TOKYO >> Sony Corp. announced it will release a new doglike aibo robot on Jan. 11.

As production of the previous aibo model ended in 2006, the new robotic dog marks Sony’s first full-fledged entry into the home robot market in 12 years.

The new robots will be priced at about $1,730. Users will also need to subscribe to a cloud service exclusively for the aibo.

The new model is rounder, with a body about 12 inches long and weighing about 4.8 pounds.

The aibo has the same functions as the earlier model in communicating with its owners.

The central part of the robots’ eyes are made of organic electroluminescence displays that can display bright colors, so it has a range of facial expressions.

It is also equipped with artificial intelligence so it can learn how to better communicate with its owners.

Each robot’s AI system is connected to a central AI system, with information from multiple robots sent to this central system via the internet so the robots can learn to become more intelligent.