RoboSapien

Last updated
RoboSapien
Inventor(s) Mark Tilden
Company WowWee
SloganA Fusion of Technology and Personality
Official website

RoboSapien is a toy-like biomorphic robot designed by Mark Tilden and produced by WowWee toys. Released in 2004, the Robosapien is preprogrammed with moves, and also can be controlled by an infrared remote control included or by a PDA. [1] The product sold over 1.5 million units between April and December 2004, [2] and was named "Toy of the Year" by the Toy Retailers Association. [3]

Contents

Overview

The toy is capable of a walking motion without recourse to wheels within its feet. It can grasp objects with either of its hands, and throw grasped objects. It has a small loudspeaker unit, which can broadcast several different vocalizations. The robot uses seven motors, and maintains balance by using "two trianges", one inverted above the over. [4] As the lower part of the body leans to one side, balance is maintained by titling the upper half to match. [4]

The robot's remote control unit has a total of 21 different buttons. With the help of two shift buttons, a total of 67 different robot-executable commands are accessible. [5]

Other uses

Germany Openen 2005 tournament two teams of three Robosapiens each played the first Soccer match of humanoid robots worldwide. University of Osnabrück played against a team from Albert Ludwig's University of Freiburg. Replacing the head by a PDA allowed the robot to perceive its environment with a camera, a control program could then react to this via the PDA's infrared sender.[ citation needed ]

Other research involving RoboSapien includes using it to model the behaviour of humanoid robots in dangerous manufacturing environments. [6]

Variants

Colors

In addition to the white/black color scheme, there are additional colored variants of RoboSapien which include chrome red, blue, silver with blue eyes, gold, green, pink, and transparent. A majority of these also came bundled with Mini RoboSapiens of the same respective color.

Mini RoboSapien

A smaller version of the toy titled "Mini RoboSapien" has also been produced. It does not have a remote control or different modes of behavior, and isn't an autonomous robot. The product runs on two AAA-size batteries and can only move forward in one direction.

As with the original, it is available in a wide range of colors, some being bundled with the standard-size model.

RoboSapien Jr.

RoboSapien Jr. is a licensed variant of the toy produced by Hasbro subsidiary Playskool, and released in 2005. RoboSapien Jr. is a bump-and-go variant of the original, and is smaller than the Mini RoboSapien. It has three different modes of play, makes sounds, and dances to music (the same tune as the original).

SpiderSapien and HomerSapien

In January 2007, WowWee signed licensing deals with Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox to produce the SpiderSapien and HomerSapien, styled after Spider-Man and Homer Simpson and being made to promote Spider-Man 3 and The Simpsons Movie respectively.

SpiderSapien features Spider-Man-styled armor, and an array of Spider-Man sound effects. [7] A Mini SpiderSapien was also produced in both standard and black suit colors.

HomerSapien was similarly adapted with sound bites and a sculpted Homer head. [8] A Mini HomerSapien was also made.

RoboSapien X

RoboSapien X is an enhanced re-release of the original RoboSapien, announced by WowWee in 2013, and released in 2014. The robot is identical to the original, but can now be controlled using an iOS or Android device (Through the "RoboRemote" IR dongle) in addition to the standard remote control.

RoboSapien Blue

RoboSapien Blue is a variant of RoboSapien X, released in 2014. It features a black/blue color scheme and can function using a Bluetooth-enabled iOS or Android smart device or the included remote.

RoboSapien Remix

RoboSapien Remix was released in 2021. It is a simplified robot that includes a spring shooter, can swap personalities with the press of a button, dances to music, and repeats dialogue in a robotic voice. RoboSapien Remix doesn't operate using a remote control, instead, the functionalities are on the robot itself in addition to hearing sound.

Specifications

Film

A CGI/live action film produced by Avi Arad named Robosapien: Rebooted was being produced in 2008 and was released in 2013. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Tilden</span> Canadian roboticist

Mark W. Tilden is a robotics physicist who produces complex robotic movements from simple analog logic circuits, often with discrete electronic components, and usually without a microprocessor. He is controversial because of his libertarian Tilden's Laws of Robotics, and is known for his invention of BEAM robotics and the WowWee Robosapien humanoid robot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haro (character)</span>

Haro is the mechanical mascot of the Gundam science fiction anime franchise, and is the only character that appears in more than one timeline. Haro has since become a mascot for the Sunrise studio as a whole, often appearing in their recent idents.

