Pets

Sensor-packed Mousr reacts to a cat attack like a real mouse would

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The creators of Mousr reckon its the most engaging cat toy ever made
Mousr is, of course, shaped like a mouse, and rests on little wheels powered by an electric motor
Mousr sports an interchangeable fluffy tail
Mousr features a 360-degree infrared camera that helps it "see" and react to movement and obstacles
The creators of Mousr reckon its the most engaging cat toy ever made
If you want to take a punt on perhaps making your cat's day, the cheapest pledge point for a unit is US$100, as of writing
Once development is complete, Mousr will feature an advanced algorithm that tells it how to behave
A Bluetooth connection allows you to take control of Mousr's behavior directly via smartphone
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Most cats enjoy a good hunt, but your average cat toys pale in comparison to stalking real prey, as they're too predictable and don't react to an attack. The creators behind Mousr reckon their robotic cat toy is the most engaging cat toy ever made, as it reacts to a cat's attack and can intelligently avoid obstacles.

Mousr is, of course, shaped like a mouse, and moves around on small wheels powered by an electric motor. It sports an interchangeable fluffy tail, a hidden speaker that makes noises which attract your feline friend, and multicolored eyes which change color if Mousr is running low on batteries.

The "brains" of Mousr comprise a 360-degree infrared camera that helps it detect and react to movement and obstacles, and an inertial measurement unit that tells the toy when it has been captured. A Bluetooth connection will also enable the user to take control of Mousr directly via smartphone, and push updates to Mousr as the designers improve its artificial intelligence.

Mousr is, of course, shaped like a mouse, and rests on little wheels powered by an electric motor

There's still a way to go for Mousr before it gets to the pet shop though, as the team who invented the device need to work on that all-important algorithm required to make Mousr run around intelligently, avoid obstacles, and react to cat attacks.

To things along, the developers have launched on Kickstarter, and if you'd like to take a punt on possibly making your cat's day, the cheapest pledge point for a unit, as of writing, is US$100. If all goes to plan, the estimated shipping date is October, 2015.

The video below features a fun pitch, including a mouse-related rap at the end.

Sources: Petronics, Kickstarter

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5 comments
flink
It'll be just as exciting as any other cat toy trying to roll on carpet: Absolutely None.
It you only have bare flooring, it looks like a winner!
Reason
My cat gets bored with the real thing pretty quickly ... after bringing them into the house ...
... so not sure this will be any better.
Buzzclick
Not cheap. Made for your entertainment as well as the cat's. Should be fun (as long as you put it away periodically). The mouse shape is for humans, the tail thingie is for the cats. If it is made to stop "teasing" and start up again on its own an hour (or more) later, it might add to the fun factor... when you're not home.
As long as the batteries last.
Stuart Wilshaw
Given that all the cats I have known like to end the hunt by ripping the head off the mouse I think they will soon get frustrated with this toy.
David Earnest
Needs an attack/chase algorithm. Mice don't give up till kitty kills them. My cat is hip to all the red dot shizzle. He just attacks the hand holding the laser pointer. Cats are a lot more sophisticated than you may think.
Cool idea and great effort. Now fix cold fusion......