NEXT: Internet of Things Is In Pet Toys Now Too

Soon even your pets can benefit from Internet of Things (IOT) tech!  StartUp company Pebby has raised $500,000 towards its mere $50,000 Kickstarter goal to introduce its smart robotic pet sitter system.

The robot allows owners to monitor, interact with and entertain their pets anytime, anywhere in the world using a combo of a smart collar, a Wi-Fi controlled ball and a companion app.

The device will retail at $250 though early bird backers got it for $124.  The Pebbly “ball” houses a a 720p wide-angle/fish-eye video camera and three lithium-ion batteries the company says provides 1.5 hours of playtime and 15 hours in standby mode. The ball itself is 80mm in diameter and considered a “pet-friendly” size. It also has an interchangeable/multi-design inner casing, built-in LED lights for “Night Vision” Mode and LED glow rims.  And a bonus, the ball houses built-in speakers and a laser toy.

It captures pets real-time and transmits the video to the pet parent at work or school checking in.

For complete pet care, Pebby features a smart collar that tracks a pet’s activities and directly sends insights about behavior and health to the Pebby app. The creators say the battery life of the collar ranges from 8-12 days and the activity monitor can be charged with a USB connection or by placing it onto the included charging dock.

“We created a holistic pet-care system that delivers complete peace of mind to pet owners,” said Hansen Goh, founder, CEO, Pebby. “Pebby allows pet owners to engage with their pets remotely, capturing candid images and monitoring their health and wellness, while also being in control and having a product that keeps their pets entertained while home.”

It comes in a variety of colors and designs.

Pebby also includes an array of entertainment functions accessible via the Pebby app. Users can set Pebby on “Auto Play” mode while they watch their pets play, or can take charge remotely and indulge in playtime with their pet(s). With the app, users can change LED colors and customize settings, including maximum speed and linear/angular acceleration. Users can receive “Shake” and “Bark” alerts on their smartphones when their pet starts playing with Pebby, or upon detecting barking sounds.

The Pebby system also features navigation to a wireless charging dock, a backup USB charging port, as well as an “Autoplay” Mode with “Auto-Follow” and “Auto-Repel” capabilities.

There are still levels of support available and according to the campaign website, the company plans to roll out units to backers starting late summer.