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WowWeeToys2017

Page history last edited by jerry 7 years, 3 months ago

WowWeeToys2017

Introduction/Definition/etc

WowWee, a toy company, has some supposedly Smart electronics for kids around 8+

but some other issues are brought up by their marketing language and possible use...

Body

BackGround

WowWee TriBot

TriBot by WowWee, bought several years ago, with 8 AA batteries required on the base,

about 3 AAA on the remote, and a three wheeled, rolls any direction

(technical name: _Lookup_ OmniDirectional, Mecanum (company), but the inventors name?

Bengt Ilon (sp?)),

with attitude (tipped over: "I'm seeing the world from a whole new perspective" or similar,

some might consider personality, used with donated food kids as wait time entertainment,

until eventually the arm broke first (grabbing. leaning, carrying?),

then one of the wheels would not move,

and by then support was non existent, as they discontinued and could not get parts,

like a new motor, etc...

Once tried personally, buying multiple made sense (on after holiday sale discounted prices),

and were gifts for young kids I used to know, now rather grown...

WowWee FlyTech BladeStar

Helicopter type thing, with two rotors pushing against a foam wing, and a remote control,

my first drone like thing, but not so much...

Likely from Radio Shack? Before they went under...

4-6? AA batteries in the remote with charges when connected by wire, low flight time, but air time

requires more concentration than just sitting on the ground, doing nothing, falling out of the sky,

is problem, as the airlines, Scully movie, 9/11 attacks, etc...

WowWee Mini WREX The Dawg

Mini size mean no electronics in it, in this case...

Smaller and lighter, more inexpensive, so for younger, like action figures, but imagination required,

as it doesn't do much of anything on it's own...

Think Original GI Joe...

WowWee RoboQuad

Picked up at a HackerSpace, someone donated there, and the space didn't want it, cleaning up,

it was missing the remote, and I never got running,

It was impetus for starting learning about the remote, and FemiSapien, now other remote options might

exist, so might get that going, and see it move... Kind of like a spider, but not called that,

see it in motion to know more...

Bed Bath and Beyond

Holiday time only, apparently, they have some toy type stuff, and recently had an electric bike

(expensive) and a board (not a skateboard another kind), but "Security" attacked me

when I just went thru for checking prices, as had been thru looking for discounted items,

and price and specifications checking... I had bought a soda in the store nearby before,

started drinking it by the time I got there, and put it in a neighboring store logo'ed bag,

then used the bathroom after walking thru and looking at below...

Fairly typical Two pass shopping, carried other stuff home, rented a bike, and came back...

Overcharged by not counting the discount on the more expensive one, with a smirk, and ridicule,

it seemed from a Muslim looking sales clerk (wearing Hijab), my commenting after the sale,

both were sale, meaning open box for approximately half price, and got cash back

(instead of back on the card, risking bouncing checks, and other money management issues,

like cashier taking a kickback from shorting cash too...) and I mentioned the increased risk of

being mugged on the way back, which amused her, not something you want from someone

ridiculing you, and then problems getting back...

Buying returns/ open box means risking missing parts, already used, not pristine, and other problems,

like it might not have worked at all... Compatibility with smart devices, as they had smartphone apps,

the previous ones were not connected, BlueTooth (LE?), WiFi to download, researching the product(s), etc...

Without a mobile data plan, and doing the research, likely disappointed, as one online comment,

seen later when connected, said they Ruined Christmas, Tears for X-mas, etc... Other common

considerations for toys include Age range, sharing, and other things being likely issues like

DOA (Dead on Arrival, showing low quality control, similar to reflashing bricking, etc) happens, afaict...

CHiP

Marketing:

"Your New Best Friend"

Do you have to buy friends?

How about adopting foster and/or orphaned ones?

