The ERS-1000 is the latest and current generation of aibo. It is also the model with the longest production cycle, spanning from 2018 to current day.
After many years had passed since aibo's discontinuation in 2006, a new aibo team was put together at Sony to develop a new model from the ground up. This new model would abandon the old era technology the previous generations used in favour of more reinforced hardware and modern processors/servos. As the team was planning to keep the hardware the same for at least 7 years, they wanted it to last and be remotely upgradable as new software updates were developed. This led to the adoption of built in storage and Wifi+LTE connections so that the aibo could stay connected to the cloud wherever it was.
Thanks to the reinforced magnesium alloy core forming the internal structure of the ERS-1000, it can now run and naturally dissipate the heat. The servos are custom built mini brushless magnetically encoded servos that feature 6 magnetic poles for smoother, more expressive movements. These servos also mean there is no need for potentiometers, eliminating the leg spasms seen in the older generation aibos.
The head is drastically redesigned with two rotating ears, a strong mouth for picking up the bone, dice and later any plush toy. The face is covered in a hidden touch strip on the inside, allowing for more natural appraisal. The visor LEDs have been replaced by two expressively animated OLED screens. The head also has opening around it for its microphone array.
The nose features a high resolution camera for sight and taking pictures, with a ToF sensor hidden in the black mouth area.
The nose features a high resolution camera for sight and taking pictures, with a ToF sensor hidden in the black mouth area.
The tail section can swing side to side as well as pivot up and down. The area also features an ambient sensor for detecting light levels and a SLAM camera for mapping the environment, allowing the 1000 to be truly autonomous in its environment.
The back section also has a flurorubber-covered touch sensor for petting.
The chest area features two distance sensors, a pyroelectric sensor and speaker. There is also wireless networking and volume controls hidden under a removable plate underneath.
The back section also has a flurorubber-covered touch sensor for petting.
The chest area features two distance sensors, a pyroelectric sensor and speaker. There is also wireless networking and volume controls hidden under a removable plate underneath.
Thanks to the improved mapping and object recognition capabilities, the ERS-1000 can remember where things are in its environment for a long time. This means it can walk back to its dock over quite some distance to self-charge and even remember where it has last seen people.
People and object recognition is done on a far more detailed level. With the 1000 not only being able to detect people, but also be able to guess if its female/male, height and if they are young/adult. They can also detect other aibos, pets, furniture and doorways through commonality of physical features.
People and object recognition is done on a far more detailed level. With the 1000 not only being able to detect people, but also be able to guess if its female/male, height and if they are young/adult. They can also detect other aibos, pets, furniture and doorways through commonality of physical features.
The aibo's personality can change between various states over time such as 'shy', 'curious' and 'wild' depending on the environment. For example, an aibo that lives in a quiet space will be shy, but may switch to curious if they keep encountering areas that are complicated to navigate. The criteria for this can alter slightly over time depending on data sent from all Aibo's connected to the cloud.
Cloud plan + Premium Plan
With the ERS-1000 came the requirement that owners couldn't just purchase the robot. It was required that people purchase a cellular cloud plan alongside the robot to access many features and keep the robot updated.
This approach has been very controversial as it forces owners into a 3-year contract for basic features such as changing the aibo's eye colour and accessing feature updates. On top of this there is a 'premium plan' that paywalls further features such as dances.
With the ERS-1000 came the requirement that owners couldn't just purchase the robot. It was required that people purchase a cellular cloud plan alongside the robot to access many features and keep the robot updated.
This approach has been very controversial as it forces owners into a 3-year contract for basic features such as changing the aibo's eye colour and accessing feature updates. On top of this there is a 'premium plan' that paywalls further features such as dances.
The cloud plan's main features include allowing owners to set gender, name, change eye colour and voice of the aibo. As well as viewing images taken by aibo and being able to 'feed' aibo. There is a networking function where you can add other aibos as friends via QR Code in the app and enjoy virtual meals with them. Purchasing meals can be done using the in-app coin currency (coins can either be earnt from logging into the app 7 days in a row or purchasing with real-world money).
Other than that, the app can be used to issue commands to the aibo wirelessly, but the app list is not comprehensive, leaving some commands to still be voice-activated only.
Settings can be issued via the app (such as putting aibo into well behaved mode, changing wifi settings, volume, factory reset, etc).
Other than that, the app can be used to issue commands to the aibo wirelessly, but the app list is not comprehensive, leaving some commands to still be voice-activated only.
Settings can be issued via the app (such as putting aibo into well behaved mode, changing wifi settings, volume, factory reset, etc).
Despite the cloud plan requirement during purchase, the ERS-1000 does not need the cloud plan for most functionality and can work fine without. Robots can still obey base commands, map, self charge, be fully autonomous and recognise faces. Buying preowned units has been a popular budget route for those who cannot afford the monthly fees or do not require the app-only features.
