$20 Gorilla Bot: Hackable?

erco

http://cgi.ebay.com/Prime-8-Action-Robot-Gorilla-w--Remote-Control/360352960847?_trksid=p1468660.m2000037

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y6xUO5qxek video after annoying commercial

Prime-8 on clearance, $20 shipped. A bad first launch for CMU startup Bossa Nova Robotics.

Duane Degn

I usually have a hard time passing up something to hack. This isn't hard to resist.

doggiedoc

I looked at one of these the other day at Toy's R Us. I don't know if it was on clearance or not. I didn't think it looked like an appealing item to try to hack. It didn't even look fun to play with. I agree, bad first launch.

Paul

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

I watched the video. It has an interesting rolling mechanism but rather limited "play value." It's like a movie with compelling special effects but no plot.

-Phil

erco

@Phil: You mean like the movie 2012?

Well sure one's no fun. But why buy one when you can have two at twice the price and play laser tag? Looks more like work than fun : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KJC_TPvclc&feature=relmfu

Prime-8 has a penguin sister Penbo, also on sale: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120699898229&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT No laser tag, no missiles, no blinding speed. This female Penguin's curious action feature: it lays an egg! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KRQn4IeMss

It appears that Bossa Nova Robotics "laid an egg" themselves on this one: http://www.allaboutstuff.com/Sports_Phrases/To_Lay_An_Egg.asp

ajward

One of the odder videos I've watched in a while. Seems like a whole lot of operator assistance was required at times.

erco

True, often times more technology makes a toy less fun and more of a PITA!

kwinn

erco wrote: »

True, often times more technology makes a toy less fun and more of a PITA!

One day you'll buy your girls a fancy and expensive toy and end up watching them play with the cardboard box it came in.

ajward

kwinn wrote: »

One day you'll buy your girls a fancy and expensive toy and end up watching them play with the cardboard box it came in.

Yes... the toy is... well, a toy. But... the box... the box is an adventure to be experienced. It's a ship, an airplane, a cave, a castle, a house, a fort, a race car and it can even be disassembled and remade into even more things. Long live the box!!! ;-)

Amanda

erco

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2005-11-12-cardboard-box_x.htm

Duane Degn

While the gorilla wasn't hard to pass on, today's kids.woot (I think I used the permalink) offer is harder to pass up.

Cyclaws looks like it could be fun. I'm not sure if the claws extend on command or only when there's an obstacle.

It's hard to pass up but I think I will. $40 delivered. I already have way too many projects.

If anyone here gets one, I'd like to know what they think about it.

prof_braino

erco wrote: »

why buy one when you can have two at twice the price and play laser tag?

I like the way you think! Did you do anything with this? A bunch of motors and sensors in a cheap package looks like a lot of potential.

ajward

erco wrote: »

http://cgi.ebay.com/Prime-8-Action-Robot-Gorilla-w--Remote-Control/360352960847?_trksid=p1468660.m2000037

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y6xUO5qxek video after annoying commercial

Prime-8 on clearance, $20 shipped. A bad first launch for CMU startup Bossa Nova Robotics.

Just walking out of the local 'Shack yesterday and noticed they have a dinosaur from the same company that makes the Prime-8. Gonna go back today and take a closer look. (Okay... I like dinosaurs. I have Godzilla right here on my desk! :-> )