Petlibro Smart Camera: AI-Powered Pet Monitoring

Petlibro Launches AI-Powered Scout Smart Camera for Pet Monitoring

Petlibro, a company specializing in pet technology – including automatic feeders and water fountains – has recently unveiled its newest innovation: the Scout Smart Camera. This device leverages artificial intelligence to offer pet owners detailed, real-time insights into their companions’ daily routines and behaviors.

Core Functionality and Features

The Scout camera shares similarities with other pet monitoring systems available, providing live video feeds and two-way audio communication. This allows owners to interact with their pets remotely, even when away from home.

The accompanying mobile application grants users control over the camera’s pan and tilt functions. Furthermore, the camera is engineered to automatically detect and track a pet’s movements within its field of view.

Should a pet wander out of sight, the camera can emit a chirping sound to recapture their attention.

The Power of Artificial Intelligence

However, the Scout Smart Camera distinguishes itself through its advanced AI capabilities.

Employing pet-recognition technology, the camera diligently monitors various activities. These include eating, drinking, litter box usage, and general movement patterns.

The device also captures spontaneous “selfies” of pets when they are detected, and compiles daily highlight reels. These clips are securely stored in the cloud for up to 30 days.

Multi-Pet Recognition

A notable feature is the camera’s ability to differentiate between multiple pets. Currently, users can establish individual profiles for up to two animals within the app.

“Initially, our models encountered difficulties distinguishing between pets with similar appearances, a common scenario in many households. Conventional facial recognition proved unreliable when pets moved rapidly or shared physical traits,” explained York Wu, founder and CEO of Petlibro, in a statement to TechCrunch. “This prompted us to create a dynamic, first-of-its-kind feedback system – for an AI pet camera – that continuously improves through real-world application.”

Charming Activity Descriptions

As a pet owner, a particularly appealing aspect of the Scout camera is its ability to provide endearing descriptions of pet activities.

During testing, the camera generated descriptions such as, “Zelda is calmly strolling across the shiny floor, her nose pointed forward as she explores her surroundings with gentle curiosity.”

Sharing Capabilities and Pricing

The Scout camera also allows for device sharing with up to five family members or friends.

The device is available for purchase at a price of $100. Subscription plans are offered to unlock the full potential of the AI features.

• Standard Tier: $12 per month
• Premium Tier: $17 per month

Comparison with Competitors

Furbo, another prominent pet camera manufacturer, offers a comparable device with an AI “Nanny” assistant for $7 per month. The Furbo camera itself is priced at $210.

While the Petlibro Scout camera is more affordable, it currently lacks a feature present in the Furbo model: the ability to detect and alert owners to barking. Petlibro is actively developing this functionality, along with meowing detection, to broaden the camera’s appeal.

Future Integrations and Data Privacy

Currently, the Scout camera does not include a built-in food dispenser. However, Petlibro intends to integrate AI capabilities with its existing feeders and fountains, further differentiating its product line.

The company’s privacy policy outlines that image and video data captured by the camera is collected to enhance the device’s performance, including its AI features. Similar data collection practices are employed by other smart camera providers, such as Google Nest and Amazon Ring.

Importantly, the Scout camera does not utilize audio data for AI training or processing.

Petlibro clarified that data collection is used to refine performance for individual cameras. All data handling adheres to relevant privacy regulations.

“Users are essentially training their own camera with their pets, resulting in improved accuracy over time. For instance, if a user corrects the camera’s identification of a pet – changing ‘Max’ to ‘Penny’ – the system learns from this feedback,” explained a company spokesperson. They also noted the availability of a “donate video” button within the app, allowing users to contribute clips to Petlibro for “universal improvement.”

This report has been updated to provide further details regarding data collection practices.