While the Mobile World Congress tradeshow in Barcelona is known for showcasing the latest mobile technology, including AI-powered phones that try to anticipate what you want to do before you’ve even decided, bendable phones that can be worn like a watch, and transparent Windows 11 laptops.
But Chinese brand Tecno made a splash with its energetic robot dog.
The Tecno Dynamic 1 is modelled on a German Shepherd, although it’s smaller in stature than you’d expect from that breed. As the model number suggests, this is the first canine effort from the team at Tecno. The Shenzhen-based company decided to build this adorable Wi-Fido to showcase its hardware process and AI smarts, which power the interactions.
While most mutts only have two ears, the Tecno Dynamic 1 is fitted with four microphones over its body so that it can follow spoken commands. Tecno is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable voice recognition so that your Dynamic 1 knows when its owner is issuing a command.
If your battery-powered dog isn’t responding, there’s also a smartphone app that lets you issue commands wordlessly. Tecno says it plans to sell a remote control to offer another way to tell your dog to sit, stay, or rollover.
Dynamic 1 can produce a powerful 45N.m/kg torque output. Tecno is keen to highlight the cooling system inside the knee joints that allows Dynamic 1 to jump on the spot, climb stairs, and perform friendly gestures like bowing to handshaking.
At top speed, the fur-less pooch can reach an impressive 3.7 metres-per-second ― that’s 8.2 miles-per-hour and means the Dynamic 1 should be posting a sub-20 minute for its next 5km on Strava. Yes, it’s certainly no slouch.
However, the biggest barrier to hitting that top speed for a sustained period is likely to be battery life. Tecno has fitted the 15,000mAh battery for up to 90 minutes of continuous use.
When it comes time to recharge the robo-dog, Tecno has designed the case to be modular so you can quickly swap-out the battery pack for (almost) continuous use. The electronics giant hasn’t revealed how long it’ll take to recharge those mammoth 15,000mAh cells ready for the next walkies.
Powering the pooch is an eight-core high-performance CPU from ARM. This is processing input from a slew of sensors, including a depth camera, a pair of optical sensors, and infrared sensors to ensure the Dynamic 1 doesn’t fall or knock anything over.
Inside the Dynamic 1 is 64GB of built-in memory ― about the same that you’ll get with the entry level iPhone from Apple. The dog also relies on the latest WI-FI 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 technology to download software updates and connect to the companion app on your phone.
Speaking about its innovative robotic dog, General Manager of Tecno Jack Guo said: “At Tecno, we believe in the power of innovation to make the impossible possible. This year at MWC Barcelona, we are bringing the technologies of tomorrow to users, representing a major upgrade from our debut appearance.
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“With groundbreaking new smartphones, AI and AR-powered products, innovative concepts and more, we are showcasing our unwavering commitment to extensive research and pioneering product development.
“We are looking forward to welcoming MWC attendees to visit us to experience for themselves how Tecno never stops chasing dreams and is reaching for the future.”