WowWeeGroup Limited, is a privately held, Hong Kong-based Canadian consumer technology company.

An entertainment robot is, as the name indicates, a robot that is not made for utilitarian use, as in production or domestic services, but for the sole subjective pleasure of the human. It serves, usually the owner or his housemates, guests, or clients. Robotic technologies are applied in many areas of culture and entertainment.

Roboraptor is a robotic toy invented by Mark Tilden and Michael Bellantoni in 2004, and then distributed by Wow Wee Toys International. It is the successor to the RoboSapien robot and uses motion technology based on realistic biomechanics that give it fluid and natural movements. It has a multi-function remote control that uses infrared technology to talk to it. Unlike the original RoboSapien, the Roboraptor is capable of autonomous movement, using 3 realistic gaits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Trak</span> Programmable toy created by Milton Bradley in 1979

BIG TRAK / bigtrak is a programmable toy electric vehicle created by Milton Bradley in 1979, resembling a futuristic Sci-Fi tank / utility vehicle, possibly for use on the Moon or a Planetoid style environment. The original Big Trak was a six-wheeled tank with a front-mounted blue "photon beam" headlamp, and a keypad on top. The toy could remember up to 16 commands, which it then executed in sequence. There also was an optional cargo trailer accessory, with the UK version being white to match its colour scheme; once hooked to the Bigtrak, this trailer could be programmed to dump its payload.

The Robosapien V2 is the second generation of Mark Tilden's Robosapien robot. It is nearly twice the size of the original robot, standing around 1.85 feet (56 cm) tall. Instead of the original caveman grunts, the V2 can speak a large list of pre-recorded phrases. It has infrared and basic color recognition sensors, grip sensors in its hands, touch or contact activated hand and foot sensors, and sonic sensors. For movement, the V2 has an articulated waist, shoulders, and hands giving him a variety of body animations.

The Roboreptile is a toy robot by WowWee. The Roboreptile has infrared and sound sensors, and is able to autonomously explore its environment while avoiding obstacles. It can also operate in different modes where it simulates behaviors of real animals. It is able to rear up on its hind legs and attack. Roboreptile was released in China on the 28 April 2006 and to the rest of the world later that year. It is superficially similar to a theropod or a prosauropod dinosaur but being quadrupedal it's better equated to a silesaurid or a monitor lizard.

The Omnibot (オムニボット) is a toy robot originally manufactured by Tomy in the mid-1980s. The name then came to apply to the successful line of robots manufactured by the company. The initial Omnibot was announced with expectations of restoring popular interest in robots, at a time when it was becoming obvious that robots with advanced AI such as R2-D2 were still a long way away. A more advanced version of the Omnibot was called the Omnibot 2000 and did not have a plastic bubble over its head. With the success of the Omnibots, the Omnibot range quickly expanded. After the video game crash of 1983 and its debilitating effect on the nascent home electronics industry, the Omnibot faded away but it was revived in the early 2000s. The latest version of the Omnibot is the i-SOBOT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal robot</span>

A personal robot is one whose human interface and design make it useful for individuals. This is by contrast to industrial robots which are generally configured and operated by robotics specialists. A personal robot is one that enables an individual to automate the repetitive or menial part of home or work life making them more productive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WowWee Alive Chimpanzee</span>

The Alive Chimpanzee is produced by WowWee Alive, a division of WowWee Ltd. The animatronic Chimpanzee is the first in WowWee Alive's product line. Unlike WowWee's other robots, the Chimpanzee only consists of the head of a chimpanzee. It houses eight motors to mimic the facial expressions of a real chimp. It also contains 9 sensors, including IR sensors in the eyes, touch sensors on the chin, top and rear of the head and sound and vibration sensors in the ear. There is also an Alive Elvis manufactured.

The Flytech Dragonfly is a remote-controlled flying toy manufactured by WowWee. The Dragonfly has been incorrectly billed as the world's first commercially available RC ornithopter. It was actually preceded by several other products, including Hobbytechnik's Skybird, Park Hawk, and Slow Hawk radio controlled ornithopters, and the Cybird radio-controlled ornithopter from Neuros.

