The ability to be unpredictable and respond to interaction makes robotic toys a firm favourite with children of all ages. Non robotic toys, can’t interact with the environment, but these educational robots can really help children and adults to experiment and increase their own creativity. The range is massive – from the hi tech, sophisticated roboquad to the hexbug micro walking bug – the robotic toys revolution is definitely here! These toys are designed to see, hear, feel and express a variety of emotions keeping a child totally entertained. These toys have redifined play time and the demand for more enhanced features just keeps growing.
We have long been fascinated with the concept of robotic toys and even as early as the 4th century BC, Archytas, made a steam operated robotic toys bird. We are obsessed with automation, and this fascination with self driven toys has continued throughout the ages, with air pressure introduced as a robotic toys power source, by the greatest experimenter of Antiquity, Hero of Alexandria (10-70AD). There are a myriad of heroic and villainous robotic toys characters that are manufactured today and the continually growing range of robotic toys, pets and personal assistants to disabled people would amaze him.
Eastern cultures have been just as determined and in 1088, using an early escapement mechanism, Su Song of China, built a mechanical clock using robotic toys to chime the hours. And by 1206, Arab, Al-Jazari, renowned for constructing astounding robotic toys, had created the first ever humanoid robots. The muslim inventor, used these mechanical musicians to entertain royal guests on a boat. Today, the technology in developing robotic engineering, including robotic toys, is continually progressing. The earliest prototypes used steam, air and water, while the new prototypes are using actuators, air muscles and electric DC motors. Check oyt the first robot of its kind, built using serially controlled servo technology, the Bioloid Multi bot allows the user to construct robot configerations including autonomous exploration robot to hexapod spider robot all from the one controller board. We really are living in a science fiction era!
Amazing remote contolled robotic toys insects now combine lightweight, modern aerospace technology with easy to fly models. These fabulous robotic toys feature crash resistant structures, making them ideal for indoor and outdoor fun. Usually based on the real flight motion of the insect they are intelligent micromachines that can perform exquisite manouvers in unpredictable environments. Flying robots are not just insects, planes or helicoptors – Bandai’s Mr Sky Armour, is a flying robot toy that flies around using 2 propellers. Robotic technology is so advanced that anything is possible – Military, scientific and even government organisations frequently use remote controlled aircraft for aerodynamic testing, weather readings and even spy planes.
Robotic technology is found in clocks to remote controlled vehicles. To be considered a “robot,” the specimen must be capable of interacting with its environment and physically doing something. Recent technology advances allows robotics to be used in surgery, disaster recovery and even fire fighting.