Many of us who own dogs would know this – while man’s best friend definitely has a welcoming and forgiving nature even when we neglect them, there are moments when we humans want our own quiet time – and that means going off for a vacation. Boarding our pets might prove to be expensive if you are going to be away for a week or so, so perhaps it is time to summon the help of robots. Jordan Correa, a test developer for the Microsoft Robotics Team, decided to do something about this situation by developing the DarwinBot, which is a dog-sitting robot. This allows him to play and speak to his pet remotely using an Internet connection over Skype, and there is also a dispenser on the side of the DarwinBot that allows him to distribute treats as and when he desires. The DarwinBot will also thrill dogs who love a game of fetch, courtesy of an installed ball launcher located on top, while the robotic arm can retrieve a ball. It does not seem as though this DIY bot is going to hit the market anytime soon though.
