He's a guinea pig! He's a robot! He's a little strange looking, but he sounds like a great little pet for someone who doesn't want to clean out a cage. Using technology that has been around a while, Gupi's makers have designed this pet to express different emotions, depending on his environment.

He's a bit like the Sony Aibo, a line of robotic dogs that have been discontinued. The biggest difference is the cost - Gupi costs less than $100, which is a mite lower than Aibo's thousand-dollar price tag. Gupi can't perform the complex physical maneuvers that the joint-legged Aibo could, but he can see well enough to keep from running into things.

Gupi knows when he's being ignored, too, and will mope and act frightened when you don't pay him enough attention. If he needs recharging, simply put his carrot in his mouth. If he meets another Gupi, he will be beside himself with excitement. There is an exciting learning curve, also, for two Gupis to learn how to get along.

If he is in a good mood, Gupi will actually run to you when you call him. If not, he'll hide. They've given him fur in an attempt to make him look like a real guinea pig, which is kind of weird. Aibo's biggest charm was the fact that he looked exactly like what he was - a robotic dog.

Gupi is definitely a lot easier to care for than a real guinea pig. Oh, he can even find his way out of a maze, which is more than a lot of live pets can manage. Or their owners, for that matter.

Robotic Guinea Pig

Posted by Rhonda.

Rhonda is also the editor of Unique Or Unusual.