RINGBO riding robot up close and personal

RINGBO put a song in our hearts the other day, and now that we've pretended to sit in its little robotic seat, we can assure you that the experience is just as magical as the video makes it out to be. In case you're curious, the bumper-mounted IR sensors work great for stopping Junior from knocking over another vase, and the controls really couldn't be simpler. We heard a price somewhere in the ballpark of a few hundred dollars, but there's really no telling until it lands Stateside for reals. Check out our best approximation of the original music video after the break -- and be amazed.

Gallery: RINGBO riding robot up close and personal

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And the original:



And the lyrics, one more time:

We are down we're crazy fools
Every day at school
Teachers here, teachers there
Books and books they're everywhere!
Come on boys we need to dance
We have got a good chance
Lay your problems on the floor
Clap your hands and sing once more!

Everybody let's go to the game
We can dance there
Dance and eat ice cream!
Everybody dancing all night long
Try to do it
Sing a happy song!

Music dancing in the night
We can get so high
For no reason, no don't stop
Now's the time to take it to the top
It's a sweet and happy song
Sing all night long
Lay your problems on the floor
Clap your hands and sing once more

Everybody let's go to the game
We can dance there
Dance and eat ice cream!
Everybody dancing all night long
Try to do it
Sing a happy song!

Time to dance it's time to sing
Sing a happy song (laugh)
A happy song!
Yo yo yo!

Let's go!
Let's go boys!
Come with me and sing!
(A happy song)

[Colin Potter @ May 15th 2008 12:55AM]

Powerwheels(tm) for the 21st century!

[Justin Holmgren @ May 15th 2008 2:14AM]

This kind of stuff has been around for soo long ... I had something like this when I was a kid, but it was way faster, and we all know that's what really matters :-)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU

[Ayman @ May 15th 2008 3:26AM]

the specs might be 21st cent
but the design reminds me of 1970s Cartoon

[Stephen Zuckerman @ May 15th 2008 4:56AM]

Justin: Well done, sir. Well done.

On-topic: You know this thing ain't for kids. It's for the geektastic adults who wanted something like this as a kid. Like me. :(

[Ahren @ May 15th 2008 11:49AM]

Yeah HOW is this a robot? You're absolutely right, it's a glorified PowerWheels.

[happy_penguin @ May 15th 2008 1:07AM]

Cool go cart.

[Jason Randazza @ May 15th 2008 1:09AM]

Way to use those "FX" guys, I was captivated! I particularly like the rain.

[ScooterDe @ May 15th 2008 1:58AM]

I want my 15 seconds back! It took me that long to hit the pause button. I am seriously disappointed in Paul Miller. By all means cover this new toy, and I don't even mind you posting the naff video of a kid spinning around on one, but the fun stops there, okay? Song lyrics and a couple of snaps turned into a video? Come on.

[Paul Miller @ May 27th 2008 11:21AM]

Seriously, who is this Paul Miller guy and who decided to let him to post to Engadget? So disappointed right now. It's almost like he's not even being serious.

[roflercopterer @ May 15th 2008 1:10AM]

so how high did they get?

[ugg.tryptophan @ May 15th 2008 2:50AM]

they were found the morning after collapsed in a pool of ice cream

[PMoney @ May 15th 2008 1:36AM]

Is that an Asian Ringo next to the Ringbo?

[Wesley Burchnall @ May 15th 2008 1:39AM]

Wait a sec. 2.5km/hr? Many that is one slooowwww robot. Now if they made a Short Circuit movie robot design that went at 60-80km/hr like it showed in the third movie I think when one of the guys was riding on him, that would be cool!

Especially if you could have it memorize a particular route and put 'stop' points for lights or for cross walks so the robot would automatically stop by itself. Ideally, the robot would wait before continuing at the 'stop point' at which point it would go when you hit the continue-journey button...ideally when the walk light turns green or oyu look left/right to verify no oncoming cars.

Even cooler would be a video camera that looks left/right or recognizes/sees walk signs. I'd ride that thing all the way to work based of eletricity, never pay for gas again and just read a book or use a laptop on my robot to work. WHo knows though, the robot would probably have a built in mp3 function ideally or maybe come witha virzon wireless aircard so I could stream my dvr-ed tv shows from the previous night onto a built in display screen?

Ah, someday. Still a few years away but I'll keep dreaming.

[Colin Potter @ May 15th 2008 1:50AM]

did you notice the size though? it appears to be for children. I don't think anyone is crazy enough to put their toddler on a 60mph vehicle alone

[eggothewaffle @ May 15th 2008 2:04AM]

You're absolutely right, Colin...THEY MUST PUT AT LEAST TWO TODDLERS ON THE VEHICLE.

[maff @ May 15th 2008 8:00AM]

many that is!

[DCNY @ May 15th 2008 2:08AM]

can someone delete this post? this is freaking stupid post. who cares about stupid korean toy?

[j_g_puff @ May 15th 2008 3:03AM]

I'll delete your face in a minute.

[Michael Reilly @ May 15th 2008 8:53AM]

I wish the word Robot were not so overused. What makes this thing a robot?

[Jon Acheson @ May 15th 2008 10:29AM]

It has a face.

I would call it a "scooter" myself.

[Ben @ May 15th 2008 10:30AM]

Amen! This is not a robot. Please, Engadget, get yourself a dictionary and stop perpetuating the misuse of the word "robot." This toy is nothing more than a Barbie Jeep in a different costume.

[Rick @ May 15th 2008 1:31PM]

Child obesity FTW!

[grjohnston @ May 16th 2008 12:20AM]

Oh man! Skid steering! ... I want one!

[Gregg @ May 16th 2008 7:57PM]

That is so T-Bob from M.A.S.K

[David Knight @ May 28th 2008 9:44AM]

Dont know about the robot but i would like to know who sings the song featured in the clip.