CHILDREN

Inventor claims this robot is "the greatest toy in the universe," might be right

February 11, 2012

The toy robot's launchers can be aimed by remotely tilting it and shoots farther when the fire button is held down longer

If you're going to call your invention "the greatest (fill in the blank) in the universe," you'd better be prepared to show off something truly amazing. Luckily for toy maker, Jaimie Mantzel, he may be onto something with his remote-controlled, six-legged robot. It may not have a name yet, but with its various attachments for shooting different projectiles and break away battle armor, it's sure to show up on some Christmas lists in the future.

Inventor, Jamie Mantzel, has created a remote control, six-legged robot that can be cutomi...

Mantzel's little robot walks on six legs and is guided by a remote control, but what makes it stand out are the different attachments that can be fitted to the top to fire foam darts, discs, or ping pong balls. The launchers can be aimed by remotely tilting it and shoots farther when the fire button is held down longer. Armor pieces in various colors and designs can also be outfitted to customize the robot, some of which break off when hit just right with a projectile, making it perfect for robot-on-robot battles.

Armor pieces in various colors and designs can also be outfitted to customize the toy robo...

Right now there are only a few prototypes to show off, since the finished version will require a few mechanical and design tweaks. Currently the robot is pretty loud when in motion, but Mantzel says that's just for the prototype and that the final product will be much quieter. He also plans to implement a target attachment for battles that will light up when hit with a projectile and possibly shut the robot down after three hits.

Toy company, Wow! Stuff, is already on board to produce and distribute Manzel's toy and is holding a contest to name it, with the prize being the finished product.

Check out the videos below to see a sleep-deprived Mantzel demonstrate the little bot as well as Wow! Stuff's very toy commercial-like take on it.

About the Author

Jonathan grew up in Norway, China, and Trinidad before graduating film school and becoming an online writer covering green technology, history and design, as well as contributing to video game news sites like Filefront and 1Up. He currently resides in Texas, where his passions include video games, comics, and boring people who don't want to talk about either of those things. All articles by Jonathan Fincher Follow @jonathanfincher

Tags

39 Comments

Arachnibot

Stanley E Dickie Jr
11th February, 2012 @ 05:11 pm PST

Fantastically COOOOOL!

Edgar Castelo
12th February, 2012 @ 06:12 am PST

Lol! Super cool!!!!! I'm still a big kid ;)

Mark Smith
12th February, 2012 @ 11:29 am PST

Cool robot toy. Real fun to play with.

Facebook User
12th February, 2012 @ 01:23 pm PST

Crabula!!!

ellman
12th February, 2012 @ 04:36 pm PST

LameAss?

Marcus Carr
12th February, 2012 @ 05:36 pm PST

Hexagonian - love your work and ethusiasm hope it kicks some butt :)

Dave Yuill
12th February, 2012 @ 05:49 pm PST

Reminds me of the song, 'The Murderous Toy'

http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/themurde.htm

Stephen Dedman
12th February, 2012 @ 06:55 pm PST

"the greatest toy in the universe," NO. The greatest toy in the universe is either a large cardboard box, or a big pile of LEGOs.

Slowburn
12th February, 2012 @ 07:08 pm PST

How about Attacknids

B Dallin Petersen
12th February, 2012 @ 09:38 pm PST

it really does look great. A name to capture all this could be is hard. perhaps "Crattacknoid"

roland.corlet
13th February, 2012 @ 01:42 am PST

Days of the terminator are coming!!!

What with quantum computing, robotic quadcopters that can swarm and now this projectile firing robot, it won't be long till we have a full on robot uprising!

Sean Foster
13th February, 2012 @ 02:24 am PST

call it the "SPIDER DRONE"

yodeonaks
13th February, 2012 @ 03:29 am PST

ComBot, and after three direct hits the opponent bot should flip over, legs in the air.

Moochie
13th February, 2012 @ 05:02 am PST

Matzel, I want your job! I know I cannot have it, you did a great job with this spidershooter. Congratz!

Marius Gruita
13th February, 2012 @ 05:19 am PST

not impressed...

Stefan Padureanu
13th February, 2012 @ 05:24 am PST

I am looking forward to seeing what the Hacker / Maker community can do with these once they hit the market. I'm sure one or two warranties for them will get voided within a day or two of them coming out of the box at my house. My Dr. Who action figure had better be ready with his Sonic Screwdriver! ;)

Gene Jordan
13th February, 2012 @ 09:01 am PST

When it comes time for the biopic of Mr. Mantzel's life and contributions to the universe, I hope they pick Nicholas Cage to play him. He definitely fits my preconceived notion of how a consummate, committed toymaker should talk and act.

gpbarr
13th February, 2012 @ 09:44 am PST

Slowburn, point VERY will taken. However this does shoot stuff, which is way cool. But you need a partner with another unit, indoor space, and LOTS of batteries. And at the end of the day it is what it is, and no more. No such limitations on the Fort/Ship/Cave/Tank/etc. of my youth. A good read is "Not a Box" by Antoinette Portis.

