Robot pets

How much is that robot doggy in the window?

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In July, the Chinese company Unitree announced Go2, the second generation of its robotic dog. Not only can you take this pet pooch for a walk, it also performs backflips, handstands and takes photographs. A smart speaker allows it to respond to your commands, just like a real dog. Costing from £1,270, Go2 might be the latest robo-pet on the market, but it certainly isn’t the first. For many years, scientists have been working to make machines that can do everything a real animal does – and leave a lot less mess to clean up afterwards.