| Robo-enthusiasts are a-buzz with giddiness lately, not | | | | or simply wave non-menacingly at your household |
| just from solder-smoke. The next generation of | | | | pets in a friendly gesture. Should your pet not be |
| Robosapien, aptly named the Robosapien V2, is now | | | | appreciative of this charming display, the bi-pedal V2 |
| available. But apparently it's in very short supply in | | | | can walk over to it in one of multiple gaits to ask what |
| North America, and demand is growing with the holiday | | | | its problem is? |
| just around the corner. | | | | Advanced Awareness |
| So what's the hubbub surrounding this second | | | | Robosapien V2 boasts a multi-sensory system unlike |
| generation toy robot? | | | | anything we've seen before, heightening the level of |
| Autonomous Behavior | | | | interactivity. His color recognition unit means he can |
| Robosapien V2 was designed to pay attention to you | | | | visually recognize humans by their flesh tones, |
| very closely, whether you teach him to move his limbs | | | | responding to movements. With a stereo sound |
| to certain positions, activate a preset function, or | | | | detection system he can also hear and react to noise |
| program him from the remote control. But are you | | | | made by you, and really appreciate a 'pull my finger' |
| really interesting to warrant such attention all the time? | | | | joke. |
| Nope. Robosapien V2 is fully capable of taking in the | | | | He'll also have great sense of his environment through |
| environment around him and start doing his own thing. | | | | infra red vision, allowing him to avoid obstacles, table |
| For example, he may decide to explore his | | | | edges, and highly annoyed cats. The remote control is |
| surroundings, identifying other humans and shaking their | | | | supplied with a 'laser' that you can use to trace a path |
| hands. Or, if you leave him alone in a room with a | | | | for him to follow with which a mischievous user could |
| Robopet or Roboraptor, two robots, he can directly | | | | certainly use to lead him toward any ill-tempered pets, |
| control himself (COOL!). You may come back to find | | | | if so desired. Robosapien V2's touch sensory system |
| him playing fetch with one of them using a brightly | | | | has also been highly developed, reacting to your |
| colored ball. | | | | handling of him along with a bump into anything. |
| Way More Sapien | | | | Endless Possibilities |
| At 24 inches tall, this next generation Robosapien not | | | | The large group of robot hobbyists that grew so |
| only looks more humanoid, but brings his predecessor's | | | | enamored with the first Robosapien version, both for |
| fluid movement and biomechanical agility to a whole | | | | its ease of programming and openness to |
| new level. The head can swivel on the neck, allowing | | | | modifications, will really go nuts for this generation. |
| him to recognize and track what's going on around him | | | | There are over 100 pre-programmed functions, 4 |
| in a way that closely matches a human's. The flexible | | | | demonstration modes, and a myriad of ways to |
| waist, with its three degrees of freedom, allows for | | | | program him to do what you want. |
| very complex body movements such as bending, | | | | Through world renowned roboticist Mark Tilden's |
| sitting, lying down, standing up, waving, and martial art | | | | careful design, you can be sure the same attention has |
| maneuvers. | | | | been given to keeping Robosapien V2 easily tinkerable. |
| The Robosapien V2's hands are truly an evolutionary | | | | Surf the Internet to see what kind of mods people |
| next step, with fully articulated fingers that give him | | | | have been doing with the first one, and that should get |
| advanced grasping ability. This precision gripping | | | | you pretty excited with the possibilities to come. |
| enables him to grab a ball and throw it a fair distance | | | | |