In my case, a returned open (retail sticker checkbox didn't mention a missing part,

there was a empty slot for it, but had to open it to find out and not really friendly to do that in the store...)

turns out to only be a missing MicroUSB cable, and batteries were included (because opened?),

4x AAA already in the SmartBall , basically a holiday gift dog, that someone could not afford,

wasn't wanted, and/or similar, holiday, bad match...

Some people say that the sick kid was promised a dog, and had some fun with it, and later died...

Playing the sympathy card? Likely a lie, but small chance it was something real...

At half price, minus 20% off coupon (Applied two, not in separate transactions, both expired),

might be reasonable, for an old disabled guy...

If used to entertain others, learning some myself, in the process, then maybe O.K., will see...

"Meet CHiP

CHiP is an intelligent affectionate robot pup. With Advanced sensors and smart accessories. CHiP is always aware, and ready to play. How you respond uniquely shapes its behaviour, so no two CHiPs are ever alike."

Notice the emotive words, that 8 year olds might be able to understand, but anthropomorphizing too,

as machines probably don't have emotions, maybe (very remote chance) an emotional model,

and people respond with emotions, like marketing and advertising playing on Too Cute and

other sympathy with animals, and cuteness...

SmartBand

There are things on the SmartBand, a Watch type thing with buttons, that you wear,

(missing charging cable) with a round quartered symbols at watch time positions

:00 for location,

:15 exclamation point (!),

:30 (face?) other stuff

:45 thumbs up,

plus a center CHiP (to get attention? and power off the Band?)

plus top multicolour LED, and three IR sensors

on top edge center corners,

and then two on the bottom corners,

and a left MicroUSB power to charge the

"1x 7.4V 1800 mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable"

The JoyPad is something to learn more about, as right left, front, back, and other movements,

(but in combination with holding down a button and a mode?) plus Follow Me and other stuff is maybe possible with it...

The WowWee TriBot used to do a game, and other jig, plus programmable, moves stored,

and play button on the remote enabling kind of like dancing, was possible...

I don't think the CHiP will do that, but less than a day week playing

(read usage time), which I'm terrible at anyways...

Charge Times and Play Times Are Not Mentioned

The charging wall wart for the main dog part is also used on the base station/dock,

so you can direct charge, if, and when you cannot get the pooch to be quiet,

go to bed, and rest, recharging on your sleep schedule, instead of it's...

By comparison Drones have a long charge time, and very short fly time,

so similar fair marketing (like food labels?) might be good...

Weight on those matter, as registering with the FAA and other requirements, age 13+,

rules for flying etc... Basic safety as underfoot, and noisy in shared areas, etc...

Very Noisy

The motors are very noisy, but barking noise can be reduced, in the volume settings...

Wheel covers so younger are not pinched are included, but need to be put on...

Think bicycle chain guards?

Heavy

At about 2 lbs, it's heavy, smaller kids and others may have problems with it...

Compared to your average canine, maybe not so much, but a lot of it is motors,

legs move, not really walking, rolling on the omni wheels, but crouches, similar

to stretching, sitting, laying down, etc, in a mechanical type of way, so more motors,

than your average TriBot which has a manual base (lean forward), arms not grippers

like OWL, etc hand movement bots, etc...

Plastic

Might need furry skin, as not really that soft, and cuddly, and white, which might be cleaned,

but aftermarket might make skins for it, will see... RoboSapien has all sorts of user mods,

and RoboCommunity but after that (v2, RoboSapienX - smart phone remote?),

they don't seem to do much changes and programming, so back to the original

by Mark Tilden?

Setup and Updating Firmware

DFU? upload had to be done multiple times (2-3) after warnings of don't turn off (fear of bricking?),

and then some of it hanging on the disconnect (security software on that tablet?)

and Setup naming the beast, text wise, plus some voice recording/programming,

maybe recording to get it's attention...

My Voice Typically Unrecognized

Most voice systems, marketing, banking, etc don't recognize my voice, and I don't even like it,

besides the low energy, boring, and tonal qualities, machines don't necessarily pick it up,

odd a geek would not talk machine to machine...

