode
indicator
goes off.

The chest light slowly flashes green.

Jam condition

The joints of
AIBO become
loose when
something gets
caught in them.

The
mode
indicator
flashes.

Place AIBO on
the Energy
Station.

The mode
indicator goes
off.

*The Energy Station is optional.

Pause mode
(Inactive condition)

Press the
pause button
located on the
chest of AIBO.
AIBO is turned
off.

The chest light
turns off.

19

Playing with AIBO in Autonomous mode/Station mode

What can AIBO do in Autonomous mode?

Communication between AIBOs

AIBO responds to another AIBO when talked to,
and then tries to communicate with the other
AIBO (see page 58).

Learning the
name

You can teach AIBO its
name or your name
(see page 70).

The tail lights
flash blue.

The face side lights, tail lights and back
multi-indicator slowly flash.

20

Learning
actions

You can teach AIBO a
desired action (see
page 72).

The tail light
slowly flashes red.

Training

You can train AIBO so that it
acts as you instruct. After
training, you can name the
instructed action and register
it as well (see page 76).

The tail light
lights up red.

Getting Started

Taking a photo

After you give AIBO the appropriate voice
command, AIBO snaps a picture for you (see
page 82).

The tail light flashes blue.

Playing with sounds

AIBO can sing a song or emit various sounds
(see page 86).

You can enjoy “Playing with sounds” (see page 86) in
Rest mode or Pick-up condition also.

What can AIBO do
in Station mode?

21

Autonomous mode

This is AIBO’s basic mode when “AIBO Life 2” is loaded. When you start up
AIBO Life 2, AIBO enters Autonomous mode first.
AIBO obtains information on its surroundings through its camera/microphone/
sensors, and carries out various autonomous actions based on its instincts or
emotion as follows.

• When you talk to AIBO, it stops moving and listens to you.

• When you leave AIBO without talking to it, it looks around or moves its body
quietly.

• When you leave AIBO without talking to it for a long time, it enters Sleep mode.

• AIBO will explore the room.

• AIBO reacts keenly to a pink ball or moving objects: for example, looks at it
from a distance through its color camera or tries to touch it.

• AIBO responds to another AIBO when spoken to, and communicates with it.

See page 20 for the games you can play with AIBO in Autonomous mode.

Notes

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

• Do not place anything near AIBO that may hinder it in its movements.

22

Rest mode

When you do not want AIBO to move, put AIBO into
this mode.
Push the back sensor of AIBO for 3 seconds. AIBO
lies down or sits down, and then carries out
autonomous actions. In Rest mode, AIBO cannot
carry out the following actions:

• Taking a photo

• Learning a name

• Communicating with another AIBO

• Training

• Learning an action
If you want to use any of the functions above, push
the head sensor in the back direction for 3 seconds to
place AIBO into Autonomous mode.

Notes

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

• Do not place anything near AIBO that may hinder it in its movements.

The mode
indicator
lights up.

Getting Started

23

Sleep mode

In Sleep mode, AIBO sleeps, and the chest light
slowly flashes green. See page 39 for details of Sleep
mode.

The chest light slowly

flashes green.

Jam condition

If something gets jammed in any of the joints of
AIBO, AIBO changes to this condition and all of its
joints become loose. This mode is provided to protect
your fingers from being caught between the joints of
AIBO.
To return AIBO to Autonomous mode, place it on the
floor and push the head sensor in the back direction
for 3 seconds.

The mode
indicator
goes off.

The mode
indicator
flashes.

24

Pick-up condition

When you lift up AIBO to hold, AIBO draws its legs
in to make it easier for you to hold AIBO (“pick-up
condition”) and moves its head only. This condition
is to prevent you from getting surprised by the
movement of AIBO when picking it up, and then
dropping it.
To return AIBO to Autonomous mode, place it on the
floor or push the head sensor in the back direction for
3 seconds.

Note

When you press two or more of the paw sensors of AIBO, AIBO thinks it is placed on
the floor, and then returns to Autonomous mode. The mode indicator goes off. AIBO
may start walking after returning to Autonomous mode, so do not touch any of its paw
sensors when you hold it.

Getting Started

The mode
indicator
lights up.

25

Station mode

When you place a moving AIBO on the optional
Energy Station (referred to as the “station”
hereinafter), it enters Station mode.

In this mode, AIBO enters Sleep mode or wakes up
while being charged up, but it will not move from the
station on its own.
See page 21 for the games that can be played with
AIBO when it is in Station mode.

The mode
indicator
goes off.

26

Pause mode

When you press the pause button located on the chest
of AIBO, the chest light turns off and power is shut
down. Be sure to put AIBO into this mode before
replacing the battery or the “Memory Stick.” To start
up AIBO, press the pause button on the chest again.
The chest light turns on green, and AIBO starts
moving around.

Where is the name of the pause button derived from?

Unlike other conventional home electrical products, AIBO has no Power switch
since AIBO is designed as an “autonomous robot that moves and learns on its own
will while communicating with its surroundings.” AIBO carries out autonomous
actions when it wants to play, while it asks you to charge it when its battery power
grows weak. When it feels sleepy, it enters Sleep mode on its own to rest. Although
you can put AIBO into Sleep mode to sleep, it wakes up when it wants to. Therefore,
no Power switch is necessary for AIBO.
However, when you need to stop AIBO in an emergency, press the “pause button” to
temporarily stop AIBO’s movement. We, therefore, call the button located on the
chest of AIBO the “pause button” instead of the “power button.”

Getting Started

27

Emotions of AIBO

AIBO has six emotions: joy, sadness, anger, surprise,

Joy

Discontent

fear and discontent. These emotions will change in
response to a variety of factors, affecting the

Sadness

Fear

behavior of AIBO. Listed below are common
scenarios in which AIBO may be seen expressing

Anger Surprise

emotions.

Joy : When AIBO receives praise or plays with a ball.
Sadness : When AIBO cannot find anyone to play with or does not have its ball

or something else that it likes.

Anger : When AIBO is left on the station although it is ready to assume

activity, or is scolded.

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

noise.

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

from a fall.

Discontent : When the anger of AIBO escalates.
AIBO expresses these emotions through its lights, sounds and body language (See

page 51).

28

Instincts of AIBO

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 a long time, AIBO will call its owner’s name or feel an urge to play.

Search instinct :

AIBO is a fun-loving, curious robotic creature that enjoys discovering new
things, satisfying its curiosity. If AIBO 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 a
long time, AIBO will start to move around or move its body on its own.

Recharge instinct :

For survival, AIBO is well aware that it must “eat.” Lithium ion battery is the
“Food” for AIBO and battery power is craved 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.

Sleep instinct :

AIBO has a natural rhythm that alternates between sleep and activity, so it has
an instinct that makes it desire sleep.

Getting Started

29

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.

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