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Hardware Reviews

Hardware reviews include robot packages, toys, and other devices.

Biometrics

  1. SecuGen EyeD Optical Mouse w/SecuDesktop2000
    This hardware and software combination gives users a biometric security solution to all Windows systems utilizing the built-in fingerprint sensor in the optical mouse.

Home Automation

  1. Let's Automate Starter Kit #2
    An excellent kit containing a CM12U, LM12U, AM12U, LW10U and the ActiveHome software all for £100 (excl. VAT). This review details the modules, see Software section for ActiveHome review.

  2. Laser Business Systems Starter Kit #4
    A kit designed to control your X-10 modules via remote control. This kit contains a UR24E, TW12E, LM12U and AM12U for just under £100 (excl. VAT). A dream to setup and use.

Robots (Commercial)

  1. Probotics Cye-SR Personal Robot
    The world's first true personal robot. Automates vacuuming and document delivery - very easily expandable through its own ZAP programming functionality, or its CyeCom OCX control!

Robots (Educational Kits)

  1. Parallax BOE-Bot
    The famous STAMP II chip deserves all the attention it gets. Parallax has come up with an incredible kit, great instructions, easy to assemble and highly educational.

  2. Parallax Growbot
    This robot also features the STAMP II chip but requires soldering and little assembly. While the Growbot is an interesting robot and expandable with AppMods, it doesn't quite live up to the BOE-Bot.

  3. Norland Research Calculator Robot
    A calculator powered by the excellent Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus graphing calculator! Excellent for beginners.

Robots (Hobby Kits)

  1. Elekit MR-973/MR-9732 Hyper Line Tracer
    One of the newer Elekit robotics packages - but does it live up to their great reputation? Sadly, not really.

  2. Elekit MR-959/MR-9592 Medusa II
    Funky walking robot. A very simple electronic design, but some dexterous hand movement required for building. This kit is an excellent starter kit into the robotics field.

  3. Elekit MR-969/MR-9692 Hyper Peppy II
    Professional little robot that will reverse and turn upon hitting an object or hearing a loud noise.

  4. Elekit MR-999 Mechanical Arm
    The MR-999 is a neat robotics kit, easy-to-assemble and test, and has some good learning material. The kit comes with specialized software to "remote-control" the unit from your computer - this unfortunately requires some strange peripherals though.

  5. Stiquito
    A tiny, very cheap hexapod walker that uses nitinol to power it's limbs. This kit comes with the book 'Stiquito for Beginners' but can be ordered separately. A neat little kit that requires a lot of patience.

Toys

  1. Gigabot
    A Furby in a robotic shell. This review briefly covers the capabilities, and looks at what can be done beyond what the box says.

  2. Lego MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System 1.5
    Lego branched into robotics, with the idea of bringing Lego to life. Not only did they achieve that, they created a huge following children and adults alike.

  3. Lego MINDSTORMS Vision Command
    This add-on to the RIS is incredible value-for-money, not only allowing your robots to see, but also opening up a huge world to people ready to program the hardware itself.

  4. Sony ERS-111 AIBO Entertainment Robot
    They took the world by storm, and have won the hearts of their owners and admirers alike. The Sony AIBO is truly a landmark in AI and consumer robotics. Generation5 tested out their own AIBO to see just how cool they were.

  5. My Real Baby
    The world's first truly animatronic baby. Not only is this toy a good commercial use of robotics, it also utilizes some high-tech emotional response technology. Made by iRobot, My Real Baby is a cool toy that should hopefully pave the way for more realistic toys.


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