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The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Robot of the Year
Now's your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Portable Media Device of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Sunday, April 15th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: Cornell's "conscious", adapting robot, Lego Mindstorms NXT, Manoi AT01, TMX Tickle Me Elmo, Whitebox Robotics 914 PC Bot, and Wowwee Robosapien RS Media. %Poll-259%
WowWee announces Robosapien: the movie
It's not exactly coming soon, but WowWee has announced plans for a Robosapien feature film, teaming with Arad Productions with the intention bringing the movie to theaters in 2009. Details are unfortunately pretty scarce at the moment, although it will apparently combine live-action and CGI, and promises to "translate Robosapien's lifelike characteristics and endearing personality into a compelling and entertaining story." Frankly, however, we can't imagine it possibly being any more compelling or entertaining than the potential film depicted in our humble suggestion above.
WowWee robots invade McDonald's Happy Meals
WowWee's robot empire has seen some frighteningly rapid growth since the first Robosapien rolled off the assembly line, but it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down, with pint-sized versions of a number of the company's bots now making their way into McDonald's Happy Meals. While the king has sadly been left out, starting today you can get a Walking Robosapien, Roaring Roboraptor, Talking Robosapien V2, Running Roboreptile, Walking Robopet, Chomping Roboraptor, or Stand-Up Robosapien with the purchase of a Happy Meal. Those less interested in fostering the inevitable robot uprising can opt for a My Little Pony toy instead. Of course, all of the bots are decidedly less capable than their pricier counterparts, although we doubt that'll stop some of you from trying to mod them anyway. Check out the gallery below for a better look at 'em.[Via RoboCommunity]%Gallery-1775%
WowWee's FlyTech Dragonfly reviewed
We've already seen some first impressions of WowWee's newly-launched FlyTech Dragonfly "toy," but PC Magazine has now thankfully provided a slightly more in-depth review for those of us more curious about the little critter's capabilities. As you might expect, they found it to be "loads of fun," with easy to use controls and a surprisingly durable design, which helped the unit withstand a number of head-on collisions with the walls and floor. The unit's downsides are also about what you'd expect, with a wide open space with no wind pretty much required to fly it. They also found that it took a bit of effort to extract the charging cable from the Dragonfly's body, which you'll have to do fairly frequently as you'll only get about seven minutes of flying time on each charge. We somehow doubt that'll be a deal-breaker for most, however, especially given that it only costs fifty bucks.
Wowwee's FlyTech Dragonfly now shipping
It might not be as flashy as some of those other Wowwee creations, but it makes up for it with some pretty innovative wing-flapping action. Plus, for $50 it won't break the bank. Just in case you missed it the first time around, Wowwee's FlyTech Dragonfly is RC controlled up to 30 feet (apparently that 150 feet we heard before was quite a bit off), rechargeable, and built out of carbon fiber for living through the occasional rough landing or (hopefully) frequent dive-bomb attacks. The included controller sports a magnetic perch and charges the bot in about 15 minutes for 10 minutes of flight time. Inside the box there are a couple of extra sets of wings and a spare propeller. For the moment this one looks to be a RadioShack exclusive.[Via RobotsRule]
Keepin' it real fake, part XLV: Wowwee's illegitimate children
Most times, the fakers seem to stick with items that are relatively easy to replicate, making everyone's lives a good bit easier when it comes to choosing between the authentic and the knockoff, but JaiQi Toys has upped the copycat ante a bit with its full-fledged lineup of Wowwee rips. Dubbed the "Bo Series," these four bots sport the ability to walk and turn, move and grip with their arms, dozens of pre-programmed functions such as picking up objects, dancing, burping, whistling, and a kicking out a fair selection of "Kung Fu moves," not to mention the ability to dictate your new friend with an IR remote. Moreover, the creature is powered by four D-cell batteries in the main compartment, plus a pair of cells in each foot to keep the jive alive. So if you've been yearning for your very own Wowwee companion, but just don't have the coinage required to own the real deal, feel free to click on over and bring home the Robone, X-Robot, Robosaur, or Robodog now for just... well, nothing, considering even the "add to cart" function of the sketched-out website doesn't always work. Still, if you dig incredibly cheap looking renditions of popular items, and just need something to mock in order to brighten your day, JaiQi's just the medicine you ordered.[Thanks, Mutammim]
Wowwee's Spidersapien caught on tape, slings webs
All these videos of Wowwee's quickly-growing lineup of must-have robots has got us quite envious, but still, it's better to see these things caught on tape than never at all, right? One of the firm's first licensed superheros is none other than Spidey himself, and the Spidersapien was able to take a moment from his heroic day to show its stuff for TechDigest. The bot is actually quite different than just a Robosapien with a fancy paint job, as his mannerisms, gait, built-in voice blurbs, and abilities are all straight from the Spider-Man vault. So go on, click through for the live action video of Spidersapien calling out the baddies, waddling about, and of course, slinging that unmistakable web, and start saving now for when these land this summer.
