Jibo

Jibo, a simple robot with a circular black display screen and bowling pin shaped white and silver base sits on a table and interacts with a young boy.
A friendly robot. Photo: Jibo

Jibo is a friendly robo-assistant designed to become "part of the family." Equipped with cameras and microphones, it can recognize faces, understand what people say, and respond in an amiable voice. It also loves to dance.

Creator

Jibo Inc.

Year
2014
Country
United States 🇺🇸
Categories
Features
Cynthia Breazeal introduces Jibo. Video: IEEE Spectrum

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Appearance

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Did you know?

The first prototypes of Jibo looked like soda cans with smartphones glued on them. Some models had a cartoonish antenna sticking out of the top.

A mom, dad and a small white tabletop robot called Jibo look at two dancing children.
This robot can dance. Photo: Jibo

History

Jibo Inc., based in Boston, Mass., was cofounded by Cynthia Breazeal, an MIT professor who pioneered the field of social robotics. In 2014, Breazeal's team unveiled Jibo, a personal robot designed as a companion and helper to families. With a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, Jibo amassed US $3.7 million in preorders. The company said the robot, equipped with speech recognition and full of character, would be able to check the weather, read the news, snap pictures, and tell jokes, among other things.

But by the time Jibo started arriving in homes, in late 2017, much of its functionality could be found in smartphones and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home. Jibo received mixed reviews, and its capabilities and "personality" worked for some people, but left others disappointed.

In November 2018, Jibo Inc. closed its office and completed the sale of its assets and intellectual property to a New York–based investment management firm.

After a software update in early 2019, Jibo displayed a goodbye message, telling users that most of its functionality would be lost once its servers are turned off. Hundreds of Jibo owners continue to share information about their robots on Facebook groups.

The Jibo robot looks up at a large lamp.
Jibo can help adjust smart lights. Photo: Jibo
A person at a computer looks at software showing a simulated version of Jibo, in the same pose.
Developers can create new skills for Jibo. Photo: Jibo

Specs

Overview

Cloud-based speech recognition and synthesis. Able to identify individual users. Equipped with "apps" (called skills) that let the robot take pictures, set timers, play games, and more.

Status

Discontinued

Year

2014

Website
Width
15.2 cm
Height
28 cm
Length
15.2 cm
Weight
2.7 kg
Sensors

High-resolution stereo cameras, six microphones, LCD touchscreen, touch sensors, high resolution encoders.

Actuators

Three DC motors with belt drives

Materials

Aluminum, ABS plastic, glass

Compute

ARM-based embedded processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LED lights, and a pair of speakers.

Software

Linux OS and JavaScript SDK

Power

18-V power supply and internal rechargeable battery

Cost
$900