In the 16 years since Sony introduced AIBO, the first robotic pet, consumer robotics has not exactly flowered. AIBO was a smooth-moving, shockingly intelligent and incredibly expensive product.

A WowWee Rovio Wi-Fi robot is displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The company describes the Rovio as a WiFi-enabled Webcam on wheels that can be controlled from anywhere by ...