Aibo put to work at Tokyo hospital to improve the mental health of children

Sony Corp. has launched a trial project using its Aibo robot dog to improve the mental health of children hospitalized at the National Center for Child Health and Development in Tokyo. In the joint experiment that will run until the end of March 2021 and cover some 100 children, Sony will measure whether patients experience relief from their stress and anxiety after interacting with Aibo. The company will announce the findings. Several Aibo robots have already been brought into the center. "I'm happy as I feel like Aibo is actually listening to what I'm saying," said 10-year-old patient Chisako Matsuura.