Analysing the innovation growth of robotic pets through patent data mining

Abstract

This study aims to illustrate the importance of patent data mining as a tool to analyse the innovation growth of robotic pets across time, countries and patent types. Such an approach differs very much from the traditional academic strategies which often technology centric focusing on validating incremental technical contributions with respect to a pet robotic system. To conduct this study, patents of robotic pets were retrieved and analysed. A period of 5 years, from 2009 to 2014, was defined as the time of reference to which the patents were extracted from the relevant patents database for analysis. The patent office of which the patents are registered and patent types were also used as indicators to further segregate the patents found in the database. The search gave a total return of 82 patents that were documented. Analysis done found that distribution trends indicates an overall increase in technology advancement made by companies, academic institutions and individuals from various countries to robotic pets. The results summarized in this paper is set to greatly benefit the policy makers in government agencies, and entrepreneurs to effectively manage the growth of this emerging market of robotic pet products.