Holiday Gift Ideas…Robots

by Traci Latoz

Remember when LEGO toys were just primary colored hunks of plastic? Looks like LEGO is taking on the world of robotic toys. The Lego Mindstorms NXT is a fully-programmable robot with an “intelligent LEGO brick” for a brain…actually a 32-bit micro-processor.

The LEGO robot has multiple light, sound, and touch sensors for a full range of programming options. Users program the robot using drag and drop software which is compatible with both PC and MAC. This sophisticated, long lost cousin of WALL-E is also a Bluetooth compatible gadget. I found Lego Mindstorms NXT at KB Toys. Ages 10 & up.

Robosapien seems like a cross between remote control toys, and robotic toys. Robosapien features up to 84 programmable action sequences, and it can dance, pick up objects and throw them, and run. Robosapien’s arms come with two types of grippers for easily picking up a variety of objects. Robosapien is available at eToys.

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