A small tracked robot called WIM-Z uses onboard artificial intelligence to detect barking and dispense treats to calm dogs while owners are away. On-device artificial intelligence means the computer processing happens inside the robot itself rather than sending video to a cloud server for analysis. This approach keeps sensitive home footage local while allowing the machine to make independent behavioral decisions.
Early Field Results
WIM-Z recently shared data from seven field trials conducted between May and September 2026. Six trials took place in homes around the New York metro area, while one occurred at a kennel in Jersey City. Four hand-built robots logged 50 sessions and approximately 60 hours of use during these tests. The system detected more than 2,100 barks and executed 107 autonomous interventions, dispensing about 500 rewards. In one home, barking fell from 161 barks per hour to 40, a 75% reduction. In another, the rate dropped from 317 barks per hour to 53, an 83% reduction. The company reports that interventions became more effective over time, with dogs going quiet more frequently as the trials progressed.
The robot measures about 11 inches tall and rides on rubber tank-style treads. Its camera turret pans 270 degrees and tilts more than 120 degrees. A side cartridge holds up to 44 treats. Inside, the unit runs on a Raspberry Pi 5 with a Hailo-8 AI accelerator. This hardware allows the robot to identify individual dogs, classify barking, and track movement without external processing. The behavior system decides when to intervene using calming cues and treats, aligning with reward-based training methods recommended by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.
What Buyers Get
The first production units will cost $799. WIM-Z is currently accepting a fully refundable $99 deposit to hold a spot. The company expects the first batch to ship from late Q4 2026 through Q1 2027. If units have not shipped by Q2 2027, deposits are refunded automatically. The hardware is still in early stages, with five robots built so far. Four are in field use, and one is in Shenzhen, China, for production evaluation.
A key limitation remains in movement. WIM-Z does not navigate homes on its own. Owners must drive the robot via app or leave it in a fixed location. Full self-navigation is on the roadmap but will not be included in the first customer units. All AI processing happens on the robot. No video is sent to the cloud for behavior analysis. Event data such as bark activity and battery status is stored on an Amazon Web Services relay server for app history. Live video streams use encrypted WebRTC technology and are not stored on company servers. Optional highlight clips can be uploaded for playback but are deleted within 90 days after account deletion. The company states it does not sell customer data and does not use footage to train AI models unless owners explicitly opt in.