An Apple Watch-style smart collar for dogs will be able to track its heart rate and other vital signs when it goes on sale in the summer, its developers claim. Built by GPS tracking company Invoxia, the smart collar will also double as a GPS and activity tracker, and is expected to cost at least $99 when it goes on sale. Previous generations of dog fitness trackers relied on a combination of GPS sensors and an accelerometer, but the new device also makes use of artificial intelligence. The Invoxia team, based in Issy les Moulineaux, France, used radar sensors that use light to send signals into, and receive data back, from the skin of the dog. They worked with veterinary cardiologists to train AI that can gather data from the sensors and and fill in any missing information blocked by fur.

Most dog owners probably wish they had a little more time to spend taking their beloved pets for a walk. They have dreamed up a robotic'dog nanny' that would take your canine friend out for their daily exercise when you are not at home. The'concept robot' was designed as part of Ford's innovation challenge to find solutions for the cities of tomorrow. Speakers built into the unit would let owners talk to and reassure their dog while out and about. The robot would be controlled from a smartphone or computer.