Unlike in the past, routes to buy an ERS-1000 are limited - only being available to order from Sony directly or through a Sony retail store.
Due to the cellular plan, Sony has opted to only sell aibo in Japan and most states of the USA. The Japanese and USA models are mostly the same, with the only difference being their wireless LTE 4G chips supporting different regional bands. A Japanese 1000 cannot connect to 4G networks in the USA, however it can use select 4G networks in European countries due to shared infrastructure.
Due to the cellular plan, Sony has opted to only sell aibo in Japan and most states of the USA. The Japanese and USA models are mostly the same, with the only difference being their wireless LTE 4G chips supporting different regional bands. A Japanese 1000 cannot connect to 4G networks in the USA, however it can use select 4G networks in European countries due to shared infrastructure.
Very basic programming can be done using the My Aibo 'Visual Programming' feature. It functions on an action block based principle and the commands are streamed to the aibo. There is currently no open, deeper level way of programming the ERS-1000 unlike the older aibo models. However it was mentioned in one of the more recent Fan Meeting events that a proper SDK is in the works.
Events
Multiple official events are held by Sony each year. The 'Aibo Fan Meeting' is the main event which give aibo owners the chance to meet up, talk to the developers and see the latest feature announcements. This is followed by smaller satellite events held occasionally in malls and museums, but these seem to be more directed at the public. There is also the yearly Shichi-Go-San event that happens at Kanda Myoujin Shrine and Sarutahiko Mikawa Shrine. At this event a select number of people can have their aibo blessed during a ceremony.
Multiple official events are held by Sony each year. The 'Aibo Fan Meeting' is the main event which give aibo owners the chance to meet up, talk to the developers and see the latest feature announcements. This is followed by smaller satellite events held occasionally in malls and museums, but these seem to be more directed at the public. There is also the yearly Shichi-Go-San event that happens at Kanda Myoujin Shrine and Sarutahiko Mikawa Shrine. At this event a select number of people can have their aibo blessed during a ceremony.
Limited Edition Colour Releases
Over the 7 years, Sony has released a handful of yearly limited edition colours of the ERS-1000. For a while these special edition colours stayed exclusive to Japan, but starting with the Black Sesame edition the USA would receive these colours near to the end of Japan's distribution. These USA specification SE aibos are usually only sold in tiny quantities (some as small as 50), making them sought-after.
Please see the USA-specific page for more information.
Please see the USA-specific page for more information.
Ivory White (Standard color)
Basic colour of the 1000 - entire body is white with a silvery, slightly interference faceplate and brown ears. This is the only model available in both Japanese and USA markets so can be naturally found for much cheaper price preowned than the other colours. It is the most produced color with serial numbers spanning into 17,000+ for Japanese units alone.
1000の基本色は、ボディ全体が白で、わずかに干渉色の入ったシルバーのフェイスプレートとブラウンの耳が特徴です。日本とアメリカの両市場で唯一入手可能なモデルであるため、中古車は他のカラーよりもはるかに安価で入手できます。最も生産台数が多く、シリアルナンバーは日本国内だけでも17,000台を超えています。
2019 Chocolate Tri-Tone (2nd Anniversary color)
ERS-1000/TJ1 Sales Period: 23.02.2019 ~ 24.12.2019
The first of the yearly 1000 colours, introduced to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the new era of aibo. This colour is the most complex with tri-tone parts, black neck dust covers, black painted aluminium mask around the SLAM camera and metallic brown faceplate. People that preordered the Chocolate also received a black extra tail as a bonus.
aibo新時代の2周年を記念して、毎年登場する1000色のカラーバリエーションの第1弾が登場。トライトーンのパーツ、ブラックのネックダストカバー、SLAMカメラを囲むブラック塗装のアルミマスク、メタリックブラウンのフェイスプレートなど、最も複雑なカラーバリエーションとなっています。チョコレートカラーを予約購入した方には、特典としてブラックのしっぽもプレゼントされます。
2020 Caramel Bruelle
ERS-1000/DJ1 Sales Period: 21.01.2020 ~ 24.12.2020
The caramel 1000 is intensely coloured orange from head to toe with white mouth and chest. Ears and tail are matching orange to the body plastics. The faceplate is glossy finish but the paintwork is more sparkly in comparison to other face plates, being compared to nail polish. This colour did not receive a special eye colour. People that preorded received a matching orange collar.
This colour was the first to receive the redesigned hip parts in the front legs.
