Manufacturers face stiff competition and certainly want to create a niche for themselves by carving out innovative products. Desk Pets International has uncovered its TankBot micro-robotic toy that can be effortlessly controlled using the iPhone.
The offering sports three modes which enable it to seamlessly navigate various mazes and rooms. Incorporated with a USB charger, the newest entrant comes along with a dongle that conveniently plugs into the headphone jack.
Desk Pets International’s Managing Directors, Michael Trzecieski and David Piltz, commented, “We are the first company to develop a sub $20 toy with full compatibility with the Apple devices. Just waving your hands in front of the robot almost becomes addictive as it moves and reacts to what you do. You wait for it to slip up and it doesn’t, it consistently acts with a military precision.”
The device utilizes Apple’s accelerometer technology and can be controlled simply by tilting the iPhone. TankBot functions efficiently using the integrated IR sensors and further interacts with the user’s hand movements.
TankBot is expected to hit stores beginning June 2011 for under $20 via specific retailers nationwide.