Sparky the dog robot aims to build better understanding about your environment

Sparky may be a common name for a dog but the one designed by robot engineers is the only one of his kind. Made to be the world’s “first environment health awareness pet”, Sparky is a robot that, when it interacts with the public, gives them a better understanding about the environmental quality of life around them. The robot’s exterior is constructed from wood and plastic while inside Sparky there are several sensors, a motor and strings which are connected to the robot dog’s appendages. The sensors register the amount of carbon monoxide, cigarette smoke and alcohol in the air quality around Sparky, as well as the amount of lighting, the noise level and how hard Sparky is being touched. All of this data is fed to the team’s nearby computer where it’s interpreted and given a value ranging between -100 and +100. When conditions are negative around Sparky the robot will act negatively by coughing, whimpering or even collapsing down. When Sparky is happy about his environment it will make uplifting sounds and even musical notes. Giving him a “walk” by pulling the rope on his wood box will pick up his mood the fastest.

“One thing we are hoping to explore are the ways that Sparky can influence or make people reflect on awareness regarding physical health and how environmental factors can effect a smaller being (giving smoking and alcohol negative connotation),” it says on the project’s website. “It also acts as a negative projection tool, (people we have tested on aim to have a ‘happy’ dog, and one that is collapsed and whining almost seems embarrassing).”

So far the project team has taken Sparky to the streets of Malmö, Sweden, but they are hoping that interest will come from environmental organizations or businesses that want to promote ways to make healthier living. You can find out more about Sparky at http://sparky.workx.biz.