 |
 |
 |
Hexbugs
Hexbugs are the brainchild of Bob Mimlitch of Innovation First International, a privately held corporation whose core business started producing electronics for robotic applications. Through its subsidiaries (VEX Robotics, Inc. Rack Solutions, Inc. and Innovation First Labs, Inc.) it has become the industry leader in robotics products for education, consumer and business-to-business markets. Because of this experience, Hexbugs are based on a firm, well thought out technical foundation. For example, all the various-size hexbugs run on button batteries so small that they do not interfere in any way with the rapid movements of the toy. Batteries are included with all of the Hexbugs and can be easily changed.
Everyone enjoys interacting with robots. A toy application was the next logical step. The original hexbug went on sale in 2007 and became an instant hit. Children, especially, cannot resist the bug-like behavior of the many hexbug products now available. Hexbugs make great birthday and holiday gifts and "cool" party favors.
Young children from 3 to 6 enjoy Hexbugs because of the way they scurry and move, but older children develop an interest in robotics and science, and begin to ask questions about the insect models and their place in nature.
In addition to their educational appeal, Hexbugs encourage a child's creativity. There are excellent and innovative Hexbug "habitat" sets and building components which children can rearrange in imaginative play. They can create special landscapes for their hexbug pets or increase the size or complexity of the settings using other construction toys such as Legos.
Many pets such as cats and dogs are fascinated with Hexbugs and will chase them around. Supervision is needed to make sure the pet does not chew up the Hexbug!
In addition to children and pets, Hexbugs, especially the Nano and the Larva, make excellent "office toy" for stressed out workers who need some relaxation and a good laugh to make them more productive.
To date, Innovation First Labs, Inc. has introduced these Hexbug products to the market:
Hexbug Original: This was the original six-legged robotic toy which launched the Hexbug series in 2007. There are 5 colors and 5 wing and head designs: orange "Alpha," green "Bravo," blue "Charlie," black "Delta" and red "Echo." Each Hexbug Original is 2.66" long, 2.34" wide and 1.3" tall. This series reacts to touch and noise. It turns about if it runs into an obstacle or hears a loud noise such as a clap or a slap on the table.
Hexbug Crab: The Crab was released to the market in 2008. The eight-legged Crab scurries sideways like its cousin from nature. It has a light sensor which enables it to scuttle away from the light towards a darker location. Like the Hexbug Original, it reacts to loud noises by changing directions. It is 1.97" long, 2.75" wide and just under 1.7" high.
Hexbug Inchworm: The Inchworm was the first product to work by remote control. There are two IR (infra-red) sensors and a switch for each: one allows the player to make it move either forward or backward, and the other makes the Inchworm spin on its base to follow whatever direction the player chooses for it. This robotic creature is 2.5" tall, 3.3" wide and about 1.58 " high, and comes in 5 bright colors.
Hexbug Ant: The Ant is a true speed demon, the fastest of the family of Hexbugs. It zooms forward until it hits an obstacle; then it turns around and races back. The Ant is able to run on carpeted floors, but it needs care to prevent hair or thread from wrapping around its wheels. Cats love to chase it! The Ant comes in five bright colors. It is 1.96" wide, 0.98" tall and 2.36" long.
Hexbug Nano: These amazing micro-robots are the smallest of the Hexbug line, and the most adaptable to group play by both adults and children. A Nano is 1.7" long, 0.68" high and 0.56" wide. It skitters around like a real bug, changes directions on encountering an obstacle and can right itself if it flips over. There are several sets of Nanos based on color and pattern combinations, and one set which glows in the dark.
Hexbug Nano Habitats: To encourage creative play, Innovation First Labs, Inc. launched a series of "habitat" sets which provide for the Nano bugs tracks and ramps and bridges through which they can scurry and race. Players can customize the sets because the components are interchangeable from one set to another.
Hexbug Spider: The largest of the Hexbug series, the Spider moves only by a 2 IR channel remote control. It does not avoid obstacles on its own. The player can control 2 separate Spiders at the same time. It has a head that rotates 360 degrees, has 6 legs and can move in any direction. The Hexbug Spider is 3.60" wide, 3" tall and 3.70" wide, and comes in five glowing colors.
Hexbug Larva: The latest addition to the Hexbug mini-robotics line is the slithery wiggly Larva. Its free-floating tail and side-to side movement gives it an uncanny realism. Instead of using antennae to feel objects in its path, the Larva has an infrared light which senses obstacles and allows it to move around them. It needs a smooth surface on which to move. Larvae come in 5 shiny, bright colors. They are 1.3" wide, 1.1" tall and 3.9" long.
To learn more, please visit Hexbugs.com.