Robotics/Automation

Interactive toys and useful inventions that can do the hard work for you.

Interactive Autonomous Dinosaur

The Pleo begins life as a newly-hatched baby Camarasaurus, and from the moment he starts moving, his individuality begins. Pleo doesn't simply do what he is told; he also develops his own unique personality, moods, and habits that are shaped by the time and experiences he shares with you. The Pleo can go from happy and curious to scared and surprised, and from playful and lively to sad and vexed, depending on a wealth of influences. From hatchling through infant, and all the way through his juvenile stages, Pleo will grow up and change in personality and understanding.

Pleo's sophisticated sensory system is made up of nearly 40 devices that let him to see, sense, touch and detect objects so he can move autonomously and explore his environment without requiring any remote control. This robotic dinosaur includes a color camera with a white-light sensor that allows him to detect bright light from dark, see colors, detect motion, track a moving object, and perceive objects in front of him. This unit also includes binaural microphones on the left and right that give him stereophonic hearing, allowing him to detect sound direction and loudness through both ears. An infrared receiver and transmitter allows Pleo to identify, communicate and interact with another Pleo, while another infrared interruptor allows Pleo to detect when something is being placed in his mouth. Meanwhile eight touch sensors on his chin, shoulder, legs, back and head are triggered by touch and allow him to 'feel.' What's more, this dinosaur has a skin that is constructed of a custom-formulated, soft thermoplastic material that's painted with an incredibly realistic and lifelike coloration.

The Pleo Life Form also has over 100 custom-designed gears, and 14 motors for highly-articulated movement. Each motor has a force feedback sensor that makes them sensitive to forceful grabs at the dinosaur's legs, neck, tail and torso, causing him to shut down during trauma to avoid internal damage. Pleo will actually react to being hurt, perhaps exhibiting a limp, and can recover over time depending on the level of nurturing you exhibit. Ground sensors allow Pleo to know when a foot is on a solid surface or when he has been picked up, while tilt and shake sensors allow him to know if he has fallen or is being held upside down. The sensors will also wake him up after he has fallen 'asleep.' Both front and rear speakers even enable Pleo to communicate via cute honks and hoots, as well as other fun and natural sounds.

Visit pleoworld.com

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Desktop Chimp

The WowWee Alive Chimpanzee is a life-size interactive animatronic chimpanzee head and shoulders. Realistic sounds and motions are made possible through the 'magic' of realistic Hollywood special effects.

Lifelike hair and skin, and a startlingly expressive, interactive personality really bring this simian alive! The WowWee Alive Chimpanzee has four distinct moods: Curious, Fearful, Happy and Angry.

There are three basic ways to interact with the Wowwee Alive Chimpanzee: alive, direct control, and program modes. The infrared 'vision' sensors, microphone 'hearing' sensors, and 'touch' sensors in his chin, head and ears provide realistic animal behavior in Alive Mode. Direct Control Mode lets you operate the chimp with the included remote control like a puppet. Program Mode lets you store a routine of the chimp's movements and sounds up to 20 steps long. Setting the chimp to Guard Mode will make him respond to stimulus by executing the program steps you've put in.

Age Grading: 8+

Battery Requirements: 4 “D” and 1 “9 Volt” (not included)

Visit wowweealiveonline.com

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Robotic Lawnmower

Designed to tackle lawns as big as 16,000 square feet, this RoboMower automated lawn mower can cut the grass while you catch some rays on the deck.

The mower comes complete with a docking station, and can be either programmed like an alarm clock, so that it automatically starts mowing at pre-set times, or run using a manual controller. Its patented Triple-Chamber Mulching System eliminates the need to collect clippings, while a disabling mechanism with a personal password deters thieves.

Measuring 35 by 26 by 12-1/2 inches, the mower weighs 50 pounds and has a 5-1/2-horsepower engine with a blade speed of 5,800 rpm. Other features include touch-sensitive bumpers, a child guard, a lift sensor, and a buzzer that sounds five minutes prior to automatic departure, warning people to clear the mowing area.

Visit friendlyrobotics.com

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Autonomous Robotic Fish

A robotic fish that can swim like a real-fish and navigate by itself. When they eventually miniaturize this and make it look more realistic, I hope we'll be able to have an aquarium full of robotic tropical fish that we would never have to feed and the best thing is that we'd never have to clean the tank.

Visit the official Essex Robotic Fish Home Page

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

The Roomba Robotic Floorvac has changed the way people clean their homes. It seems they bring out a new version every 5 minutes, so check their web site or Amazon.com for the latest model.

Visit irobot.com

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Electrolux Trilobite

I waited so long for this product to come out that I pretty much gave up on it. It seems to be available, but you never know if it will disappear like so many other products. Check it out while you can.

Visit electroluxusa.com

visit electrolux.com

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