It’s that time of year again. Let’s hope that this isn’t the year that robots decide to roast some human chestnuts on an open fire and use our intestines as yule logs to light a fire in their cold incinerator hearts. For the moment we seem to be safe, so let’s take a look at some cool robot gifts for Xmas. Just consult the Botropolis 2009 Christmas gift guide. We have all of your gift giving needs covered.
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The annual DIY robotics event is just a week away. Anyone can participate. Anyone! Even you! The event will host over 70 competitions, with 18 different events just for walking humanoids. You’ll see combat robots fight and a whole lot more. How about hockey bots, fire fighting competitions, bots that make art? It will all be there. Don’t miss it.

June 12-14, 2009, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Bring the kids. They get in free if they are under 7. Otherwise it’s $15-20 per day. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

[Robogames]

In Austria the 4th Hexapod Dance-Off was held. Where 28 robots competed and got their groove thang on with all kinds of freaky moves and outfits. I think the disco-ball domed guy has to be my favorite.

We have some major news about Roboworld thanks to a press conference from the Carnegie Science Center. It’s a lot of info to take in:

Roboworld is opening on June 13. They have C-3P0 and Gort ready now. It’s a 6,000 sq ft exhibition hall located at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. The greeting robot is named Andy. You can even play games, like shooting hoops, foosball and air hockey…against robots.

Some other highlights include an exhibit featuring Keepon and a robot that will re-create a picture that you draw…out of marbles.

As for the 2010 inductees into the Robot Hall of Fame. Here they are: Mars rovers Spirit & Opportunity, Roomba, DaVinci Medical Robot System, Huey, Dewey & Louie from the 1971 film Silent running and the T-800 Terminator from the 1984 film the Terminator.

[Carnegiesciencecenter]

An animatronic Abraham Lincoln will be on display at the Anaheim park later this year as part of an attraction called “The Disneyland Story, featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”.
Disneyland has seen The Ancient before at various times from 1966 through 2004. This year Lincoln will return in celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birthday. “The original show was created by Walt Disney and his staff for the State of Illinois Pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and featured the first fully animated, human audio-animatronics figure.” So if you ever wanted to see Abraham Lincoln or if you ever wanted to see a former president as a robot, I suggest you head over to Disneyland this year. Or just wait for Cyborg Clinton’s rise to power.
Robot Lincoln is nice, but I’m more interested in robots from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. If this thing is at all like the animatronic pirates I saw at Disney World then it may also make me cry.

[MercuryNews]

Toy Fair 2009 officially kicked off earlier today and our intrepid Bunk Bots were on the scene. Here’s our guy going for an interview with a Bioloid robot, but it looks like he’s about to get clobbered. Bioloid bots allow you to build a bunch of different bots out of one kit. This one means business.

Bunk Bots know no fear. Here’s a shot of our guy entering the Hex Bug arena and preparing to do battle. The HEXBUG Ant is the latest in this buggy line, a speedy six-legged micro robotic creature with long mobile antennas and hooked claws. Just like the HEXBUG Inchworm, Crab and Original, they are designed to mimic the real insects.

A robot just can’t trust another robot. Looks like this owirobot has had enough and is moving in for the kill. See a video of this bot here.

Surrounded by Spykees! These are the usual suspects as far as Spykees go. I’m not sure how this all ended because I lost communication with our bot just after it sent this pic.

Stay tuned all week for more Toy Fair 2009 news. As soon as we catch our breath a little we’ll have more detailed info on the stuff we’re showing you.

I’m pleased to announce a partnership between those cuddliest of robots, Bunk Bots and Botropolis. Our friends the Bunk Bots will be on the scene. Our bots in the field so to speak. They will be our roving reporters, our eyes and ears, bringing you all the latest news on all the new robot toys.

What to expect? You never know with these guys. They’re cuddly and cute sure. But they have a knack for getting into trouble. I’m kinda worried to tell you the truth. Not worried about them. Worried about anyone who gets in their way.

Anyway, keep an eye out next week for the coverage. Should be…interesting.

Quick PSA folks. If you find yourself at Toy Fair 2009, visit a friend of the site and head over to the Bunk Bots booth. Tell them that Botropolis sent you. Bunk Bots are cute and cuddly robots. The kind that, even if they take over the world, you don’t mind too much.

iRobot CEO Colin Angle told the Boston Globe’s Hiawatha Bray that the company will introduce a new product at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This, despite spending less on the show then in previous years.

Anybody have a guess? It has to be better than the Looj! Could be a lawn mower. Hopefully it’s something interesting and not another Roomba.

[Boston]