WowWee Robosapiens: Bringing NASA Technology to Your Home:
Your Guide to WowWee Robosapiens - WowWee introduced the world to the first biomorphic robot, the Robosapien. This "fusion of technology and personality" brings leading edge robotics into the home in a fascinating, and fun, way. WowWee has continually raised its own standards and benchmarks for quality since their inception in 1988, winning award after award. Personal robotics may have once seemed like a far-fetched dream, but WowWee has made that a possibility for homes across the world. What makes the Robosapien such a remarkable product? Let's take a look and see.
What is the Robosapien? - What does a fusion of technology and personality look like? Probably about as you would expect: it looks like a robot from a cartoon, an action figure your child may play with. In this body, WowWee has placed some of the most sophisticated technology in the industry. The result is a winner of Family Fun's Toy of the Year, the Oppenheim Platinum Award, and the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval, among others. It tops "Best of" lists from Circuit City, Yahoo, Duracell, E-Toys, Dr. Toy, Child Magazine, and a host of other online and paper publications. The National Parenting Center praised the fun toy, saying it seems like he (or it?) had a mind of his own. What can Robosapien do?
*It knows 6 different kung fu moves.
*It can walk, turn, and run.
*It has 2 fully functional arms with 2 types of gripping action.
*Robosapien has 67 pre-programmed functions, including pick-up, throw, kick, dance, kung fu, and for the ten-year-old boy in all of us, fart and belch.
*There are 4 programming modes and up to 84 program steps.
*It has programmable "reflexes" so it can react to sound and touch stimuli.
*It speaks fluent caveman, which as the National Parenting Center says, it strangely understandable.
*All of Robosapien's features are remote-controlled and he features extended battery life and auto power-off.
WowWee Robosapien measures 16 x 12.4 x 24.8 inches and was designed by NASA scientists: it is incredible what WowWee has captured in this small robotic toy. One Amazon reviewer said that the WowWee robot toy exceeded even her son's expectations - and he'd been saving up for it for 6 months! Another bought one for his child, and then had a hard time giving it up. Another said, "It's only a toy - but it's an excellent toy." Robosapien won't answer your door or whip you up a quick meal (which Korean scientists are currently working on, but expect a much higher price tag for that version!), but it will entertain hour after hour, as well as providing children (and their parents) with hands-on learning experiences. It's like being a NASA scientist in your own home. Not the least of its selling points is the Robosapien's capacity for letting us dream and think up limitless possibilities for the future of robotics.
Robosapien's sophisticated and entertaining technology is available to the consumer at Amazon for $125.
A Robosapien Revolution:
The success of Robosapien led to bigger and better things for the WowWee robot. The WowWee Robosapien V2, RS Media, Femisapien, and others were added to the lineup, offering the good looks and charm that made the original so popular. The Robosapien V2 expands on the offerings of its predecessor, offering:
*Autonomous "free roam" and guard modes
*4 programming modes
*Speech capability; responds verbally to environmental stimuli
*Enhanced interaction with environment and humans
*Sight, sound, and touch sensors
*Manual or remote programming
*Humanoid movements, including martial arts, waving, dancing, lying down, sitting, getting up, and standing, precision gripping
*Recognizes colors and skin tones with Color Vision System
*Infrared vision to detect and avoid obstacles, as well as track moving objects
*2-axis turning head with animated LED eyes
*100 pre-programmed functions and 2 demo modes
*Sleep and auto shut-off functions
Time Magazine writes that the V2 mixes a little of the original's "sass with some nice new artificial intelligence," to produce one of the season's hottest toys. And one of the more difficult to find. Another difference between the V2 and the original is the price. The V2 starts at about $230 and it can take some searching. Play-Asia.com offers the V2, and you can find high-priced versions on eBay. If you're not willing to part with that much cash, Amazon offers the Mini V2. As opposed to the big 22L x 15H x 13W inch and 8 pound V2, the Mini is 5.6 x 8.6 x 10 inches and 1.5 pounds. The Mini is also mini in features: this is a more basic robot that can walk, light up his eyes, and be posed in any number of creative ways. In contrast to the V2 and the original Robosapien, this is much more of a young child's toy. It is $99.
For a feminine flair to robotics, WowWee has created the Femisapien. This shapely version offers 3 main function modes: Attentive, in which it interacts with you by slowing her pose, being your back-up singer, introducing herself, dancing, and blowing kisses (note that this polite version does not belch or fart); in Learning Mode you can teach her a sequence of movements up to 80 steps long, as well as access preprogrammed functions; in Responsive Mode, Femisapien walks, interacts, and performs comedy routines. She can detect objects at neck level, detect obstacles, and respond to hand gestures. The Femisapien also offers:
*36 functions and 20 interactive routines - plus 59 "hidden" functions to check out
*Standby mode
*Adjustable volume
*Ability to communicate with and/or control other WowWee robots
*5 motors, 4 position switches, 1 infrared receiver, and 1 transmitter
*Microphone
The WowWee Robosapien, in all of its incarnations, is a fun and fascinating toy, and one that makes even adults remember our fascination with robots. Harnessing artificial intelligence and putting it into homes everywhere is what makes WowWee one of the most exciting companies of the day.
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BUYING GUIDES
measures 16 x 12.4 x 24.8 inches and was designed by NASA scientists: it is incredible what WowWee has captured in this small robotic toy. One Amazon reviewer said that the WowWee robot toy exceeded even her son's expectations - and he'd been saving up for it for 6 months! Another bought one for his child, and then had a hard time giving it up. Another said, "It's only a toy - but it's an excellent toy." Robosapien won't answer your door or whip you up a quick meal (which Korean scientists are currently working on, but expect a much higher price tag for that version!), but it will entertain hour after hour, as well as providing children (and their parents) with hands-on learning experiences. It's like being a NASA scientist in your own home. Not the least of its selling points is the Robosapien's capacity for letting us dream and think up limitless possibilities for the future of robotics.
Robosapien's sophisticated and entertaining technology is available to the consumer at Amazon for $125.