Bruce H. Anderson
13th February, 2012 @ 09:51 am PST

These name suggestions that refer to spiders really don't work--this has 6 legs, not the 8 that spiders and crabs have. Think insect.

Love this thing though--and I love the inventor's enthusiasm

Arf
13th February, 2012 @ 10:31 am PST

The WOW! will be the dent it makes in your wallet. If it's going to be any good, it won't be cheap.

Gregg Eshelman
13th February, 2012 @ 02:40 pm PST

Awesome, now increase its size 20 times and we are good to go ....anyone have a spare field for robot wars?

Ross William Mcewen-Page
13th February, 2012 @ 05:53 pm PST

Actually, the best toy ever is your first flashlight, which is actually a fusion-powered spaceship.

Whooosh!

jimbo92107
13th February, 2012 @ 07:07 pm PST

I think they should be called Arthrobots.

Tom Smith
13th February, 2012 @ 08:36 pm PST

Wow, what an amazing feat that is! I congratulate you on your success! I have a couple names that could represent your robots! Odyssey-X , Arachnid Drones, Night Crawler, Armor droid! I will try to round up a few more cool names, I'll comment tomorrow with some more! congrats again!

larrywilson419
13th February, 2012 @ 08:46 pm PST

re; jimbo92107

Flashlight and LEGOs.

flappes1968
13th February, 2012 @ 09:36 pm PST

i want one, so i can modify it and put a laser beam on it

Eric Malatji
14th February, 2012 @ 01:17 am PST

Call it "ROBOSPIDER"

yodeonaks
14th February, 2012 @ 01:52 am PST

XOIX captures a lot of what this creepy crawly does. At least that is what my little guy Paul thinks. So we have a choice of : ZOIX, ZOYX, XOYX, XOIX. Take your pick. If you like all ...that'll be four kits, please, one for each kid...or something like that....great toy !

thangavelu-girardey
14th February, 2012 @ 09:57 am PST

My Name suggestion is "WOWBOT"! . . .since it packs a lot of "WOW"!!!

wabidoux

rsbelljr
14th February, 2012 @ 10:27 am PST

Isn't it obvious? These are Broids.

Joe Gichuki
14th February, 2012 @ 11:07 am PST

Arthrobot - Robotized variation of the animal species group Arthropod

Erik Martino Hansen
14th February, 2012 @ 01:48 pm PST

Starborgs has a nice ring to it.

Starborg
14th February, 2012 @ 05:19 pm PST

Decidroid, decidrone, decibel, megadrone, decibot, megabot, megadroid, nano drone, nanodroid, nanobot, these are some cool names for robots! Pick one:D

larrywilson419
15th February, 2012 @ 03:41 am PST

BEST OFFICIAL NAME SO FAR:

In mythology learned men and inventors created magically powered machines that appeared as lions, spiders, scorpions, etc. These obedient tools of destruction were known as Chimera. in addition I feel we can incorporate your claim to the "greatest toy in the world" or "gtiw" or "g2" get it?

The name you are looking fOr is, drum roll please:

Chimera G2.

Sean C Brosinsky
15th February, 2012 @ 09:26 am PST

It should have surveillance system attachments, laser aiming, and bb shot,

Dawar Saify
15th February, 2012 @ 01:28 pm PST

My submission for its name is: Mechnotron

I like the idea one person had about the bot flipping over and 'playing dead' when it is 'defeated'. That would make for hours of fun. I had a brilliant Idea to add to this: It should be able to launch small sphere-shaped drones that seek out and 'explode' next to the enemy firing airsoft pellets ouf of small holes all around the ouside surface sorf of like a drone grenade (dont get any ideas, military) One more thing, put a camera on this thing it would be the most awesome thing in the universe to be able to have realtime video (with recording capabilities) on the remote. Imagine surprising friends and family with a barrage of foam projectiles and then being able to post their hilarious reactions straight to the internet. Let me know if you pick my name, and hey if you use my ideas and make millions from them, remember your friend.

Cody Z. Curtin
16th February, 2012 @ 05:39 pm PST

Reminds me of Runaway (1984)

So, I guess "Vectrocon robot spiders" is already taken. ;)

Trey Rowzie
17th February, 2012 @ 03:29 am PST

"Pay no attention to those wires... Doctor's orders."

Thomas Roberts
17th February, 2012 @ 12:29 pm PST