Chapit the domestic bot does less, looks cuter

Raytron's Chapit has nothing on the University of Tokyo's tea-serving humanoid, or Honda's helpful Asimo, but it's got looks in spades, plus it's still more likely to help you around the house than that sluggard Nabaztag. The bot can recognize voice commands with a vocabulary of 100 words to start, but capacity for up to 10,000 words. You can command Chapit to flip the lights, turn on the TV, and the net-connected bot can even be operated remotely if you're not nearby to shout commands in person. No word on news reading or weather forecasting capabilities, but they seem a shoo-in.

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Hot toys for 2007: Flying robots, guitars, and a singing Barbie

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Toy Fair preview: Eager to recapture kids' attention after the iPod onslaught, toymakers are putting a 'digital' twist on classic toys.
By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Lots of robots
"Optimus Prime voice changer helmet" from Hasbro.
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Lots of robots
Toy robots are a rage this year, thanks to the upcoming July 4 release of the live-action "Transformers" movie from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. Hasbro, which owns the Transformers brand has created the "Optimus Prime voice changer helmet" which makes your voice sound like a robot. The product will hit stores in June, selling for $29.99, suggested retail price.

The Air Hogs Robo Copter from Canadian toymaker Spin Master is a pretty cool innovation in the remote-control toy category. With the push of a button, the Robo Copter transforms from a robot to a helicopter. Kids can drive it on the ground or fly it in the air.

"If you're looking for one of the biggest `Wows' of Toy Fair, I think we have it," said Harold Chizick, spokesman for Spin Master.

The Robo Copter is expected to sell in the fall, priced at about $110, for kids 10 years and older.

"Robots are classic toys and a natural place for companies to incorporate new technology," Byrne said. New from Jakks' Xtreme Performance Vehicles (XPV) line of remote-control flying vehicles is the XPV R.A.D. series, which stands for Robotic Air Defense. XPV R.A.D. apparently is a flying RC robot that travels on land and then launches in the air. The company said XPV R.A.D can switch from a standing android to a flying robot capable of performing aerial stunts. The series is expected to sell in the fall.

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