Roboreptile

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A Roboreptile showing remote control and hood.

The Roboreptile is a biomorphic robot manufactured by WowWee Ltd. The Roboreptile has infrared and sound sensors, and is able to autonomously explore its environment while avoiding obstacles. It can also operate in different modes where it simultates behaviors of real animals. Inspired by the Australian frilled lizard, it is able to rear up on its hind legs and attack.

1 Features
2 Notes
- 2.1 Pros and cons
3 Release Date
4 Robotyrannus
5 External links

[edit] Features

Biomorphic movements
Four-legged walking and high speed running; bipedal "attack" mode; jumping action
Flexible neck; whipping tail
Multi-sensory environmental awareness
Infrared vision sensors for obstacle avoidance and detection of movements
Sonic sensors for detection of sharp, loud sounds
Touch sensor for responding to human interaction
Five modes

Autonomous (default): Hungry and aggressive; explores and interacts with his environment searching for prey; attacking, roaring, biting behaviors
Direct control: Multi-layered 28 function remote including demo function and volume control
Program: Enter a sequence of up to 20 commands
Guard: Activates vision and sonic sensor
Sleep

Three moods

Hungry: his "natural" (default) mood; activate the "feed" button on the remote and he will track down the signal
Satisfied: he calms down after eating
Hooded: he becomes subdued; depending upon human interaction, will either wake up hungry or fall asleep

Auto shut-off function

[edit] Notes

The Roboreptile is controlled by an infrared remote control.

[edit] Pros and cons

The Roboreptile is considered the successor to the Roboraptor and is faster and more agile than the latter.

Its programming however may have a tendency to glitch and get caught in a start-up loop where the device continues to 'pounce' and roar repeatedly which has no apparent fix for it apart from replacement. Further its limited interaction ability and poor remote control detection has led to it being deemed a white elephant as far as delivering on its promises. However, the Roboreptile does have very advanced artificial intelligence, and when operating normally it can avoid obstacles without question. It has also been criticised for its 'two leg' mode, in which instead of standing properly upright, it 'rocks back' on to its back legs. It also may have an issue with not responding properly in low light levels of some homes which can be resolved with brighter lighting.

[edit] Release Date

Roboreptile was released in New Zealand on the 26th of June 2006 and to the rest of the world later that year.

[edit] Robotyrannus

The Robotyrannus is a variation of the Roboreptile with some cosmetic differences: horns on its head and a dorsal fin. It is currently being sold in the UK, Canada and the United States (although in the US it is generically called Roboreptile, despite being the Robotyrannus design). Regardless of the altered appearance, Robotyrannus is functionally identical to the original Roboreptile. It has been a RadioShack exclusive in United States, but the title was RoboReptile.