B.I.O. Bug

From BEAM Robotics Wiki

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• A series of four somewhat BEAM based insectoids that marked the first in a line of robotic toys designed by Mark Tilden for WowWee, which at the time was owned by Hasbro. They were marketed as “A new breed of artificial intelligence” which if allowed to wander around on their own it would learn from exploration and interaction.

[edit] Basic Description

The “B.I.O.” in B.I.O. Bugs was an acronym for Bio-mechanical Integrated Organisms. Stretching approximately sixteen inches long and standing about four tinches off the ground, there were four types of B.I.O. Bugs. Each of the four was a different color and had a different body shape that indicated its personality:

• The Red B.I.O. Bug was called “ Predator” and was the most aggressive of all B.I.O. Bugs, it would even attack others of its own kind.
• The Blue B.I.O. Bug was called “ Stomper”. It was the most flexible B.I.O. Bug, it was said to clamber and hop over obstacles.
• The Green B.I.O. Bug was called “ Destroyer” and was suppose to be the hardest to kill.
• Lastly the Yellow B.I.O. Bug was called “ Acceleraider” and was the fastest of the set.

Each B.I.O. Bug had two feelers on the front and one on it’s tail for obstacle detection. If a feeler were to come into contact with something, the B.I.O. Bug would try to move away from whatever it was and quickly return to it’s exploration of the world around it.

Every B.I.O. Bug came a like-colored, hand held, IR Remote Control, which could be used to make the B.I.O. Bug walk backward or forwards, turn left or right, and walk faster. It allowed the owner to “train” his or her B.I.O Bug thus increasing its “skill level”.

The controller could also be used as a homing beacon that would attract the B.I.O. Bug. This "Follow Me” mode would enable a B.I.O. Bug to follow it’s owner around (as long as he or she was holding the controller and did not walk away to quickly).

Although B.I.O. Bugs were inspired by “BEAM” principles, they utilized a microcontroller that was programmed to mimic those principles. And due to concerns with the company about potential copying by competing companies B.I.O.Bugs were not as hackable as Mark had originally intended. However this has not prevented BEAMers from coming up with several hacks to these critters. See the ‘’’External References’’’ listed below for more information.

[edit] External References

• A PDF of the Original Instructions is still availabe from Hasbro.com

• A Wired.com article by Jeffrey Benner, dated February 12, 2001: Robot Dog 'Bugs' Inventor

• The B.I.O. Bug Zone... on Solarbotic.net is dedicated to experimenting with, and hacking on these BEAM-based toys. It includes links to:
  • B.I.O.-Bug Videos
  • B.I.O.-Bug Vivisection and B.I.O. Bug Gearmotor dissection
  • Dave Hrynkiw's instructions for adding a Waist Motor top a B.I.O. Bug

It also includes links to:

• Eric Seale's B.I.O. Bug Volume Control hack
• Jeff Steele"s Green Machine B.I.O.-BUG Hack
• Marty Vulk's Blue BioBug: HACK
• Nate Eckerson's Four Motor, BioQueen
• Jerome Demers' BIO-BUGS HACKING contest page. NOTE: Although the contest ended a long time a go, this page contains Jerome's own B.I.O. Bug hacks, as well as some other interesting and useful information.

[edit] Examples of a typical press releases

• MACHINEBRAIN.COM article, dated June 25, 2001: B.I.O Bugs Crawling to a Store Near You
• Business Wire article, dated Feb 12, 2001: New B.I.O Bugs From Hasbro's WowWee Toy Mimic Real Bugs; Advanced "Nervous Networks" Technology Creates Next Generation of "Intelligent Toys"