Though it may be premature to claim that robots are taking over the world, it is safe to say that they're on the move to invade your living room and take a dominant place under the Christmas tree. Companies like Wow Wee Robotics are making innovative, fun robotic toys that are suitable for users of nearly any age. If you've decided to get a new robot for you, a friend, or family member, the hard part is deciding which bot is right for you.

Take a quick trip to your local electronics retailer and you'll quickly become overwhelmed by the number of robots available. There's a wide variety of options from numerous manufacturers, including dinosaurs, dogs, cats, fish, and even humanoid robots that sing and dance. But what do these robots really do, and how do you decide which one to get? Thankfully, TechLore is here with a quick skinny on the most popular robots in the market today.

Wow Wee Robosapien V2

Robosapien V2 is the latest generation of the highly popular Robosapien line of humanoid robots. Standing nearly two feet tall, Robosapien V2 has the perfect blend of technology and personality, including numerous auditory, visual, and physical sensors to interact with the environment, a "free roaming" mode that lets him loose to explore his environment, 100+ pre-programmed functions, and a whole lot more! He speaks, walks, dances, and is sure to provide hours of entertainment for any robot enthusiast.

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Wow Wee Roboraptor

Dinosaurs are back and roaming the earth! The 32-inch long Roboraptor, though not cloned in a lab a la Jurassic Park, has all the personality and characteristics of the real thing. With advanced artificial intelligence personality, various emotional moods (hungry, defensive, etc.), realistic biomorphic motions, direct control and autonomous (free-roam) modes, Roboraptor is sure to make you believe dinosaurs have really returned!

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Wow Wee Roboreptile

You may think Roboreptile is the next generation of Roboraptor, but he's a different animal all together (no pun intended). Measuring in at 28" from head to tail, this little beast is loaded to the brim with fun features. He's significantly faster, capable of walking on two legs or four, and can even jump! With a fiery personality, a good blend of power and agility, state of the art awareness sensors, and multiple programming functions, Roboreptile is the must have bot for anyone 10 and up.

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Wow Wee Robopet

Though he may seem like the simpler bot in the Wow Wee lineup, don't let his small stature fool you... Robopet is a seriously cool robot loaded to the hilt with personality. As Robopet performs tricks (like rolling over, sitting, and shaking hands) you

can train him to perform the ones you like best using the innovative "good dog, bad dog" system. Be careful though! Too much encouragement can spoil him, and too many scoldings can make him mad enough to ignore you! What good would a dog be if he couldn't stand watch? Robopet has you covered; put him in guard mode and he'll alert you if someone walks by or makes a loud noise. Best of all, there's no mess, late-night walks, or surprises in the backyard!

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Ugobe Pleo

The designers at Ugobe have put a lot of energy into making PLEO into a realistic representation of a 1 week old camarasaurus, even down to the weight and height. Pleo is equipped with sensors for sight, sound, and touch, and as he explores his environment, he will exhibit genuine reactions to sensory stimuli. Pleo begins life with certain tendencies, but interaction with his environment has subtle effects on his behavior. After a bit of time with you, Pleo's personality will adapt and become totally unique.

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Sliverlit Electronics i-Cybie Robotic Dog

The four pound i-Cybie has a lot to offer anyone looking for a robotic pet. Multiple sensors, personality processor, emotions, and various tricks to keep you entertained. He can do handstands, dance, give his paw, scratch his ear, and more. Like any pet, the more you play with i-Cybie, the happier he becomes. Neglect him, and he'll get sad and lonely like any real dog.

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Tekno the Robotic Puppy

Tekno may not be as agile, quick, or full featured as some of the other robotic dogs out there, but he's still got plenty of features for a more affordably priced robot. Tekno can sense light, touch, and sounds, flap his ears and wag his tail when he gets excited, and has light-up eyes to indicate his mood. He even comes with a doggie translator that will let you know what he wants in plain English. Tekno comes in a variety of colors, including a dalmatian design.

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Hasbro iDog, iCat, and iFish

The "i" line of robots from Hasbro are not like any other robotic pets! They don't need to walk around and perform tricks to keep you entertained. However, you do need to feed them... with music! Plug them into your iPod or other music player and they will move and groove to the music while playing it back through their built-in speaker. Their mood even changes depending on the kind of music you feed them. Put him near any music speaker, and he'll listen and dance along with you. A fun toy for any music listener!

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