Sales of Sony Corp.'s new artificial intelligence-equipped Aibo robot dog are off to a solid start in Japan, with the electronics giant saying that 11,111 units were sold in the three months since its release in January. Sony said Monday that the new Aibo -- an upgrade of the version launched in 1999 and discontinued in 2006 -- is seeing greater than expected demand, prompting the company to consider boosting output. Sony sold a total of 150,000 of the previous models. The Aibo uses two cameras -- one embedded in its nose and the other above its tail -- and a range of sensors to discern its owner and the environment, expressing itself through body language, barking and its large digital eyes. It carries a price tag of ¥198,000, excluding tax, plus ¥90,000 for a required three-year cloud subscription service.