For errant boys determined to keep prying parents out of their
bedrooms, a Lebanese entrepreneur with a PhD in robotics has finally
found the answer.
Picked
by the Toy Fair as one of the best new products of 2009, the
gorilla-based robot Prime-8 uses motion sensors to hurl coconut
missiles at intruders and banishes snoopers with a bloodcurdling growl.
Dr Sarjoun Skaff has spent seven years flying between the US and China developing state-of-the-art robot technology.
His
Pittsburg-based start-up company, Boffa Nova Concepts, is about to
unleash Prime-8 and its penguin-based sister robot Penbo upon the
world.
Priced at £89.99, Prime-8 is a menacing looking yellow robot with clenched fists at the end of muscle-bound circular arms.
"He is a good gorilla most of the time," said Dr Skaff. "But he has personality quirks and sometimes he goes bananas."
The robot falls asleep when not played with and becomes angry when woken - trembling and jabbing his fists.
When
active, Prime-8 prepares for robot Olympics - practising his backstroke
by hurtling backwards along the floor while emitting loud splashing
sounds.
The robot also enters into laser warfare with other Prime-8s and can be killed if struck at the heart.
Also
from Boffa Nova Concepts, Penbo is aimed at young girls, and responds
to being stroked by purring and dances the cha-cha when patted on the
head.
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