Ugobe - FAQ

GENERAL PLEO & UGOBE

What is Pleo™?
Pleo is an autonomous robotic life form modeled on a one-week old camarasuarus dinosaur. Pleo is designed to mimic life which means Pleo thinks and acts independently, just like a real animal.

What do you mean by life form?
In general, a UGOBE™ Life Form looks, moves and behaves in ways that trigger a "belief of life.” Specifically, Pleo has organic body language, exhibits evolving emotions, is aware of its surroundings and has recognizable behaviors that change over time.

What is a Camarasaurus?
Camarasaurus (KAM-ah-rah-sawr-us) "Chambered Lizard" (Greek kamara = chamber + sauros = lizard, referring to the holes in its vertebrae). Camarasaurus is the best-known sauropod found in North America and the most abundant of fossils in the Late Jurassic. It also lived in Europe, where it survived into Early Cretaceous times. A complete, nearly perfect skeleton of a juvenile, 17-foot (5.2- meters) long, was found in Utah. Its head was short and box like with nostrils set above the snout and in front of the eyes. The weight of its backbone was lightened by holes in its vertebrae. Its neck was shorter and thicker than most sauropods and it possessed a short and somewhat flattened tail. The fore limbs and hindlegs of Camarasaurus were about the same length.

What makes Pleo special?
At the heart of Pleo is UGOBE’s Life OS™, the operating system software that enables Pleo to act independently and evolve Pleo’s personality according to his interactions with you and the environment.

What is UGOBE?
UGOBE is the Emeryville, California based company that develops revolutionary robotics that transform inanimate objects into lifelike creatures that inspire emotional and lasting connections with people. You can visit us at www.UGOBE.com.

What age is Pleo suitable for?
Pleo is rated E for Everyone and is designed for adults to tweens both male and female. As Pleo is a highly sophisticated product that evolves into an inquisitive animal that requires attention and care, it is not suitable or intended for children under the age of 8 years.

Does Pleo physically grow?
No, Pleo will always remain the same size as when you first purchase him.

Does Pleo change?
Yes, Pleo progresses through three different Life Stages. When first awakened, Pleo is a hatchling. As you interact together, Pleo transitions through an infant stage and becomes a juvenile dinosaur. Then the fun really starts! The more time you spend interacting with and nurturing Pleo the more unique your dinosaur will become.

What can I do with Pleo?
You interact with Pleo the same way you do with any living animal. Pleo can see, hear and feel. Pleo’s personality changes over time based on life experience, just like real animals, so make sure you spend plenty of time interacting with Pleo.

Can I play with Pleo immediately after purchase?
No, you must first make sure that Pleo’s battery is fully charged. Connect Pleo to an electrical outlet with the AC adapter for at least four hours. If your Pleo is supplied with a battery charger and an AC adaptor, the battery pack must be installed in the charger for charging, the AC adaptor jack connected to the charger and the AC adaptor plugged into an electrical outlet. While you wait, visit www.pleoworld.com to learn more about Pleo before you wake him for the first time.

Do I need to buy any additional parts to make Pleo work?
No, everything is included to get you started.

Does Pleo have a remote control?
No, Pleo does not have a remote control. You interact with Pleo through his sensors but you cannot control his movements.

Do I need a computer to make Pleo work?
No, Pleo is ready to go once you have charged his battery.

Can Pleo talk?
Pleo makes animal sounds but Pleo does not say any words.

What is Pleo’s skin made of?
Pleo’s skin is made of a custom-formulated soft thermoplastic material.

What are some things Pleo cannot do?
Pleo cannot fly and Pleo cannot swim! Please ensure you do not drop Pleo from a great height or drop Pleo into water as doing so will void the warranty. Pleo is for use in only dry indoor locations.

How do I care for my Pleo?
Please heed all cautionary statements contained in the companion guide, including all electrical warnings and handling instructions. To clean Pleo, use only a damp cloth and a light hand. Do not use soap or any other cleaning agents. Please do not attempt to make any mechanical repairs yourself as you will automatically void the warranty.

Where can I buy Pleo?
Pleo is available at major retailers in many different countries. For an up to date list please visit http://pleoworld.com/getpleo

I still have questions, who can I contact?
If you have further questions that have not been answered here, please contact us via email by visiting http://pleoworld.com/contact. We will respond to your inquiry within two business days.

PLEO PRODUCT

What does Pleo come with?
Pleo comes with one internal, removable, rechargeable battery pack, one AC adapter, one training leaf, one Pleo authenticity ID Card and a companion guide. Some international regulations prohibit internal recharging of Pleo’s battery pack. For those countries, Pleo will also come with a battery pack charger.

What is the training leaf for?
Pleo evolves through owner interaction and he will respond to hand feeding when hungry. The training leaf is to remind you to reinforce positive behavior by offering Pleo a “treat” when Pleo does something you like. To train Pleo how to do tricks you will need to use the training leaf.

What is the authenticity ID card for?
Each Pleo has a unique 12-digit identification number which you will need to use to register Pleo on www.pleoworld.com. The number is shown on the authenticity ID card. We encourage you to register your Pleo to stay up to date with software updates. Visit http://pleoworld.com/register to get started.

What is the companion guide?
The companion guide is your Pleo user manual and it tells you all the important information you need to know about Pleo.

REGISTRATION & WARRANTY

Does Pleo have a manufacturer’s warranty?
Yes, UGOBE provides a manufacturer’s limited warranty for the first 90 days from the date of purchase. The warranty is valid only in the United States and Canada; consult your local Pleo distributor for warranty information in your country. For a list of distributors visit http://pleoworld.com/getpleo If there is a problem with your Pleo within the first 90 days please contact UGOBE by logging on to http://pleoworld.com/warranty for more information on filing a warranty claim. You will need your original purchase receipt.