But I'm not a transformer...

Speech therapy to do a machine seems a little much, mumbling common, but I've also done Theatre...

Documentation

The documentation/ booklet has all sorts of commands to get it to do things/ i.e. play,

the ball is used to interact, some sensors on the nose, head, etc, while calling Kissing a dog,

gives "affection" much of the real stuff is missing, so robotics may have a while to do...

Creepy eyes, some different colour, not Cujo, Christine, or any of the Stephen King horror

type novels, but some oddity in mooding the eye color, (green pairing the Bluetooth?)

mostly blue eyes (puppy and kids start out blue), some Purple used when low and/or charging,

white full power on the Band, and other standardizing coding conventions might be needed?

Page 2 Bottom right, it says that you have to contact Support FIRST,

if you remove the dogs' Rechargeable battery..

WHY?

Each is unique and why would you not be able to change batteries yourself?

Part of the ID/ BlueTooth pairing, and it stops working?

Is the brain/ identity in the battery part?

No MittenGrabben/ user serviceable parts inside is not something older kids

(and adults) would like, IMNSHO... Hackers consider it a violation of a basic freedom,

one of 5, iirc...

Page 6 Charge Contacts and Direct charge ports are labeled wrong, switch L and K?

TradeMarked

So many of the names are trademarked, we are not talking Logo MindStorms,

or maybe we are, as patent encumbered, you don't have to assemble much,

you can't really program it, it has dance like moves, makes noise

(maybe some safety in not stealthing around?), and some other simple stuff,

but they Own it, and wonder about patent infringement,

commercialization and comparing to buying parts, and design your own, instead...

Indoor Only

IR infrared sensors, not water, etc, make it mostly an indoor pet, which isn't really a dog,

more like a house cat, imnsho...

A.I.

Claiming Intelligent may be more marketing, than reality, but will see...

A.I. was and is, the hyped bleeding edge of including lying / hyperbole marketing,

and thinking really intelligent and slightly evil genius turning a pet

into a pit bull might be possible?

Battle dogs?

Pit Bulls and Parolees?

Robot Rehab? (see Futurama's Bender episode(s))

Gender Specific

IT is a "he", after all, in the documentation, and bad boys will be bad boys, right?

So castration and not allowed to reproduce?

Enough penalty for errant pooping on everything?

Old electronic pet display games (tachaguchi?) had poop displayed, and other take all your time stuff,

like could not be brought to school, like cell phones, but no safety value, some reality, of what

happens when you are away, on vacation, working, doing school work, etc, but simulated,

as nothing really dies, think 5 lb bag of flour and baby training...)

R.E.V.

Robotic Enhanced Vehicles, a Battle system, this one a pair of RC type cars,

using a smart phone you control them with left accelerator, and right side turning finger.

hopefully reconfigurable for handedness?

Requires 4x AA batteries, can use rechargeables, and play against A.I. computer opponents...

Can compete with A.I./machine and other people as opponents...

Probably not InterNetworked, using WiFi on different courses across the nation...

Standardization would be required...

Like a 3D Pool ( 8PoolByMiniCom2016 as terrain would differ greatly...)

BeaconSense

Trademarked, an IR network?

Patents mentioned in the fine print, so might be able to look up patent numbers, similar to FCC IDs...

Is it Fast response?

Collision Detection and Avoidance would take a while to develop, so maybe what they are talking about,

and trying to POwn their little piece of technology...

ToysRUs

Could be expensive, but luckily mostly younger age stuff, has drones, of various makers, and stuff

in the older section, plus bikes, ride ons (small electric car/SUV like), and other stuff, but some crying and

candy isle problems to be expected...

