Robotics Trends

HEXBUG Nano Swarms Toys“R”Us & RadioShack Stores Nationwide Innovation First’s new robotic toy features interactive online experience dedicated to science & discovery. Innovation First International, a developer of educational and competitive robotics products and consumer robotics toys, unveiled the HEXBUG Nano – a tiny, 1.75 inch energetic micro robotic bug that uses the physics of vibration and robotic intelligence to skitter along and explore its environment on smooth surfaces. Planned as a series for collectors, the first release is the Nano Newton Collection of five unique bugs for kids 3 years old and up, and is now available for $7.99 each at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com, RadioShack and online at http://www.hexbug.com/nano. Additionally, Toys“R”Us is exclusively offering the HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set, which allows users to configure customizable mazes for the industrious… View this post
Filed in: Personal Robotics • Latest News • RT News
Tagged: Robot, Robotic toys, Robotics, Smart toys, Hexbug nano, Innovation first

Household Robots Do Not Protect Users’ Security and Privacy, Researchers Say University of Washington research included in the proceedings from the 11th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing sheds light on an unaddressed problem with certain classes of consumer robotics products. People are increasingly using household robots for chores, communication, entertainment and companionship. But safety and privacy risks of information-gathering objects that move around our homes are not yet adequately addressed, according to a new University of Washington study. It’s not a question of evil robots, but of robots that can be misused. “A lot of attention has been paid to robots becoming more intelligent and turning evil,” said co-author Tadayoshi Kohno, a UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering. “But there is a much greater and more near-term risk, and that’s bad people who can use… View this post
Filed in: Personal Robotics • Latest News
Tagged: Robot, Smart toys, Security, Toy, Rovio, Wowwee , Consumer robots, University of washington