Do I need to register my Pleo to activate my warranty?
No, your Pleo is automatically covered by UGOBE’s 90 day limited warranty however we encourage you to register at http://pleoworld.com/register. In the event of a warranty claim you will be required to provide your original receipt as proof of purchase.

Why do I need to register my Pleo?
Registering your Pleo enables you to take advantage of all the benefits of www.pleoworld.com including your very own My Pleo page. Registration also allows UGOBE to notify you of any software updates that will enhance Pleo’s operating system. Doing so will ensure your Pleo is always up to date with all changes. Visit http://pleoworld.com/register to get started.

Can I register my Pleo without a computer?
Yes, you can complete the registration card in the companion guide and mail it to UGOBE at the address provided.

BATTERY PACK & CHARGING

Can I play with Pleo immediately after purchase?
No, you must first make sure that Pleo’s battery is fully charged. Connect Pleo to an electrical outlet with the AC adapter for at least four hours. If your Pleo is supplied with a battery charger and an AC adaptor, the battery pack must be installed in the charger for charging, the AC adaptor jack connected to the charger and the AC adaptor plugged into an electrical outlet. While you wait, visit www.pleoworld.com to learn more about Pleo before you wake him for the first time.

How long does a charge last?
Each charge lasts approximately two hours and it takes four hours to recharge Pleo’s battery.

What type of batteries does Pleo use?
Pleo uses a specially designed replaceable, rechargeable, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack which is included.

Can I purchase additional batteries?
Yes, you can buy additional rechargeable battery packs from www.pleoworld.com. Visit the http://pleoworld.com/getpleo page for the latest pricing and availability information.

Do I need an electrical adapter?
Yes, Pleo’s AC adapter is included in the box; follow the instructions in the companion guide to learn how to charge Pleo.

Can I use my own charger?
UGOBE does not recommend using a charger or AC adaptor that is not recognized by UGOBE. Use of non-approved equipment in conjunction with Pleo will under some conditions damage Pleo and will void the warranty.

Does the AC adapter work with different input voltages?
No, the adapter will only work for the voltage listed on the adapter’s black casing.

COMPUTER CONNECTIVITY & SOFTWARE UPDATES

Can I connect Pleo to my computer?
Yes, Pleo has a mini USB port to enable you to connect Pleo to your computer. Connecting Pleo using a USB cable will enable you to use the Pleo software developers tool kit and the Pleo PC utility.

What is the Software Developer’s Tool Kit?
Pleo’s operating system, Life OS, is a programmable interface that enables software developers to create custom code for Pleo. Visit http://pleoworld.com/developers to download this software and for more information. Using the software developers tool kit may void the warranty.

What is the Pleo PC Utility?
The Pleo PC utility is a free desktop application provided by UGOBE that enables PLEO users to run basic diagnostics and modify personality. Visit http://pleoworld.com/pcutility to download this software and for more information.

What is Pleo’s firmware?
Firmware is software that is embedded in a hardware device. It is the operating system that runs Pleo.

How do I update the firmware for Pleo?
You can download new firmware from www.pleoworld.com to your computer and then save it to an SD card. (You may need to purchase a separate device to enable your computer to save to an SD card.) When you insert the SD card into Pleo’s SD card reader located in Pleo’s belly area the new firmware will automatically be installed on Pleo’s on board memory. Once installed, you can remove the SD card.

How will you notify me about updates to Pleo’s firmware?
We will send an email notification to your registered email address to let you know how you can download and install these upgrades.

Can I download new content for Pleo?
Yes, you can download content from www.pleoworld.com to your computer and then save it to an SD card. (You may need to purchase a separate device to enable your computer to save to an SD card.) When you insert the SD card into Pleo’s SD card reader located in Pleo’s belly area Pleo will run the downloaded content directly from the SD card. Downloading content may void the warranty, check with content author before downloading.

Is the downloaded content automatically transferred to Pleo’s on board memory?
No, any content software that you download will remain on the SD card. Pleo will run the software directly from the card. Only firmware is automatically transferred to Pleo’s on board memory.

What size memory do you recommend for the SD card?
You should use an SD card with at least 32MB of available memory.

Can I hack into Pleo and customize it?
Software customization can be accomplished without a screwdriver. UGOBE will support various toolsets that allow customization from high level behavior modification to low level (nuts and bolts) application authoring. Visit http://pleoworld.com/developers for more information.

PLEO PRE-ORDER FAQ’s

Where can I place my order for Pleo?
Consumers will be able to pre-order Pleo by visiting http://pleoworld.com/getpleo for a list of participating retailers including UGOBE.

What form of payment will you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

When will you charge me for my Pleo?
Your credit card will be charged approximately 48 hours prior to shipping in October.

Will you notify me of the charge?
Yes, we will send you an email notifying you when your credit card will be charged and give you the chance to change or cancel your purchase.

How much does Pleo cost?
The suggested retail price of Pleo is US$350.00 plus applicable taxes and shipping fees. Please process your order through http://pleoworld.com/getpleo to find out the exact cost of Pleo in your location.

Can I cancel my order?
Yes, you can cancel your order anytime up to 48 hours prior to shipment. We will send you an email notification before we charge your credit card to advise you of this option.

When will I receive my Pleo?
The delivery date of your Pleo depends upon which country you live in. We will contact you nearer the time to confirm the date and reconfirm your purchase before we charge your credit card.