Anyways, a walk thru had some accessories (REV ramp, REV battery packs, but no props, CHiPs, etc),

and for a limited time, the R.E.V. battle network (Like Lumi drone type thing at $30 off the $79 retail price,

(to tomorrow? 1/7? BUT REV AIR is Not LUMI!) but supplies are limited, ages for flying are higher than 8,

and the Moto Show is in town, you have to pay rent/ clean your room, limited income/ allowance/

time off for good behavior, etc, plus not bounce checks/ stuff/ little siblings/etc, and already into toys

for $130 this month anyways, etc...)

Idears

Skins for the robot, softer, and less noise?

Change the colour, possibly adds fur, and other helpful stuff, must work with/ not jam movement(s),

sensors, etc,

and must be washable, non flammable (any more than the plastics already involved),

and other safety concerns (safety vest, reflective, service animal qualification(s), etc)...

Wrap/Dress it up! /Smile

Poodle

LabraDoodle

Dalmation

GoldenRetriever

Hairless?

Something between dogs, cars and drones might be good...

Follow along a bicycle (10-30 mph?), get pictures/video, help with directions, etc,

in areas where you cannot fly, it doesn't,

in areas where it's clear, and has power, good weather, it flies, etc...

More of an assistive technology safety companion...

Maybe a Service Duck? What would it do as a service animal?

Would you have to own a pond? What if it flies away?

Would it be fair to clip it's wings?

Domestication is not fair, it's like slavery, so why is it OK with machines,

and not biological animals?

Geese are well known for security features, noisy, but that requires owning stuff, like land,

reasonable accommodations, putting up with poop, etc...

Cleaning out the cage, letting it be free range, what feed, learning, rules and permits are required,

considering chickens for eggs are considered in some jurisdictions, but no roosters, as they crow

in the early AM, breeding, and other problems...

Costs

TriBot

List ~$80?

discounted to about $40 after holiday sales discontinuing toy gifts, iirc

probably didn't remember coupons, back then, and bout about 5 total?

keeping ~2 for myself, and giving ~2 away to little relatives, iirc...

thinking return policy to giver is keeping the old and likely broken stuff aged out for spare parts,

to make other stuff out of, disassemble, learn technology, hack, etc...

RoboQuad

Free to me from a hackerspace, missing remote, might not work, never seen it operate, but maybe hack?

membership in the remote hackerspace, was about $50 / month, iirc, and only joined a few months,

while a weigh station commuting to a sick relative, dentistry, exploring/researching other spaces, etc...

CHiP

List $200

OpenBox $99

- Coupon 20% off

REV

List 80?

OpenBox 40

- Coupon 20% off

Replacement Parts

CHiP SmartBall ~$30

CHiP Dock ~$35

CHiP SmartBand ~$30

wheels $16 for 4

shipping and handling extra, afaict, not done, yet...

REV Ramp

List ~$30

REV Batteries

List ~$30

REV Air

not seen much availability of them anywhere but $100/ drone replacement,

Not the same as Lumi...

Lumi

List $79

ToysRUs sale to 1/7/2017 $49

RoboRemote

looks like it plugs into a non included smartphone headphone jack,

for hardware IR and requires some system software,

so would need software compatibility too...

Similar to card swiping readers, but most have moved to chip based

transactions, pun intended... WiFi, IR and Bluetooth are different technologies,

and have revisions of standards, 802.11 B/G/N/S etc, Bluetooth LE,version numbers

like USB, plug types (A,B,Micro,Mini), etc...

List $22

NOT FOR SALE

NO, I'm not selling them,

just giving some rough numbers on original prices,

and note that most are years old by now,

and some not even made anymore, afaict...

Conclusion

Summary of experience or similar

Fairly impulsive buy, but after holiday(s) open box, half price minus 20% coupons maybe reasonable price,

one was still available, but very short shelf live, finding an open box is hit or miss,

sometimes I think getting two makes sense (second for parts, like years later when discontinued?),

but this time, maybe just the two different types...

Other accessories exist, ramps, and other stuff like Drones to battle,

R.E.V. could use a rechargeable battery pack, on the cars, as an option (hack it?)

