Heidi HoopesSeptember 21, 2015Claws-on with the self-balancing Miposaur robot

MiPosaur is a dino bot on a two-wheeled pendulum that has moods, gestures, a TrackBall with different modes, and an app that adds more functionality (Credit: Heidi Hoopes/Gizmag)

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We first saw WowWee's Miposaur robot at the London Toy Fair in January where it was self-balancing on two wheels similar to its older android sibling MiP. We recently tested out this T-rex's new features, which include an indoor GPS system for its TrackBall, a new phone app that extends the robot's abilities, and backwards compatibility with the old MiP to duke it out, virtual-laser-style.

The Miposaur dino bot

To balance and move on two wheels, like a Segway, the Miposaur uses the same inverted pendulum mechanism based on research from the UCSD Coordinated Robotics Lab as its predecessor. This feature was so striking in the orginal MiP that one of its games relied solely on its ability to balance while weights were stacked up on its front. The dino, however, is larger, more horizontal than vertical, and for stability can rest back on little plastic heels when not in motion.

Similar to the MiP, the Miposaur responds to 10 predefined hand gestures, such as a user covering its eyes, waving a hand in a circular motion, clapping, or pulling the dino's tail. Three sensors, one for sound and the others in front of and behind the head, control these gestures. Deliberate movement is the key for not getting frustrated controlling the dino in this way, but younger kids may find it hit-and-miss.

The Miposaur also comes with its own toy in the form of a ball to play with. Adding another dimension to the interaction, this independently moving TrackBall has six different modes and features the company's proprietary indoor GPS technology to create a spatial link between dino and its favorite toy. While the ball could roll faster than the dino could keep up, the dino's corrections were quick and accurate.

Some modes, like beatbox mode where the Miposaur will beatbox when in close proximity to the ball, feel like they could get boring quickly, but others are more interesting. For example, leash mode will see the android pet follow someone carrying the ball, while ball mode will see it channel its inner Ronaldo and chase and push the ball around.

While testing our little T. rex, we were impressed by its stability and agility despite its bulk of over a kilogram. Where the original MiP robot refuses to crash into surfaces, the Miposaur doesn't avoid collisions quite as well. However, this matched its "personality" as a manic dinosaur and felt more like aggression than bad navigation. Additionally, it feels durable and, even when we outright dropped it, its tail slotted back on with nary a chip.

We also weren't overly enthused by the robot's sound quality, but the volume is adjustable through the app. While the harsh, rough sounds did match the dinosaur's raging personality, they eventually became a little annoying in the pre-scripted interactions, like its dance music.

The many moods of Miposaur

The robot also features changeable moods, including excited, upset, or curious, which are based off the types of interactions given to it through the app or TrackBall – like virtually feeding it. These cues are more obvious when using the app, where the mood is displayed prominently, but the Miposaur will grumble, growl, get excited, and prance a bit, depending on how it's feeling.

However, the short-lived moods don't affect the play much. The dino does interact differently with its ball and gestures depending on its mood, but we found that a user, especially a kid, could change its mood quickly enough before realizing they were even doing so and miss the feedback they were getting. If you do like the Tamagotchi-style evolving personality, we'd suggest you use the app to get more feedback and be aware the interactions are relatively transient.

Setup

Setup is simple with a simple on/off switch on both devices getting them going. The app connects via Bluetooth LE and we didn't have a problem with creating that connection. However, if you do have more than one MiP or Miposaur, you will need to pay attention to which you're connecting to. While the MiP has its own app, it can still connect with the dino's app as well, minus a few of its functions.

The big and heavy dino uses four AA batteries and the ball takes four AAAs. We got by on one set for a couple hours of play, finally needing to replace them when the firmware update required more battery life. When batteries get low, the robot does get a little wobbly or sluggish.

WowWee does use firmware updates to change the robot itself, requiring the app to install the update. While we tested the Miposaur we received one firmware update and one app update on Android.

