Aibos
Sony's pet robot Aibos are lined up at an alter during the robots' funeral at the Kofuku-ji temple in Isumi, Chiba prefecture. Sony rolled out the first-generation Aibo in June 1999 with the initial batch of 3,000 selling out in just 20 minutes. Getty Images

Japanese mourners recently held a funeral for 19 robot dogs rejected by Sony at an altar at the Kofuku-ji temple in China prefecture.

The robot dogs, known as 'Aibos', were taken to the repair company, A-Fun, as a last attempt to try and save them.

I can't imagine how quiet our living room would have been if Ai-chan wasn't here. It will be sad when the day finally comes when Ai-chan is unable to stand up.
- Sumie Maekawa, Aibo owner

A-Fun, however, failed to revive all of them and decided to lead a funeral.

The funeral was held for dog owners who are known to develop close attachments to the robot dogs, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Aibos were manufactured by the Sony Corporation from 1999 to 2006.

The name 'Aibo' stands for artificially intelligent robot and an Aibo is estimated to cost around £1,300.

Sony eventually sold the robot dogs at a discounted price and shut down Aibos' maintenance services last March due to a lack of spare parts, the company said.

Aibos
Temple chief priest Bungen Oi (3rd R), A-Fun president Nobuyuki Norimatsu (3rd L), A-Fun supervisor Hiroshi Funabashi (2nd R) and other A-Fun employees hold Sony's pet robot Aibos prior to holding the robots' funeral at the Kofuku-ji temple in Isumi, Chiba prefecture. Getty Images

Several Aibos' owners now hold monthly meetings in Kawasaki in a bid to help each other with the dogs' technical support.

One such owner, Sumie Maekawa, said they see Aibo as their daughter since they have no children.

"I can't imagine how quiet our living room would have been if Ai-chan wasn't here," said Maekawa.

"It will be sad when the day finally comes when Ai-chan is unable to stand up."

Aibos
Chief priest Bungen Oi (R) offers a prayer during the funeral for 19 Sony's pet robot Aibos at the Kofuku-ji temple in Isumi, Chiba prefecture. Getty Images