Robonica Roboni-i rolling robot takes aim at WowWee, holiday shoppers

Upstart toymaker Robonica has been making promises about its Robini-i programmable robot for a little while now, but it looks like it's now not only managed to get the bot out the door, but land it on the cover of the new Hammacher Schlemmer holiday catalog as well. Headed up by a former Hasbro exec, the company is clearly taking aim at the likes of WowWee, but hopes to one-up them by also letting its robot with a "serious attitude" become an avatar in an MMO of sorts when it's not tormenting your pets. What's more, the Robini-i can also apparently interact with other bots both online and in person, and the more adventuresome folks out there can also take advantage of some basic programming capabilities provided by the included software (Windows only, for the time being). Slightly less entry-level, however, is the $299.95 that Hammacher Schlemmer is charging for the kit, although it appears that could drop to $250 as it rolls out to other retailers.

Read - Hammacher Schlemmer
Read - Xconomy, "Robonica President, an Ex-Hasbro Exec, Hopes to Put Boston Back on Toy Industry Map with Rolling Robots"

[Via IEEE Spectrum, thanks Ken R.]

[marcomera Posted Sep 28th 2009 3:22PM]

Isn't Robonica the name of the fake robot holiday that Bender invents?

[Spiraling Shape Posted Sep 28th 2009 6:12PM]

It's not made up. It's the holiest two weeks on the robot calendar!

[air on Posted Sep 28th 2009 3:31PM]

Wowowee anyone?

[cheezeweezle Posted Sep 28th 2009 3:33PM]

with wowwee tho, their products can be controlled via wifi. Unless this has it and I missed it? I have been looking at rovio because it does wifi, webcam and a semi-autonomous functions.

[kingpariah Posted Sep 28th 2009 3:43PM]

Shouldn't Engadget make a joke about we should welcome our new robot overlords, or at least say something about them becoming self-aware/Cyberdyne or something?

I feel empty without it :)

-Exceeder
www.cepmcert.com

[Quita Posted Sep 28th 2009 7:25PM]

"What's more, the Robini-i can also apparently interact with other bots both online and in person"

[benahad Posted Sep 29th 2009 12:44PM]

I was thinking more along the lines of Axel from Twisted Metal...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 28th 2009 3:55PM]

I'm not too impressed. Looks neat, but impractical for developing any interesting uses. Check out Sparky Jr., an incredible DIY telepresence bot that blows them all away.
http://sparkyjr.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 28th 2009 4:28PM]

First reported on Sept. 11 by Boston Business Journal reporter Jackie Noblett. Perhaps a link to that article might be in order?

http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/09/14/story3.html

[Electromodo Posted Sep 28th 2009 4:35PM]

Attack of the Clones, anyone?

http://www.treehugger.com/attack-of-the-clones.jpg

[ThePretender Posted Sep 28th 2009 4:51PM]

Yeah, thats what i thought when i first saw it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 28th 2009 4:44PM]

Can it be weaponized?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 28th 2009 8:34PM]

anything can be weaponized, its effectiveness just depends on what it is and who modifies it. Even paper can be weaponized with creativity and some glue.