Miposaur app adds more ways to play

As with the original MiP, the free app is what really brings out the charms of the Miposaur. Interactions with the TrackBall feel a little scripted compared to the app. For example, the dino can only dance to its own prerecorded toy-like music when using the TrackBall, but through the app a user can pick any music file and a style to see the Miposaur respond in-sync with the beats.

The app also allows Miposaur to turn into a regular radio-controlled (RC) vehicle. The dino behaves differently when under user control, which turns collision detection off. This mode also highlights the difference between balancing and resting, with a button to switch between the two. While resting, the dino is back on its heels and attempting to drive will see it only clumsily steer in circles, but this position is good for taking pictures, resting, or for posing.

However, once balancing in RC mode the dino's controls are responsive and accurate and the dino is fast. What's even more amazing is that putting a good deal of pressure on its tail or nose in order to tip it only makes it shy away. It's extremely difficult to tip this thing over purely with force.

Interaction with the original MiP

One neat feature of the Miposaur is that the MiP android and the dino can face off in battle. Both need to be controlled by a user with the corresponding app, but the battles are pretty well-featured. The user has access to the RC controls, and the dino has a few different attacks, but no ability to turn on a camera to allow the user to line up shots as the MiP is able to do.

The length of battles depends on the driving ability of the participants and how much room they have to navigate in. My battles took about five minutes, becoming shorter and more fun as the drivers got better navigating with the RC controls (the RC controls are responsive and smooth, the drivers not so much).

The battles are primarily virtual like a game of laser tag, with a hit being recognized via the robot's sound effects and actions and also through effects in the app. The dino has a physical "tail sweep" attack that could knock a hapless MiP to the ground, highlighting again an interesting difference between the dino and its predecessor. The dino literally can't fall over, while the MiP seems simultaneously more fragile yet brave. I'm sorry, are we anthropomorphizing again?

You'd like the Miposaur if...

Right now, the Miposaur is posing in my living room, where its novelty has appealed to a few groups of houseguests. Its self-balancing act is definitely a unique crowd-pleaser.

Whether its novelty develops a more lasting appeal depends partially on WowWee. The company has two promised modes coming to a future app update that will offer a storybook mode and a Mipohunt, which seems like a virtual treasure hunt game. While the Miposaur is relatively inexpensive, the app seems the best way for WowWee to ensure that people keep finding a reason to turn the dino back on.

We found that the 6-10 years age group was a sweet spot, where the kids were young enough to be entertained by the silly interactions, but old enough to navigate the app with enough dexterity to engage in battles and RC mode. However, you need not worry that younger children will break the sturdy dino and they likely will engage with the intuitiveness of the TrackBall.

For adults, we find ourselves wondering when the maker community and the commercial toy market will overlap enough to get a programmable toy on a store shelf. An API on the Miposaur would be amazing and would ensure that it wasn't played with few times before being relegated to the bottom of the toy box. However, we haven't seen anything else comparable to its balancing locomotion and sometimes we found ourselves ignoring its extra features simply to watch it move. In that sense, the MiP, with its emphasis on how it balances, might be more of a toy for adults and the dino a winner with the kids.

Overall, the dino's best draws were modes that allowed some creativity and reuse, such as battling, remote control, dancing through the app, and watching the Miposaur endlessly chase its ball. We stalled on a couple of the more scripted modes and weren't thrilled with the sound effects, but especially with upcoming app updates, there's probably something for everyone with the Miposaur.

The Miposaur retails for US$119.99.

Below is WowWee's video detailing some of the features of the MiPosaur.

