Takara Tomy's Omnibot2007 i-SOBOT, "the world's smallest robot"

We won't beat around the bush: there's just no way that Takara Tomy's claim of "the world's smallest robot" for its new Omnibot2007 i-SOBOT humanoid is even remotely true, but as far as fairly well-articulated humanoid biped toy bots that are about to be available for sale, we could see the 6.6-inch tall i-SOBOT taking that crown. Now that we've got the extravagant claims out of the way, there's a lot to love about the i-SOBOT, including an LCD-equipped remote for having the bot act out programmed motions, and voice control for dictating simple actions. The bot can play music, dance, and respond to applause and other user actions. The bot can also make its own punching and kicking sound effects, so we can imagine some entertaining robo-duels with a pair of these things. If that's not quite enough excitement for you, Takara Tomy is also prepping the Omnibot2007 i-SOBOT CAMVersion (pictured), which includes a camera that can beam pics to your PC or phone via WiFi, and whose head can swivel 60 degrees in each direction. The cam-free model should be out in July for 31,290 yen (about $258 US), while the CAMVersion bot will run you 41,790 yen ($344 US) when it debuts in October. Check a pic of the cheapo-version and his remote after the break.

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[Joel Johnson @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:14PM]

Is it just me, or does this look like "Shockwave" from one of the earlier American "Transformers" series?

[stephen @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:37PM]

i've still got an original omnibot...anyone interested?

[Kevin Mathis @ Jul 6th 2007 1:06PM]

stephen: how much for the o.g. omnibot/what condition?

[aeo @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:19PM]

A video is worth a thousand promises.

[Jimbo @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:20PM]

This reminds me of the Robosapien I bought at Best Buy. While it was a mighty fine dancer, the walking was not as smooth. The claim that it could throw its custom-designed throwing bucket was also absurd. I tried for hours to make it throw the thing before my roommates destroyed it in a drunken rampage.

[akijikan @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:43PM]

that's pretty damn cheap as far as fairly well-articulated humanoid biped toy bots go.

[blurry @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:50PM]

I for one welcome our well-articulated humanoid biped toy bot overlords.


(sorry, I just _had_ to do that once)

[Dave @ Jan 23rd 2007 5:05PM]

How long before we get to the Robotech stage??? I want my VF-1 dammit!!!!!

[John @ Jan 23rd 2007 5:22PM]

I have a couple little wind-up robots (Robby and B-9) that are about 2-1/2 inches tall. Seems they qualify for world's smallest robot. ;)

[BoB_e @ Jan 23rd 2007 6:42PM]

COOL!!! I want one!!!

[Aaron @ Jan 23rd 2007 6:52PM]

Why is it that whenever someone makes some kind of robot with a camera, the first use I think of for it is spying on hot chicks? Am I the only one?

[Bob @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:24PM]

>>Why is it that whenever someone makes some kind of robot with a camera, the first use I think of for it is spying on hot chicks? Am I the only one?


There's another use?

[Aaron @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:49PM]

Hahaha, nice.

And no, I can't think of one.

[cephelotron @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:11PM]

I would so mod this to look like a Zaku

[Jennie @ Jan 24th 2007 11:19PM]

Too expensive to sit on the shelf. I would probably get bored of it after a week.

[kgitch @ Jan 26th 2007 3:33AM]

To be fair, Takara-Tomy doesn't claim that this is "the world's smallest robot" of any kind, but rather (roughly translating from the Japanese) that this is the "world's smallest bi-pedal humanoid shaped robot" and I think that mass production is also implied. I saw this robot at Takara-Tomy's Toy Forum last week and, unlike Robosapiens, which technically only hobbles, this robot uses multiple servos in the legs and gyro technology to actually walk. The Takara-Tomy website has a press release in Japanese here:

http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/ir/release/press/index.html

Btw, back in 2005 Takara already claimed the smallest mass produced programmable robot (at the time) with their "Walkie bits" turtle robot. See June 21, 2005 link here (English):

http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/ir/english/press_takara.html#002

[kevjohn @ Jan 27th 2007 2:21PM]

Fifty bucks to the first guy who sends the cammed-up version strolling into a women's locker room.

[Albert van Breemen @ Jan 31st 2007 8:48AM]

Does somebody have some technical specs about this robot? The price is really low compared to the other servo-based humanoids like Robonova!

Albert van Breemen
http://www.personalrobotics.nl

[kgitch @ Jul 7th 2007 3:12AM]

No need to beat your bush anymore. Guinness World Records has recently certified i-SOBOT robot from Takara-Tomy as "The world's smallest humanoid robot in production." Robots Dreams has a funny photo of the actual certificate and a video:
http://www.robots-dreams.com/2007/07/tomy-i-sobot-ro.html

Congratulations Takara-Tomy!

[oscar @ Aug 8th 2007 9:51PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/23/takara-tomys-omnibot2007-i-sobot-the-worlds-smallest-robot/

[James @ Sep 17th 2007 2:20PM]

Youtube video of the white one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMBJ4mSlkpg

[hahaman @ Sep 19th 2007 9:24PM]

Does the robot motion will like human action,jumped or runned.If he can,this is too magic

[Hank @ Oct 31st 2008 10:46AM]

It looks like the price has recently dropped to make it much more affordable. I saw it at Hammacher Schlemmer for $99.00:
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/75494.asp

[Brian @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:00PM]

The price just dropped to 59 dollars on Amazon.. is there something wrong with this thing?