Nipper is an icon of RCA. It has been made into a variety of different form factors over the years. Originally it was part of a famous 19th century painting by Francis Barraud of a dog listening to a gramophone.
Nipper then was made into a 28-foot canine statue as well as a 36-inch plastic statue and other ceramic versions. But at CES 2025, RCA brough a completely new version of the iconic mascot in the form of an autonomous companion robot.
Now there are always several robots that make the trip to CES but the autonomous robot Nipper was something completely different. The canine robot was designed as a prototype, but the company plans to offer it eventually as a robot for those living in an apartment or other building that can’t have traditional pets.
It can sit and shake as well as dance. It can also ask for treats and it follows you around the house. Sentry mode allows the robot to police the home while the homeowners are away with real-time updates and cameras that can be used through a mobile app.
Now companion robots have not had a great history. In fact, more have failed and been discontinued than those that have been successful. However, as technology advances and more features are added, these devices could eventually find a place among smart homes.
