You’ve gone back to the office, and boy, do you miss your pets. Want to connect with them no matter where you are? Then you’ll want to check out Rocki, a smart robot that lets you connect with your pets from anywhere. And I had the chance to take Rocki out for a spin.

Before we get into the Rocki review, let’s take a look at the specifications and what you actually get with your purchase.

Specs

·      Weight: 3.3 lbs

·      Dimensions: 7.28x8.07x7.28 inches

·      Wireless Connection: Bluetooth ver 4.1

·      Battery Type: Li-Polymer 7.4V 2600mAh

·      Working Time: Continuous Play Time: 5 hours; Waiting Time: 5 days

·      Input Power: DC 5V USB

What it offers:

·      Real-time HD video and audio and recording

·      Speak and Audio

·      Treat tosser

·      All-wheel drive and 360 degree all directional movement

·      Long standby and operational time

·      Multiple toy mounts and laser toy

What you get in the box:

·      Robot

·      Data line

·      Feather attachment

·      Laser attachment

·      User Manual

Set Up:

Before you can play with Rocki, you need to set him up on your cell phone. And the process is easy. First, you install the app by scanning the QR code found in the user guide. Next, you sign up by creating an account that includes your email address, then confirming registration. When you turn Rocki on, you’ll have to make sure the Bluetooth on your device is on. Rocki will let you know that you’re on track by saying “Starting” – after that, you press the Pair button on the app and connect to WiFI. Before you start, load the snack feeder by holding the two buttons on the side of Rocki. When you’re finished, simply close it by locking the two buttons. Now, it’s time to introduce Rocki to your pet.

What’s To Love

Rocki comes with plenty of features that any pet parent will appreciate. The snack feeder carries enough snacks for several days, giving treats on demand. The robotic toy arm works like a laser toy or a feather toy. The night vision camera, mic, and speakers connect your pet remotely through the Rocki app.

Rocki has four mecanum wheels. These wheels allow Rocki to move in any direction without turning, granting more mobility than traditional wheels.

Tosser Pro tips: Rather than break up larger cookie treats, use soft training treats in the feeding compartments. I found that the cookie treats made a mess after they were tossed, which would be compounded if Rocki ran over them. By using training treats, you’re better able to control the portions and there’s no mess after the toss. I cut up each training treat into four pieces, making the most out of each toss.

Getting To Know Rocki

If you’ve got a little dog, chances are good that they’re a little bit nervous. Hey, if I was that close to the ground, I would be too. And if you’ve read anything about my two dogs, Oscar and Zed, you’ll know that they have the nervous energy of a thousand caffeinated chihuahuas. I knew from the get-go that introducing Rocki to these guys would be a trial in patience.

Rocki recommends using treats to buy your pet’s affection – so that’s what I did. Don’t expect this process to take minutes (hey, it might with your cat or dog), it took a few two weeks of gentle prodding and constant treat tossing to get Zed to open up to a friendship with Rocki. Oscar is still on the fence about this possible friend, but he’s still happy to take handouts from this smart robot.

How to Play with Rocki

Think of operating Rocki the same way you’d play with a remote-control car – only way cooler! Here’s what the controller looks like on your phone:

The left circle controls Rocki's wheel movement and orientation; the center button tosses one chamber of treats; and the right circle controls the camera vision and tilt. The left and right buttons will move Rocki sideways without reorientation (thanks to the Mecanum wheels).

Up in the right top corner, you’ll see battery, video options, photos, and voice communication. The night vision camera turns on automatically if the environment is dark. Photos and videos are save automatically into your phone’s photo gallery.

Pros

·      Thanks to its 360-degree camera and the fact that it’s on wheels, you can keep an eye on your pet no matter where he is in your home. You don’t get these kinds of visuals with ordinary pet cameras and treat tossers.

·      Mecanum wheels move from side to side, so you don’t have to do a three-point turn to move in another direction.

·      Separate controls to move Rocki and laser toy.

·      Photos and video go to your gallery automatically

Cons

·      Movement and noise may be a turn off for nervous pets

The Verdict

Yes, it’s on the pricey side – retailing for $209 (pre-sale price). But consider this – a quality treat tossing camera will run you the same amount and it’s stationary. With Rocki, you get a treat tosser and smart toy all-in-one. It’s a great investment, especially if you’re working at the office and want to spend some extra time playing and interacting with your pets. It’s built well and will last longer (in durability and interest) than your regular squeaky toy! Plus, you get some awesome opportunities to take viral photos and videos for your Insta or Tik Tok account.

Even though Oscar is still hesitant, Zed loves Rocki – so much so that I have to put this robot up on higher ground so Zed will leave it alone. He’s always demanding treats!

To buy one of your own, visit the Rocki website.

Note: PetGuide.com was NOT compensated for this review. Our reviewer received a Rocki Robot to review. The opinions expressed in this post are the author’s. We provide unbiased feedback of the products and share products we think our readers would enjoy using and learning more about.