Product page: WowWee

自动平衡Miposaur机器人

海蒂HoopesSeptember 21，2015Claws上与自平衡Miposaur机器人

MiPosaur是一个恐龙机器人上两轮摆有情绪，手势，用不同的模式轨迹球，以及一个应用程序，增加了更多的功能（来源：海蒂·胡普斯/ Gizmag）
图片廊（9张）
我们第一次看到WowWee公司的Miposaur机器人在伦敦玩具展在一月份它是自动平衡两个轮子相似，其较老的Android兄弟MIP。我们最近测试了这款T-Rex的新功能，其中包括它的轨迹球老MIP室内GPS系统，一个新的手机应用程序，扩展了机器人的能力，并且向下兼容决高下，虚拟激光式。

 该Miposaur恐龙机器人
为了平衡，继续前进的两个轮子一样，赛格威的Miposaur使用基于其前身来自加州大学圣地亚哥分校坐标机器人实验室的研究相同的倒立摆机制。此功能是如此惊人的原单MIP是它的游戏之一完全依靠它而权重堆放在其前面的平衡能力。的恐龙，但是，是较大的，不是垂直更多的水平，并为稳定性可以休息背面上的小塑料高跟鞋时不运动的物体。

类似于MIP中，Miposaur响应10预定义手势，如用户覆盖眼睛，圆周运动挥手，鼓掌，或拉恐龙的尾巴。三个传感器，一个用于声音和其他人的前面和后面的头，控制这些手势。故意运动的关键是不感到沮丧以这种方式控制的恐龙，但年轻的孩子可能会发现，打了小姐。

该Miposaur也有它自己的一球玩的形式玩具。添加另一个层面的互动，这种独立移动轨迹球有六种不同的模式，并采用该公司专有的室内GPS技术创造的恐龙和心爱的玩具之间的空间联系。虽然球会滚动的速度比恐龙能跟上，迪诺的更正是快速，准确。

一些模式，像口技模式，其中Miposaur将在靠近球表演口技，感觉他们可以得到迅速无聊，但其他人都更有趣。例如，皮带模式将看到Android的宠物跟随别人背着球，而球模式将看到它引导其内部罗纳尔多和追逐和球周围的推。

在测试我们的小霸王龙，我们被它的稳定性和灵活性，尽管其体积超过一公斤留下深刻的印象。凡原MIP机器人拒绝撞上表面的Miposaur不能避免碰撞，以及相当。然而，这符合它的“个性”作为一个狂躁的恐龙，感觉更像是攻击比坏的导航。另外，感觉耐用，即使我们彻底放弃了它，它的尾巴开槽回到上连一个芯片上。

我们也没有过分的机器人的音质热情，但音量可调通过应用程序。虽然刺耳，粗糙的声音确实符合恐龙的肆虐个性，他们最终成为在前期脚本相互作用有点讨厌，喜欢它的舞曲。
Miposaur的许多情绪
该机器人还具有多变的情绪，包括激动，心烦意乱，或好奇，这都基于通过应用程序或轨迹球给它的交互类型 - 例如目前喂养它。这些线索是比较明显的使用的应用程序，其中的意境突出地显示出来时，但是Miposaur会抱怨，咆哮，别激动，并腾跃了一下，这取决于它是如何感觉。

然而，短暂的情绪不会影响发挥多大。迪诺确实与它的球和手势取决于它的情绪互动方式不同，但我们发现，用户，尤其是孩子，可以实现他们甚至都在这样做之前不够迅速改变其情绪和思念他们得到反馈。如果你不喜欢的电子鸡风格演变的性格，我们建议你使用的应用程序，以获得更多的反馈和了解的相互作用是相对短暂的。
建立
的设置是简单的与这两个设备让他们正在进行一个简单的通/断开关。该应用程序通过蓝牙LE连接，我们没有有一个问题，创建连接。但是，如果你有一个以上的MIP或Miposaur，你将需要支付到你连接的关注。虽然MIP都有自己的应用程序，它仍然可以与恐龙的应用程序连接以及减去它的一些功能。

大而重的恐龙使用四节AA电池和球有四个腹主动脉瘤。我们在一组的打法了几个小时通过了，最后需要更换他们当固件更新需要更多的电池寿命。当电池得到低，机器人确实变得有些颤抖或呆滞。

WowWee公司确实使用固件更新来改变机器人本身，需要应用程序来安装更新。虽然我们测试的Miposaur我们收到了一个固件更新，并在Android上一个应用程序更新。

