Hexbug facts for kids
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Hexbug Spider with remote control
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| Toy automatons | |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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| Parent | Innovation First International |
Hexbug is a brand of cool robotic toys. They are made by a company called Innovation First International. These toys are inspired by BEAM robotics, which is a way of building simple robots.
Hexbugs first appeared in the US at RadioShack stores. Now, you can find them in many big shops. The first Hexbug toys looked like six-legged bugs. But today, there are many different kinds of Hexbugs. The name "Hexbug" actually comes from the six-sided box the toys are sold in, not from how many legs they have!
Contents
Discover Different Hexbug Robots
The Original Beetlebug
The Beetlebug was the very first Hexbug model. This toy reacts to loud sounds and when you touch its antennae. It then scurries around the room! It came in five different shapes and colors: Alpha (orange), Bravo (green), Charlie (blue), Delta (yellow), and Echo (red). This fun toy first came out in 2007.
Hi-Tech Beetle
The hi-tech HEXBUG Beetle is a tiny robotic creature. It moves in a straight line until it bumps into something or hears a loud noise. When this happens, the bug backs up in a half-circle. Then it moves forward in a new direction. It has special feelers that help it sense objects. This Beetle comes in many colors and includes two batteries. It's a great toy for kids aged eight and up.
Spider
The Hexbug Spider is a robot that you control with a remote. It has six legs, just like a real spider! It can change direction by turning its head. When the head turns, it pushes the leg joints to move the robot forward in that new direction. The Spider uses three small LR44 (AG13) Button cell batteries.
Battle Spider 1.0
The Battle Spider is a special version of the Spider. It has an LED light and a sensor. This lets it play laser-tag battles with other Battle Spiders! Unlike the regular Spider, the first Battle Spider 1.0 can only move forward. It also uses three LR44 (AG13) batteries.
Battle Spider 2.0
The Battle Spider 2.0 is an improved version of the Battle Spider. This one can walk backward, just like the original Hexbug Spider. It also uses three LR44 (AG13) batteries for power.
Scarab
The Scarab is a super-fast mechanical robot. It looks like a beetle with six legs. It moves on its own and changes direction quickly when it hits obstacles. If the Scarab flips over, it can automatically get back on its feet! You can see its gears and motors through its clear body. It runs on three LR44 (AG13) batteries.
Tarantula
The Hexbug Tarantula is an eight-legged robot that you control with a remote. It looks a bit like a Strandbeast, which are cool walking sculptures. This robot can move in all directions and even spin around.
Battle Tarantula
The Battle Tarantula has all the same features as the regular Tarantula. But it can also shoot! This makes it perfect for exciting robot battles.
Nano Nitro
The Nano Nitro is an updated version of the Nano v2, released in 2017. These tiny bugs are bristlebots, which means they move by vibrating. A cool improvement is that they have five spines on their back, instead of the v2's three. This helps them move faster and makes them more stable. Their spines also let them climb straight up between two close walls or inside tubes! The five spines help them flip back over if they land on their back.
You can get clear plastic tube habitats for these toys. These range from simple climbing tubes to big play areas with horizontal spaces and curved climbing tubes. You can also buy extra parts to build your own tracks, like twisted tubes and funnels.
Aquabot
The Aquabot line came out in 2013. These are miniature robotic fish! They have special sensors that detect water. When they touch water, their tail fin starts moving to push them through the water. You can find Aquabots that look like a fish, a jellyfish, a wahoo, and a seahorse.
VEX Robotics
VEX Robotics is a line of construction sets. These kits let you build your own robots! You can even build bigger versions of Hexbug products. The VEX Robotics platform is also used in schools to teach about STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
Robotic Soccer
These robots look like small cars. You can use them to play soccer games!
Hexbugs That Are No Longer Made
Crab
The Crab was the second type of Hexbug ever made. It could only move sideways. It would change direction when it hit things, or when it sensed light or sound. The Crab was stopped in September 2014. This was probably because its back legs often had a problem.
Larva
The Larva was a robot that looked like a worm. It had an infrared eye that helped it avoid objects in its path. However, it used up its batteries very quickly. It was stopped in February 2015.
Inchworm
The Inchworm robot moved by slithering, just like a real inchworm. But it also had tiny legs!
