Animatronics is the use of robotics and electronics to make a model or puppet appear to be real or alive - and was originally developed for the film industry.
Many blockbuster films rely heavily on animatronics to deliver the exciting experience for audiences that they now expect. The sophistication of miniaturisation and manufacture has enabled the toy industry to produce some remarkably realistic and life-like animatronic characters that would only have been dreamed of a few years ago.
The latest in this fast-moving industry is 'Kota the Triceratops'. He has 11 sensors on his body which all react in different ways when touched or stroked. He is so big that small children can even sit on him!
One of the earliest users of animatronics in toys was Tomy's 'Omnibot', which launched to rave reviews but seems very tame by modern standards. NASA scientists were famously involved in the design of 'Robosapien' - a human like animatronic robot that could even lie flat on the floor and get himself standing again unaided!
The pace of animatronic toy development has increased with products such as 'Squawkers Macaw' and 'Elmo TMX'. These have even been superseded by the new 'Elmo Live' character, the amazing Meccano hi-tech 'Spykee' animatronic robot that you build yourself, and the 'Fur Real Pup' that has in-build voice recognition software! Undoubtedly there will be many more developments to come in the exciting world of animatronic toys.
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Although most famous for their incredible Regent Street shop, Hamleys also has an impressive online presence.
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