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December 2014 Notable Toys — Electronics

By TDmonthly Staff

Kingii Dragon Robot
From: OWI INC.

Other products from OWI INC.

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Specialty: Yes (as of 2014)
Gender: Boys And Girls

Category:

Robotics
Electronics
Science & Nature

Native to Australia, chalamydosaurus kingii or frilled lizard is one of the wackiest lizards to roam planet Earth. So in order to keep young lizard enthusiasts out of harm’s way, OWI has created a freakish robot lizard that is actually fun to play with. The Kingii Dragon Robot is a smart super lizard with artificial intelligence (AI). Similar to the original from Australia, when this robot feels threatened, it gapes its mouth, flashes its eyes, and dramatically spreads and flaps its frill (pleated material that encircles its head) in a threatening manner. If you are not intimidated by these shenanigans, it then turns around, front and back legs erratically move as if it were scampering away from danger.

Kingii Dragon Robot by OWI has an infrared sensor that is programmed to “escape” or “follow-me”. If the infrared sensor is activated in the “escape” mode the robot will automatically act “shocked!”, spreading its frill, dropping its jaw, illuminates its bicolor LED eyes and will scurry away from you until it escapes to a safe distance. If the infrared sensor is switched to the “follow-me” mode using the 2 way function switch, then the robot will assess danger by bluffing the attacker (unfurling and shaking its frill). When the robot does not sense danger it will proceed to follow you like a pet lizard. Thank goodness, that unlike the wacky frilled lizard that roams in Australia’s tropical woodland, OWI’s Kingii Dragon Robot is whimsically kooky and fun to build.

Gasoline is currently the fuel of choice, but petroleum used to make it is becoming increasingly difficult to find and is contributing to environmental issues and worldwide problems. Automobile manufacturers know this and are spending tremendous amounts of money to develop alternative fuel for the future. A few years ago, OWI introduced a Salt Water Fuel Cell vehicle and is now introducing another alternative fuel and eco-friendly vehicle. Let us introduce you

Air as fuel...could possibly be another alternative to petroleum. Air is available 24/7, does not run out and it’s free. By golly, we might have something here and OWI’s O2 Power Racer can break down this technology to its simplest form. This is an amazing kit that uses the vision of our ancestors back in the middle of the 19thcentury. Now, your child can gain valuable insight into propulsion via compressed air.

Assembly and operation is a breeze. A pump-up bar with a pressure meter is built into the car for easy operation. This meter measures the volume of compressed air. The air chamber is a silicon tube (not a PVC tube used by others). The silicon tube creates an air tight fit. Another safety device implemented into the kit is a safety valve. If the user keeps pumping while the tank is full, the safety valve will open and bleed the air automatically. Anyway, back to the air in the tank. When the air chamber is full, you can release the compressed air; the air then expands and drives the vehicle a distance up to 50 meters in 35 seconds. The car is fast and furious fun that requires no batteries or specific weather conditions to limit its usage. OWI’s O2 Power Racer is not only designed with the environment in mind, but is also fun and easy to build!

Part pet, part toy, the HEXBUG Aquabot 2.0 provides kids with the fun experience of having a pet fish, without all the messy clean-up. The portable fishbowl allows kids to bring their pet fish with them wherever they go! Includes repositionable background and name tag. HEXBUG Aquabot 2.0 is available in two styles, the Angelfish and Hammerhead Shark, and ten translucent colors. The Aquabot 2.0 swimmers are equipped with an inner pulsating LED glow and a hi-tech sensor allowing you to wake the sleeping fish by tapping on the tank. Styles and colors are selected randomly at time of shipment based on availability.
— Mary Tague from Toy Town in Key Biscayne, Fla., told TDmonthly in an April 2015 survey that the Aquabot was their best-selling bath toy.