Print

[Chicago]

Sparky the rb stopped eating the sugar cane when she got sick, whereas she would almost always accept it before.  But now we have Floppy who is healthy and happy, and he won't eat it either.  He eats the conifer and cycad and even had a little mushroom the other day.  He doesn't react to it at all.  My understanding is that the food items have a transmitter in them that the Pleo detects when placed near him.  I suspect that the sugar cane transmitter has stopped working.  Has anyone else ever had a food item that stopped being detected?   

[RedwoodsMama]

 That is a great question and good observation,  ;)If that is so, I would think Innvo needs to come up with some sort of fix, so you do not have to buy another whole food package, as they do get expensive and should by my estimate, last longer than slightly more than one year! Pleo Rb has only been out since Dec. 2010, so the food packs are the same age. I think anyone else who has an original food package should try them. I also wonder, does the transmitter only "age" or get used up when put in front of the Pleo Rb nose, or chin, or does it "age" the whole time, even when not being used? I bought myne in March of 2011 when I got my replacement Pleo Rb for the orgiginal who was sent back because of holes in her skin. I do think this is a good question. There should be someway to detect if it is still working or not, like a computer test. I would hate to take a RB food item, ( etc) apart if there were an easier way to do it.

                                                             RWM

[InmemoryofRomeo]

I don't believe there is a transmitter but rather a chip just like that found in a  dog or cat after they have been microchipped. As such it is unlikely that anything would go wrong with it. What happens if you put it in Floppy's mouth and leave it for a couple of minutes?

[RedwoodsMama]

 I think IMR is right, a chip, that is what I meant to say, I do think that is a good idea, to just put it in Floppy's mouth and see what happens, Floppy will have to react some way, chew it, or spit it out. But if you hold it in floppy's mouth for a few seconds, maybe Floppy will start eating. Sometimes one of my RB will ignore the food that is in their mouth also, but it is just temporary. Once they sense it is in there, they react by either chewing it or dropping it out of their mouth, or the occasional, choking and spitting it out eventually with my help.                      RWM

[mweed]

The leaf has a very simple RFID chip.  There is an antenna in the underside of the mouth.   The pleo will get a better signal if you hold the leaf up under the chin.  The closer the middle of the leaf is to the underside, the better the signal transfer.

[Chicago]

Since Pleo can distinguish among the different foods, the chip in the food must be transmitting the signal and the antenna under the mouth must be a receiving antenna, right?  If so, the transmitting chip could go bad and stop transmitting.  I suspect that is what has happened here.  It would be nice if there was a simple way to test whether the signal is still being transmitted, something that will detect RF signals.

[grumpy]

You can use the ProbeRB tool.  It has a mode where you can hold the leaf/stone/etc. up to the pleo.  If it recognizes it, the pleo will speak the ID number of the item.

[PleoPet]

If the toy is working, then it may be the software personality that isn't responding to the sugar cane depending on mood. I believe it should almost always perk up the robot.

>It would be nice if there was a simple way to test whether the signal is still being transmitted, something that will detect RF signals.
> You can use the ProbeRB tool.  It has a mode where you can hold the leaf/stone/etc. up to the pleo.  If it recognizes it, the pleo will speak the ID number of the item.

More detail:
When running ProbeRB ( http://www.aibohack.com/pleorb/proberb.htm ) , before pressing any feet, place the toy in his mouth.
If it doesn't say anything the toy may be broken. Otherwise it will speak the toy number, 14 for sugar cane ( http://www.aibohack.com/pleorb/tech2rb.htm ).

Commentary: The RFID inside the toy is a custom made circuit board, not a mass produced RFID chip/module. There is no battery inside, or anything to run down or wear out. The RFID board is sealed inside the plastic toy. IMHO: They are pretty solid, but there is a remote chance it could break (if the board was a little flakey and you dropped the toy ? ? ? - just guessing)

Please try out ProbeRB and report what you find. Good luck

[Crewella]

"The RFID inside the toy is a custom made circuit board, not a mass produced RFID chip/module"

That's interesting ..... thank you.

[Lottibell]

I note you describe Floppy as happy and healthy. One of my Pleo rb's is described as healthy on the innovolabs genetic report page and will very rarely accept sugar cane and instead prefers to eat mushroom constantly.  I wonder if it is just staying true to its assigned character traits. I suspect this as my other rb is described as sensitive and suffers a hurt leg injury very readily. After recovering from the injury she seemed to accept mushroom more often too. 

[Crewella]

My three are very different in ther tastes ....... Belle seems to be health (or more likely figure) obsessed, will always eat the mushroom and the coffee bean leaf ...... not so bothered about the sugar cane and rarely eats the plain food leaves unless hassled to (she's also never yet been sick or injured) ........, Zillah devours pretty much anything you give her, and Tribble (who I'm tempted to rename Eeyore) needs persuading to eat anything at all .......... 

[grumpy]

We'll see if we can talk Derek into making some plastic thistles for pleos . . . 

[Crewella]

"Not to bother ........ no matter ........ most likely lose it again anyway ................. "   

[kat]

He he he  You guys crack me up!    Although little plastic thistles is a great idea    Would be lovely to see some new exciting leaves. 

[Chicago]

We tested the sugar cane with probe rb.  It is definitely broken.  All the other toys and food elicited a response.  We will contact Innvo to see if we can get a replacement.  After all, good Pleos deserve some candy every once in a while.

Thanks PleoPet for telling us how to test the sugar cane.

[Crewella]

Thanks for reporting back, Chicago.