The RS Media is another product in WowWee's line of biomorphic robots, based on a walking system designed by Mark Tilden. The RS Media uses basically the same body as the Robosapien V2, but a different brain based on a Linux kernel. As the name implies, the RS Media's focus is on multimedia capabilities, including the ability to record and playback audio, pictures and video. he retains and builds upon the Robosapien V2's sensor array and programmability.

Robopanda is a robotic interactive companion produced by WowWee. The Robopanda uses interchangeable cartridges that contain personalities, stories and songs, and is controlled directly by touch and sound sensors. Robopanda is labeled for use by children ages 9 and up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roboboa</span> Robotic Snake

Roboboa is a robotic snake produced by WowWee. Roboboa has 4 angled body sections, allowing Roboboa to coil by rotating adjacent sections. A motorized tail roller and casters on the midsection allow Roboboa to move in a straight line.

Tomotaka Takahashi is a Japanese roboticist and founder of Kyoto University's ROBO-GARAGE since 2018. Takahashi creates humanoid robots known for their smooth, fluid motions and sleek appearance. Having built many humanoid robots entirely by himself, from simple concepts to production, Takahashi's designs have been featured in several art exhibitions celebrating the creation of Astroboy, Time Magazine's Coolest Inventions of 2004, and promotions for Bandai, Panasonic, and Pepsi. He has also worked with toy companies to produce relatively inexpensive robots for the hobby market, including those for Kyosho.

FemiSapien is a female humanoid robot that WowWee announced at CES in January 2008. It can respond to sight, sound, and touch and can be programmed with a sequence of movements. At CES 2008 an estimated release date of late summer and $99 MSRP were given, and was being sold for $89.99 in 2009.

<i>Robosapien: Rebooted</i> 2013 Canadian film

Robosapien: Rebooted is a 2013 science fiction family drama film starring Bobby Coleman, Holliston Coleman, Penelope Ann Miller, David Eigenberg, Joaquim de Almeida, Kim Coates, Jae Head and Peter Jason, produced by Arad Productions Inc., Arc Productions, Crystal Sky Pictures and Brookwell McNamara Entertainment and distributed by Anchor Bay Films and TVA Films. It is based on the toy Robosapien.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tekno the Robotic Puppy</span>

Tekno the Robotic Puppy is a popular electronic robotic toy which originally launched in late 2000. Tekno sold more than 7 million units in its first season and went on to sell more than 40 million units in its original 4 years of production. The worldwide popularity for Tekno led to prominent awards and widespread media coverage which included newspaper articles, television and film appearances, and a stand-alone feature on the cover of Time magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logitech Harmony</span>

Logitech Harmony is a line of remote controls and home automation products produced by Logitech. The line includes universal remote products designed for controlling the components of home theater systems and other devices that can be controlled via infrared, as well as newer smart home hub products that can be used to additionally control supported Internet of things (IoT) and Smart home products, and allow the use of mobile apps to control devices. On April 10, 2021, Logitech announced that they would discontinue Harmony Remote manufacturing.

References

  1. "WowWee Robosapien X". wowwee.com. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  2. "Wow Wee's Robosapien Beliches Its Way To Success", (December 19, 2004). Miami Herald .
  3. "Toy of the Year 1965-2007 - Toy Retailers Association". www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Barbie, meet your burping nightmare; Profile", (December 19, 2004) Sunday Times , NI Syndication Limited.
  5. "HighTechScience.org's Robosapien V1 Robot". www.hightechscience.org. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  6. Stopforth, R. & Bright G. (2014) "Robosapien Robot used to Model Humanoid Interaction to Perform tasks in Dangerous Manufacturing Environments", 27th International Conference on CADCAM, Robotics and Factories of the Future: Materials Science and Engineering, 65. DOI:10.1088/1757-899X/65/1/012022
  7. "Gadgets Of The Week", (May 21, 2007). Birmingham Mail. p36.
  8. Estridge, Bonnie (July 19, 2008) "Return of the Robots", The Express on Sunday , London, England. pp11-12.
  9. "'Robosapien' parts assembled", by Gregg Kilday, The Hollywood Reporter , April 7, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2010.