‘’Hexbug’’ is a brand of toy robot developed and distributed by Innovation First. Hexbug was inspired by BEAM robotics, and uses many elements of it. Originally released in the US through Radio Shack, it is now sold in most major retail stores. The original was based on 6-legged arthropods, but now comes in several different varieties. The name ‘’’Hexbug’’’, however, has more to do with the shape of the packaging it is sold in than the number of legs it has.
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This Hexbug is an autonomous toy bug that reacts to loud sounds and pressure on the antennae and scurries around the room. It was the first Hexbug made and is classified by the NATO Phonetic Alphabet rather than color and sight. There are five different hexbugs and all are different shapes.
The Inchworm is a remote controlled robot that moves by lifting and placing its body on the ground. It turns by means of a spinning leg on the underside of the robot. It is available in two bands, allowing two people to play at the same time without radio interference.
The Crab is designed to avoid bright lights and hide in dark spots by way of a photodetector. It will move around until it finds a dark place, then stops. It will also move in reaction to loud noises. Unlike other autonomous Hexbug models, the crab will change direction randomly rather than waiting for an obstacle. It also changes direction in reaction to loud sounds.
Similar in design to the Original, but with wheel-like legs, the ant is built to move much more quickly than other models. It moves in a straight line until it bumps into an obstacle, then reverses direction at high speed. It has contact sensors on both ends. The Ant was designed with high speed in mind, for a different pattern than other Hexbugs.
The Nano is aimed more toward collectors, similar to Zhu Zhu Pets. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including a series of glow-in-the-dark toys. The Nano is shaped similarly to a microchip, with 12 pin-like legs on both sides, and about 1 inch long. It moves by way of an offset motor, which causes it to vibrate up and down. The shape of the body and slightly angled legs help it move forward. Because of its design, it can flip itself over if overturned or placed on its side or back. The Nano is also designed to work best in its habitat play sets and on hard surfaces. It cannot move well on most carpeting. There are also Habitat Sets to let your Hexbug Nano roam around in. Recently Innovation First has has came out with glow-in-the-dark habitat sets.
The spider is a remote controlled robot built on a radial body design. Rather than turning its whole body, it rotates its head and walks in the direction it is facing. A red marker on the front of the head shows which way it is facing, and lights up while it turns for better visibility.
The Larva is designed with an optical sensor in its front end to prevent itself from running into obstacles. When the sensor detects an object, the Larva turns, then moves forward again. In this way, it is similar to the original, but moving in a more seemingly organic way.
Hexbug was originally distributed in the US through Radio Shack and later Toys "R" Us, but is now available in most large retail stores.
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