Internet of Robotic Cat Toys to Deepen Bond and Elevate Mood

What is it about?

Pets provide important mental support for human beings. Recent advancements in robotics and HRI have led to research and commercial products providing smart solutions to enrich indoor pets' lives. However, most of these products focus on satisfying pets' basic needs, such as feeding and litter cleaning, rather than their mental well-being. We present the internet of robotic cat toys, where a group of robotic agents connects to play with our furry friends. Through three iterations, we demonstrate an affordable and flexible design of clip-on robotic agents to transform a static household into an interactive wonderland for pets.

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Why is it important?

Over time, we envision the Internet of Robotic Cat Toys to effectively attract pets' attention and engage with them across different areas in a household. This is not only beneficial for pets' mental well-being but also can help wear out their physical energy. Not exhausting their energy can potentially cause negative behaviors like anxiety, destructiveness, and reactivity, especially for high-energy pets. Thus, an effective way of doing so with the proposed Internet of Robotic Cat Toys can hopefully enhance the pet and owner relationship in general and reduce pet abandonment in society.