The Energon Pub

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:39 pm

V-Bot and future robotic transformers.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's seen the V-Bot in stores.

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=uZEmYw8ch60

The transformation is very impressive, but it's larger than I would've expected. Expensive too. Like €150 in one place I saw it. Not quite the winning combination for me at this point, but I'm happy to see stuff like this coming onto the market.

Naturally, I think Hasbro/TakaraTomy will get into this sooner or later. Ultimate Bumblebee was an indication that they are moving in the direction of having some mechanized transformers.

Here's some links I posted in a thread earlier in the year(in case some of you missed it):

I was pleased to learn that Takara-Tomy are on top of the trend towards increasingly sophisticated consumer robotics. Have you seen their new I-sobot?

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=-tuWnuI5V ... ed&search=
http://www.isobotrobot.com/

It's surely just a matter of time before this technology makes it's way into transformers.

I'm sure some of you have seen this working robotic transformer:

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=STQ3nhXuu ... ed&search=

Here's a different one:

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=zK8OjwMdn5I

And an Optimus Prime robot:

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=BN55rXeIQ ... ed&search=

I seriously can't wait for the day when one of the more articulated robotic transformers goes into production.

News Credits: 5 · by **skywarp-2** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:05 pm

My chin just dropped to the floor.... :grin:

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:34 pm

Another I've been looking out for is the Airhogs transforming Helicopter. Little information has been released on it yet, and I don't think it can do much more than transform and fly, but that's a pretty cool achievement by itself.

There's a very brief clip of it in action at the end of this video(drag the progress bar across to 1.26):
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=GSFI8N_8vXw

by **Deadpool.** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:46 pm

Whoa. The Takara one was darn cool.

The Humvee-bot was kinda clumsy though.

Let's hope that such technology gets used in TFs at a lower price.

News Credits: 4 · by **Briggs** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:10 pm

Those were awsome!

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 5:41 pm

Has anyone bought a V-Bot yet? Or handled one or have any opinions on them?

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:58 pm

... no one's seen a V-Bot? You find them in stores, usually next to the Robo-Sapiens in a large box.

... more video!

I hafta say, the noises and music would probably irritate me no end, but I don't get tired of watching this go from vehicle to robot and back.