This may not be the cutest pet that you ever had, but it sure as hell is better than any of the other ones when it comes to taking care of the planet. Many people barely ever pay attention to the warnings issued by the environmental experts, but when your own robotic pet can give you the same facts and in a lot more personalized fashion, then you are surely going to sit up and take notice. That pretty much is the concept behind ‘Sparky’, or so it seems. Sparky is the first in what seems to be a future generations of robots that will serve not just us, but also the planet!
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 nearby computer where it’s interpreted and given a value ranging between -100 and +100. When the score is negative Sparky goes sick, acts weird and pretty much becomes an annoying nuisance. (Which is an excellent way to get across the message)
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. 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. Hopefully Sparky will spark off a healthier and greener lifestyle!