Wowwee Robosapien RS Media gets reviewed
Although it seems like we've been seeing an awful lot of Wowwee's robotic zoo of late, the kind folks over at TechCast actually gave their Robosapien RS Media a bit more than 15 seconds of YouTube fame, and have thrown down a relatively thorough review on whether this intriguing creature is worth your hard earned dollars (or pounds). After calming down from the excitement reviewers felt when just opening the box, a careful look at the "impressive spec list" revealed that this bot was actually quite a good value considering the list of accomplishments (and possibilities) this guy holds. As the name implies, this Robosapien has a flair for media, and in that department it did quite well, but the poor fellow's inability to walk with any sort of haste was a slight buzz kill. Interestingly, it was noted that the robot has the potential to either floor new owners or terrify youngsters, and although we can't assume that his experience will mimic everyone's, he found that the amazingly high fun-factor quickly wore off, and deemed it a novelty at best. However, for the younger crowd, it was insinuated that the RS Media has the ability to charm and sucker them into programming early on, suggesting that age probably plays a huge role in whether or not you'll get your money's worth on this one. Nevertheless, the bot must have resorted to the sad puppy dog face in the end, as it still earned the TechCast Recommended Award, so be sure to hit the read link for the full rundown of impressions and a live action video to boot.
Roboboa slithering about... and bustin' a move?
WowWee sure gave everyone a lot to gawk at here at CES, bringing just about the whole zoo along with them to Vegas, and while we've seen the Dragonfly, the RoboQuad, and the RoboPanda all doin' their thang on tape, it's about time the slithering one got his (her?) face time as well. The Roboboa's well-lit face indeed takes away from the fear folks usually feel when approaching a snake, but hey, when you've got moves like this guy (gal?), you can't help but draw positive attention. Go on, hit the read link to get a robotical lesson in funk.
Video: Wowwee's RoboPanda
If the RoboQuad and RoboBoa didn't scare you enough, now we've got a video of the scariest Robo-animal of them all... the RoboPanda. The fun lil' cutesy robot sounded like it had the potential to go iRobot / Matrix / [insert favorite robots take over world scenario here] when the bot asked, "Have you ever been attacked by a panda?" It really did say that, but if you could avoid the obvious welcoming of our robot panda overlords, we'd appreciate it. [MP4] Download the video
Hands-on with WowWee's Robopanda: even grown men like bear hugs
Sure we may come across as rugged and ultra-suave, but deep down we're really big softies, which is why WowWee's new Robopanda is such a refreshing change from the vicious reptiles and flamethrowing humanoids that the company's usually pushing out the door. Well we recently got to go hands-on with the cuddly-looking lil' guy, and we were smitten with both its friendly demeanor and tech cred. Featuring several touch sensitive areas as well as an accelerometer to measure speed (move too fast and it freaks out just a bit), RoboPanda offers numerous methods of interaction. We listened to it tell a story embedded on its proprietary, swappable flash chip, and emitted several "oohs" and "ahhs" as it cuddled up with its plush buddy (there's nothing more beautiful and pure than panda love). The best news is that -- contrary to what had previously been reported -- this model is indeed scheduled for a US release, ready to delight and entertain children nationwide. Until then, go ahead and grab a seat along with a few delicious bamboo shoots, and check out the close-up shots in the gallery below... Hands-on with WowWee's Robopanda: even grown men like bear hugs
WowWee: snakes, dragonflies, and bears -- oh my!