 
Miposaur应用程序增加了更多的游戏方式
与原来MIP，免费的应用程序是真正带出了Miposaur的魅力。互动与轨迹球觉得有点照本宣科相比应用程序。例如，恐龙可以使用轨迹球时只跳舞自身预先记录的玩具般的音乐，但是用户可以通过该应用挑选任何音乐文件和一个风格看到Miposaur与节拍响应于同步。

该应用程序还允许Miposaur变成一个普通无线电控制（RC）的车辆。迪诺行为有所不同，当用户的控制，果然碰撞检测断下。这种模式还突出均衡和休息，用一个按钮在两者之间切换之间的差别。休息时，该恐龙是狼狈逃窜，并试图推动会看到它只能笨拙地操纵在圈子里，但这个位置是很好的拍照，休息，或冒充。

然而，在RC模式下，一旦平衡恐龙的控制是反应灵敏，准确，迪诺很快。什么是更令人惊讶的是，把一个很好的协议在它的尾巴或鼻子的压力，为了给小费它只是使害羞了。这是非常困难的小费这件事情上完全有力量。

 
与原来的MIP相互作用
一个实用的功能的Miposaur的是，MIP Android和恐龙可以在战斗中面临关闭。两者都需要通过与相应的应用程序，用户可以控制，但战斗是相当不错功能。用户可以访问到RC的控制，并且该恐龙有几个不同的攻击，但没有能力以接通相机以允许用户排队拍摄作为MIP是能够做到的。

战役的长度取决于参与者的驾驶能力和多少空间，他们有导航。我战斗了大约五分钟，变得更短，更有趣的司机得到了更好地与RC控制导航（居委控件响应流畅，司机没有这么多）。

战斗主要虚拟像游戏激光标记的，与命中被经由机器人的声音效果和操作，并还通过在应用程序的影响的认可。迪诺具有物理“尾巴扫”的攻击，可以敲倒霉的MIP在地上，突出再次恐龙和它的前辈之间的一个有趣的差异。迪诺字面上不能翻倒，而MIP同时更加脆弱又勇敢似乎。对不起，是我们anthropomorphizing了吗？

 
你想在Miposaur如果...
眼下，Miposaur是摆在我的客厅里，它的新颖性已呼吁houseguests的几组。它的自我平衡的行为，绝对是一个独特的人群取悦。

无论是其新颖性开发出更持久的吸引力部分地取决于WowWee公司。该公司有两个承诺的方式来未来的应用程序的更新，将提供一本故事书模式和Mipohunt，这似乎是一个虚拟的寻宝游戏。虽然Miposaur相对便宜，应用程序似乎是WowWee公司，以确保人民群众不断找到一个理由来打开恐龙回来的最佳途径。

我们发现，6-10岁年龄组是一个甜蜜点，那里的孩子们年轻，足以被愚蠢的相互作用被受理，但年纪尚幼，导航有足够灵巧的应用程序来进行战斗和RC模式。不过，你不用担心，年轻的孩子们将打破坚固的恐龙，他们很可能将与轨迹球的直观搞。

对于成年人，我们发现自己不知道什么时候制造商界和商业玩具市场将重叠足以让货架上的可编程玩具。在Miposaur的API将是惊人的，并会确保它被转移到玩具箱的底部之前没有玩过几次。但是，我们还没有看到任何东西比得上它的平衡运动，有时我们发现自己忽视了其额外的功能，只需看它移动。在这个意义上，按揭保险计划，其重点是如何平衡，可能更多的是玩具的成年人和恐龙与孩子们一个赢家。

总体来看，恐龙的最好的借鉴是模式，允许一定的创造性和再利用，如作战，远程控制，通过App跳舞，看着Miposaur无休止地追逐它的球。我们停滞对夫妇更多的脚本模式和不兴奋的声音效果，特别是与即将到来的应用程序更新，有可能是适合每个人的Miposaur。

该Miposaur零售价为US $ 119.99。

下面是WowWee公司的视频详述一些MiPosaur的特性。

产品页面：WowWee公司