キャラメル1000は、頭からつま先まで鮮やかなオレンジ色で、口と胸は白です。耳と尻尾はボディのプラスチックと同じオレンジ色です。フェイスプレートは光沢仕上げですが、他のフェイスプレートに比べて塗装はキラキラしており、マニキュアに例えられます。この色には特別な目の色は用意されていません。予約注文者には、それに合わせたオレンジ色の首輪が付属します。
この色は、前脚の腰パーツが再設計された最初の色です。
この色は、前脚の腰パーツが再設計された最初の色です。
2021 Sesame Black Ice Cream
ERS-1000/HJ1 Sales Period: 18.01.2021 ~ 21.03.2022
The Sesame 1000 is quite different to prior yearly colours in that it drastically changes the eyes and finish of the touch-sensitive faceplate. The edition has 4 exclusive eye colours (blue, pink, orange and green) that have shaded pupils rather than the conventional black pupils. The face plate is matt grey plastic rather than the metallic painted and glossy faceplates of the other colours. Body and limbs are grey with white feet, mouth and belly. Ears and tail are a slightly darker tone of grey. People that preordered received a matching grey collar.
セサミ1000は、目とタッチセンサー式フェイスプレートの仕上げが従来のカラーとは大きく異なります。このエディションには、従来の黒い瞳孔ではなく、陰影のある瞳孔を持つ4色の限定カラー（青、ピンク、オレンジ、緑）が用意されています。フェイスプレートは、他のカラーのメタリック塗装と光沢のあるフェイスプレートではなく、マットグレーのプラスチック製です。体と手足はグレーで、足、口、腹は白です。耳と尻尾はやや濃いグレーです。予約注文者には、お揃いのグレーの首輪がプレゼントされます。
2022 Strawberry Milk
ERS-1000/PJ1 Sales Period: 14.01.2022 ~ 24.12.2022
2023 Black Espresso
ERS-1000/BJ1 Sales Period: 1.11.2023 ~
2024 Kinako Edition
ERS-1000 Specs (all colours have the same specs - all thats different is the external casing)
processor: 64bit Quad-Core CPU
Movable part (degree of freedom)
Head: 3 axes, Mouth: 1 axis, Neck: 1 axis, Waist: 1 axis, Forefoot / Hindfoot: 3 axes x 4, Ears: 1 axis x 2, Tail: 2 axes (22 axes in total)
display
OLED x 2 (pupil)
sound
Speaker, microphone x 4
camera
Camera x 2 (front camera, SLAM camera)
Sensors
ToF sensor, ranging sensor x 2,
pressure-sensitive / capacitive touch sensor (back sensor) ,
capacitive touch sensor (head sensor / chin sensor)
6-axis detection system (3-axis gyro / 3-axis acceleration) x 2 (Head, body)
Human sensor, illuminance sensor, meat ball x 4
Key switches: Power button, volume button, network switch
Indicators: Status LED, network LED
Terminals: Charge pin, SIM card slot
communication: Mobile network communication function (data communication) : LTE
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b / g / n (2.4GHz)
External dimensions: Approximately 180 x 293 x 305 mm (standing posture: width x height x depth * excluding protrusions)
mass: About 2.2kg
power consumption: About 14 W
Continuous operation time: About 2 hours
charging time: About 3 hours
Main accessories
Charge station (charge stand, charge mat) , AC adapter, power cord, pink ball, SIM card, printed matter set
Manufacturer's warranty: 30 days
Movable part (degree of freedom)
Head: 3 axes, Mouth: 1 axis, Neck: 1 axis, Waist: 1 axis, Forefoot / Hindfoot: 3 axes x 4, Ears: 1 axis x 2, Tail: 2 axes (22 axes in total)
display
OLED x 2 (pupil)
sound
Speaker, microphone x 4
camera
Camera x 2 (front camera, SLAM camera)
Sensors
ToF sensor, ranging sensor x 2,
pressure-sensitive / capacitive touch sensor (back sensor) ,
capacitive touch sensor (head sensor / chin sensor)
6-axis detection system (3-axis gyro / 3-axis acceleration) x 2 (Head, body)
Human sensor, illuminance sensor, meat ball x 4
Key switches: Power button, volume button, network switch
Indicators: Status LED, network LED
Terminals: Charge pin, SIM card slot
communication: Mobile network communication function (data communication) : LTE
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b / g / n (2.4GHz)
External dimensions: Approximately 180 x 293 x 305 mm (standing posture: width x height x depth * excluding protrusions)
mass: About 2.2kg
power consumption: About 14 W
Continuous operation time: About 2 hours
charging time: About 3 hours
Main accessories
Charge station (charge stand, charge mat) , AC adapter, power cord, pink ball, SIM card, printed matter set
Manufacturer's warranty: 30 days
Ivory White Gold Quartz Edition
Bathing Ape Collaboration Event Aibos
25th Anniversary Aibo
Spark (Sony Park aibo)
3D Printed Giant ERS-1000!
Brochures and Printed Material
