hexbug

Goal: $15,000
Funding Period: until Feb. 16, 2017
Stretch Goal: $50,000
Creator: Brad Knox

bots_alive lets kids add personality to their Hexbug spiders using artificial intelligence (AI) with bots_alive. With the bots_alive kits, remote-controlled Hexbug spiders can turn into autonomous creatures that navigate through mazes and can learn through interaction. 

Designed for kids ages 6 and up, bots_alive kits come with vision blocks, an infrared blaster that allows phones to control the Hexbug spiders, and an app that is compatible with both iOS and Android. Each kit is enough for two Hexbug spiders alive that can play together.

Kids can set up mazes for the robots to work through with the blocks. The robots navigate by avoiding the red blocks and searching for the blue blocks using organic movements. Kids can use their devices to see the robot’s perspective and can also teach their bots to improve their skills.

Kickstarter donations range from $10 to $570 and prizes include the full base kit, the complete kit, which includes the base kit and a Hexbug Spider, and the double bot kit, which comes with two Hexbug spiders. If the campaign reaches its $50,000 stretch goal, then sumo wrestling between two bots is unlocked.

Click here to support bots_alive!

About the author

Kristen Nelson

Kristen Nelson

Kristen Nelson is an assistant editor at Adventure Publishing Group. She does weekly toy reviews for The Toy Insider and contributes to the trade magazines The Toy Book and The Licensing Book. She is an expert in Penn State sports, as well as with numerous cooking techniques. Kristen has been crowned the Queen of Potatoes, but her friends call her Lady Spud. When not yelling at the TV during football or hockey games, she is often binge-watching virtually any cooking show. You can delve into her witty mind and follow her on Twitter @Krypton_87.

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