(ALREADY EXISTS:

Wondering if it's LithiumPolymer LithiumIon, etc reducing weight,

but having problems with handling/crash and associated fire hazards?),

and the system Drone and other battle options exist, but some think there are connect

and other implementation problems, not sure, haven't tried their drone with it, or really used the R.E.V.,

just making sure one works, half price, the second one might not work at all, or just ran out the batteries

and I haven't charged the rechargeables enough yet (could just switch the packs...)...

Toys are toys, not real biological pets, as they don't breath, poop (though docking looks a lot like it...),

live, nor expire, plus vet bills, say 15 year care taking/ lifespan, (likely after an 8 year old goes to college/

military/ corrections/ and empty nest adult left caring for an elderly kid's pet?)

A good cost comparison might be in order... Shots, registering, pet fees, food, supplies, chewed up stuff,

but for some places where pets are not allowed, simulated pets might be a learning tool, afaict...

RoboSapien and FemiSapien

RoboSapien, and FemiSapien were interesting opening bots/toys by WowWee,

and I might still want the originals, notably FemiSapien controls the male robots,

so if you loose your remote, she knows how, literally, iirc...

RoboSapienX and RoboSapienv2 are updates, and maybe worth considering, as technology

changes over 10 years, I hope, including really smart, but not really, motors and motion are different

than cognition, too... All sports stars are Not Geniuses, all Geniuses are Not Sports Stars...

And some might be Evil, some not...

Discussion

A place for feedback on the page presented

What machines do you think are like animals?

Do you think a robot toy could replace say, the MuscovyDuck2016 ,

if it decided to fly south, commute from elsewhere,

and/or something bad happened to it?

Or I just get tired of checking on it, day after day, missing a few...

Switching to electronics, and other amusements in the winter time sometimes helps,

other times a needless expense and pipe dream...

License

Creative Commons Share and Share Alike, Non Commercial, Non Derivative, for the whole site's contents unless otherwise explicitly stated

Page History

20170106 JerrySpeak

Adding some stuff about sources of Accessories, ToysRUs, newly learned info,
Editing: clarifying, watch / band type indentation,
and always so much more to do, after drivel writing, there are things to thikn about, some write then fact check, others fact check, keep a draft, until old info, and others overhear/ see you get something and steal the idea/ if not the actual toys, so Envy, Jealousy, and crime are side effects in poverty stricken areas,
and noise is something about apartment living that suburban people with basement and free standing buildings may not have to worry as much about...
They are just toys, right? How many Billion dollar industry is that?
Compare and contrast to babysitting costs, educational costs with technology, and just plain therapy/fun, for some, who feel that emotion /SpockLook /AspergersLook /BlankStare...
Cost analysis v. biological pet(s)
ServiceDuck idear(s), etc..
adding Costs segment with some rough number, use online to find better, but note eBay, CraigList,, and others may be broken, damaged, incomplete, add shipping costs, stolen, etc...

20170104 Jerry

Jerry created this page to log some electronics/toys, probably more useful to me than therapy, but will see...

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WowWeeToys2017

Introduction/Definition/etc

Body

BackGround

WowWee TriBot

WowWee FlyTech BladeStar

WowWee Mini WREX The Dawg

WowWee RoboQuad

Bed Bath and Beyond

CHiP

SmartBand

Charge Times and Play Times Are Not Mentioned

Very Noisy

Heavy

Plastic

Setup and Updating Firmware

My Voice Typically Unrecognized

Documentation

TradeMarked

Indoor Only

A.I.

Gender Specific

R.E.V.

BeaconSense

ToysRUs

Idears

Costs

NOT FOR SALE

Links

NoVAPeers Background

Conclusion

RoboSapien and FemiSapien

Discussion

License

Page History

Page Statistics

Page Views: since creating on 20150326

WowWeeToys2017

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