And now, back to Wowgadget's comprehensive coverage of all things WowWee. The tricky Robosapien folks chose not to display some of their hottest bots at CES Unveiled -- probably because they won't be released in the US for the forseeable future -- but we managed to sweet talk them into hooking us up with some images and a few deets about this unannounced swag. First up is Robopanda, a Teddy Ruxpin-like doll for tots four-and-up that sports "many advanced sensors" along with a head-mounted IR sensor and stereo sound. Besides the usual back-and-forth we enjoy with WowWee's products, 'panda also reads bedtime stories (we hear that it's fond of Bearinstein Bears), interacts with a MiniMe version of itself, and of course, delivers mad bear hugs to love-starved tykes. Also on the docket is Roboboa (we like "Roboa" better, but whatevs), a companion snakebot that performs the varied functions of "smart desk light, wake-up alarm, room guard, disco marquee, roving tank, safety light and playful cannon." Hey, we've always wanted a toy like that! Snakey will be available somewhere in the world, sometime this year for $119, while the roboteddy is expected to retail for $229. Check out the gallery for pics of both of these fine new additions to the robotic zoo, along with a few images of the RS Media, Dragonfly, and that Roboquad spiderbot we saw yesterday... WowWee: snakes, dragonflies, and bears -- oh my!
Video: WowWee's trio of robots
WowWee's latest robotic creations, the RoboQuad, the RS Media and... a singing likeness of Elvis Presley... took the spotlight earlier today at CES Unveiled. Yeah, the singing Elvis sounds creepy, but check out the video to see just how creepy.
Robosapien RS Media coming stateside this summer
It'll be nearly a year and a half since it was first introduced at CES 2006, but the Robosapien RS Media -- already available in the UK -- is finally poised for a US release this summer. According to a Wowwee representative at a media event this evening, the multimedia-focused humanoid (as you may recall, it rocks a digital video camera, chest-mounted LCD, and MP3 playback capabilities) will retail for a cool $300, but those three Benjamins do get you the most interactive and customizable Robosapien on the market. Sadly, despite the many petitions we've sent to Wowwee, that popular flamethrower accessory is not included.
Wowwee to announce zippy Roboquad "spiderbot"
It wouldn't be a rockin' CES without some new robotoys from Wowwee -- last year saw the introduction of three new bots -- and sure enough, the company is poised to announce one of its most sophisticated models to date this time around. Called the Roboquad -- and formerly known as, ahem, SpiderSapien -- this four-legged critter is said to possess unprecedented mobility and locational awareness: although official specs and deets (and unfortunately, pics) are still under wraps, word on the street says that Roboquad is endowed with three speeds of movement and a sensitive infrared detector that can identify the size of objects and even spacial details such as the edge of a doorway. Because it can also react to sound and detect movement up to 13 feet away, the quadruped will supposedly be able to act as a somewhat ghetto security system as well. If these rumored features do in fact turn out to be legit, it will be further proof -- along with the innovative Dragonfly -- that Wowwee is looking to have its products branch out beyond your standard animatronic dolls. Still, by the time the $119 Roboquad hits stores this fall, Ugobe will already have its pimped-out Pleo on shelves, so Wowwee is gonna need to "wow" us with even more functionality if it wants to stay ahead of the game.[Via Roboquad, thanks Robert O.]
