Robohub.org
 

2013 robotic gimmicks, gadgets and toys


by
26 February 2013



share this:
Toys often precede more serious inventions. So, putting judgement aside, and withholding laughs and other “tells”, here are some new robotic toys and gadgets hitting the market this year.

Takara Tomy is introducing AutoMee, a $20 smartphone and tablet-cleaning robot, to the Japanese market in March. AutoMee doesn’t show up on Takara Tomy‘s English website but is prominently featured on the main (Japanese) site. Recognizing edges, AutoMee just keeps spinning and rotating around the surface and has a lens-cleaning paper on it’s underside to enable cleaning.

WowWee demonstrated it’s newest robot RoboMe at the 2013 Toy Fair in anticipation of 2013 holiday sales. RoboMe can work in two modes: you can remove the faceplate and replace it with your iPhone or iPod Touch, download, install and initiate an app, and, using graphics, voice and vision, remotely control their RoboMe. It can also operate with a remote control device and the faceplate but without the Siri-like personality.

Grillbot is exhibiting at recent housewares, BBQ and foodservice trade shows with their new grill cleaning Grillbots. Using three powerful servos driving three replaceable bristle brushes, the Grillbot can navigate all over the grill scrubbing as it goes and regulating it’s speed and direction. Grillbots will be available early summer for $70. An upgraded model will retail for $100.

Desk Pets has added Tankbots to their line of inexpensive robotic-like toys. The $30 Tankbot can navigate mazes, avoid obstacles and be remotely controlled with a smartphone or tablet.

Romotive, the Las Vegas start-up that did so well with their Romo robot, has updated Romo to be far more stylish and faster than the previous model. The new Romo will sell for $149 and start shipping in June.

SmartLab Toys has release ReCon 6, a programmable rover selling for $70. It can be programmed to fetch items and speak recorded messages. It’s intended to be an instructional device for kids to learn programming.

The ultimate learning device, of course, is the Lego Mindstorms EV3 (Evolution 3) which will be released this summer for $434. Kids can build, program and test their programmable robots using motors, sensors, gears, wheels and axles.

Finally, Sphero is releasing an augmented reality application to enhance the experience of making the Sphero ball move from place to place. Instead of the ball being a ball, it comes to life as a beaver named Sharky with virtual toys and other innovations. The ball costs $130 and the app is free.

Note: This is not a complete list of the toys and gadgets that will hit the market this year, but it is a selection that came across my desk and which shows the breath of that which will soon be available for purchase. If you know of other robotic toys and gadgets, please send them my way. Thanks.



tags: , , , , ,


Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.
Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.





Related posts :



Robot Talk Episode 119 – Robotics for small manufacturers, with Will Kinghorn

  02 May 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Will Kinghorn from Made Smarter about how to increase adoption of new tech by small manufacturers.

Multi-agent path finding in continuous environments

  01 May 2025
How can a group of agents minimise their journey length whilst avoiding collisions?

Interview with Yuki Mitsufuji: Improving AI image generation

  29 Apr 2025
Find out about two pieces of research tackling different aspects of image generation.

Robot Talk Episode 118 – Soft robotics and electronic skin, with Miranda Lowther

  25 Apr 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Miranda Lowther from the University of Bristol about soft, sensitive electronic skin for prosthetic limbs.

Interview with Amina Mević: Machine learning applied to semiconductor manufacturing

  17 Apr 2025
Find out how Amina is using machine learning to develop an explainable multi-output virtual metrology system.

Robot Talk Episode 117 – Robots in orbit, with Jeremy Hadall

  11 Apr 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Jeremy Hadall from the Satellite Applications Catapult about robotic systems for in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing.

Robot Talk Episode 116 – Evolved behaviour for robot teams, with Tanja Kaiser

  04 Apr 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Tanja Katharina Kaiser from the University of Technology Nuremberg about how applying evolutionary principles can help robot teams make better decisions.

AI can be a powerful tool for scientists. But it can also fuel research misconduct

  31 Mar 2025
While AI is allowing scientists to make technological breakthroughs, there’s also a darker side to the use of AI in science: scientific misconduct is on the rise.



 

Robohub is supported by:




Would you like to learn how to tell impactful stories about your robot or AI system?


scicomm
training the next generation of science communicators in robotics & AI


©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence


 












©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence