Qrio

We may not have seen the last of Sony's Aibo and Qrio after all! Norri Kageki has just tipped us on a huge announcement from Japan obtained from a podcast by Nikkei Business: Toyota will buy Sony's robotics division. Nothing has been said on the terms of the sale. Just yesterday, Toyota announced a new robot. The company has been developing a number of partner robots for assistance in home chores, medical care and industrial. This purchase seems to cast robotics as an important piece of Toyota's future.

Thanks, Norri Kageki

[Update 08/24: Sony is denying the reports of the transfer of its robotics R&D arm to Toyota. Marketwatch reports that the venture involves Toyota purchasing some intellectual property from Sony to extend towards Toyota's robotics work. In addition, Toyota will work with a team of Sony engineers in "the development of next-generation cars and robots"]