Program your Robosapien with new Go-Robo software
Q4 Technologies, a software company previously known for its gridmagic art package, is working on software to control Wowwee devices. Go-Robo, currently in beta, allows users to write commands for their Robosapien or similar device using either a graphical "building block" interface -- for novices -- or by employing GRIDscript, which is a proprietary programming language for advanced users. As it stands, the software allows you to control up six robots simultaneously via a user-supplied IR transmitter; hardly enough for you to wage that robotic uprising you've been planning, but it's a start. The full version is expected to be available by spring time next year.[Via Robot Gossip]
Wowwee's FlyTech Dragonfly in action
While the Robosapien, Roboreptile, and basically all of Wowwee's gizmos demand an (understandable) level of respect, the FlyTech Dragonfly (quite literally) takes this "robotic toy" gig to another level. While the FCC got its paws on the fluttering animal not too long ago, it now appears that citizens over at T3 got a chance to give it whirl, and the results are indeed impressive. Relying on "brute flapping-power to remain airborne," this creature reportedly worked "amazingly well," and the rechargeable battery pack will purportedly keep it in flight for "around 15 minutes." Although the bug should draw a crowd at next month's CES, there's no need to wait around to get a sneak peek at what this tombo is capable of, as the kind folks at T3 are delivering a hands-on video (after the break) to make us all green with envy.
Wowwee branching out with FlyTech Dragonfly, FCC reveals
Where would we be without the FCC? Our favorite leaksters just let slip the latest RC creation from Wowwee, the FlyTech Dragonfly, which Wowwee bills as the "world's first radio-controlled flying insect." The Dragonfly flies by flapping its ultra-light wings, and can be used indoors and outdoors. Power is provided by an internal battery which can provide around 10 minutes of flying time, and can be recharged by perching the Dragonfly on the controller, which sports six AA batteries and can charge the RC insect in around 15 minutes. The wings and rear propellor (which is used to control "trim," all helicopter-style) are user-replaceable, but for the most part the bug is fairly crash resistant. There's around 150 feet of wireless range, along with "beginner" and "expert" control modes. In traditional Wowwee style, there are plenty of LEDs involved, informing the user of battery life, controller status and other fun things, but unfortunately there's not a whole lot of "robot" going on here. And of course, there's no word on price or availability yet, since this just hit the FCC. Wowwee at least has a few kinks to work out of its manual, since the FCC version of which still includes the line, "Note: When using the FlyTech Dragonfly, some adult supervision is required." Followed by the parenthetical: "Do we need this here? Is QC requiring it?" We're sure that once they figure out that whole "will it destroy children" sitch, this thing won't be far from retail shelves. Peep the controller and a features diagram after the break.Read - FCC: Wowwee's FlyTech DragonflyRead - FCC: Dragonfly controller
Make your Robosapien into a Flamosapien
We're not entirely sure it jibes with the guide to robot ethics, but there's no denying that the flamethrower add-on is one of the most impressive Robosapien hacks we've ever seen. The folks at Evosapien.com must've sensed our enthusiasm, because they posted a step-by-step tutorial showing how the potentially home destroying bot was built. Because of the incredible risk involved, we don't recommend anyone actually build their own, but we encourage you to read along as a barbecue lighter and some cheap electronic parts transform an otherwise friendly robot into the ultimate enemy of eyebrows. Just hope some overzealous enthusiast doesn't teach his Lego brained bot to read internet tutorials, as that could be very bad for humankind as we know it.
Robosapien RS Media gets new Lego Mindstorm NXT brain
If you're looking to delve a little deeper into the world of robotics, but don't exactly have the time or soldering skills to build your own, you'll be glad to know that you'll be able to hack away at your lovable Robosapien RS Media using Lego's Mindstorm NXT system. Thanks to Robosapien designer Mark Tilden's affinity for Lego, the Mindstorm brain fits perfectly into the bot's backpack, allowing you to program a host of new movements into its already robust and customizable repertoire. We suggest you start with something easy like dancing then move your way up to teaching your Robo to destroy the evil imposter, Robone. The source link goes on to mention a few other interesting projects being worked on at Wowwee headquarters, including a four-foot, Segway wheel toting Robosapien model with voice technology and an internet connection, as well as a robotic spider and dragonfly. It all sounds very exciting to us, and we, for one, would like to welcome our new robot overlords (beat you to it).
