As with most boys, my six-year-old son loves Dinosaurs. For the last few years, my family has scrounged Toys-r-us and every other toy store looking for the newest Dinosaur toy that would satisfy his appetite. Thankfully, my mother hit the jackpot on his birthday: the ROBORAPTOR DINOSAUR ROBOT!
Once the box was unwrapped, all of the other presents were forgotten. This 32-inch dinosaur mesmerized my six-year-old and the other eight guests. (Or is it a robot?) As he walked around the room, picking up small objects and interacting with the guests, one little girl asked: "if the dinosaur was alive?" If I had not taken it out of the box, I would have thought it was.
The Roboraptor is not a mere action figure toy, but a robot that brings the future with the distant past. With advanced artificial intelligence, the robot senses and responds to the environment; it has three different programmed personalities and moods; and can interact with the world around him.
Although we have had Bob, which is what my son named him, for over two months now, he still has not grown tired of him. Bob and my son are always together, playing for hours. In my son's eyes, Bob is a pet and a friend, and NOT A TOY!!.
Technology has definitely grown from the days of my childhood. Toys use to be powered by children. Now, a toy is smarter than some adults. Bob can sense obstacles and maneuvers around them. He can grab a stick and play tug-a-war with my son. I have even tried to fool him, and have failed. He is amazing.
The Roboraptor has three modes: hunter, cautious and playful. In the hunter mode, the dinosaur is the ultimate predator, hunting for his next meal. (Watch out for your toys). When it is cautious, he is the prey trying to survive. And in the playful mode, he is looking for a friend and will cuddle up to anyone who is nice.
If dinosaurs were alive today, I do not believe that they could walk any more graceful than the Roboraptor. With his life-like movement he can walk, maneuver around obstacles and run. He can even pick up items as he is running. His multi-sensors can pick up sound and movement and he will respond. (Watch out if he is in hunter mode and you try to sneak up on him!)
My mother's find of Bob, our Roboraptor, was a good one. Not only is Bob a great toy, he is an excellent friend and playmate for my son. Of course, I have to remember he is not a toy, but a highly advanced robot with artificial intelligence. And my son has to remember that Bob is not real and the battery fairy changes Bob's batteries while we are all sleeping. Good Job Mark Tilden, for Roboraptor, or better known BOB.
