Robosen

Robosen is a Chinese technology developer founded in 2008. The company is known for developing a series of high-end AI-driven robot toys; while these include original designs and a few other licensed IPs like Buzz Lightyear, the bulk of these releases are based on Transformers characters.

Toys

• Optimus Prime Auto-Converting Robot (2021)

• Accessories: carrying case, laser rifle, energy axe, non-removable exhaust pipes, wall charger, micro USB to USB 2.0 cable

Robosen's Optimus Prime is a highly interactive, programmable transforming robot. With over 5,000 pieces, 60 microchips, 27 servo motors, 6 high-intensity LEDs, 80 different sound effects including voice clips from Peter Cullen, a dedicated iOS/Android bluetooth app interface, and a pricetag of $750 USD, it blurs the line between "toy" and "high-end showroom electronics." Users can choose between multiple ways to control its robotic movements: including pre-programmed voice commands, pre-programmed app controls, or user-created movement scripts. In truck mode, it can drive as directed or honk its horn. In its MP-10 Convoy-influenced 19"-tall robot mode, it can execute a long list of included scripted actions featuring voice and sound effects, plus an infinite variety of user-programmed poses and user-scripted movement sequences. It has distinct attack movements and sounds to be used with its weapons, and has flip-out wrist communicators featuring sticker images of Megatron and Bumblebee.

The main power source is an internal rechargeable lithium ion battery. The truck's front bumper flips down to expose the charging port and the separate micro USB interface port. A replaceable CR 1220 3V battery powers the "laser rifle's" LED; it's not really a laser, but it's bright. The instructions say don't look straight at it.

In voice command mode, the spoken user command for conversion between truck and robot modes is officially supposed to be "convert," but secretly the toy will respond the same if you say "transform." It also responds to more than 30 other simple words and phrases which trigger other animations and basic functions: such as: "turn left" to turn left, "move right" to step to the right, or "hero" to strike a superheroic ground-punching pose. 6 months after launch, the Robosen software developers were still releasing new movement animations and firmware updates via channels that can be found in the official app, with no announced end date for their continuing improvements.

27 servo motors might sound like a lot, but compared to contemporary 1st-party figures costing hundreds and hundreds (and hundreds!) of dollars less, this item does lack some some pretty standard joints: such as neck rotation, wrist rotation, and the type of leg rotation that would have allowed the feet to point in different directions.

Although this Optimus Prime does mostly transform on its own, there are some additional manual adjustments required to make each mode look the way it's advertised. In robot mode, one red panel can be removed from the back of the head, and the gas tanks can be moved into a lower position on the legs. If the gas tanks are not lowered, they can protrude enough to obstruct animation. For vehicle mode, the removable red panel should be reattached, gas tanks moved back so they don't cover the wheels, and the side-view mirrors can be flipped out.

In truck mode, especially via app control, Optimus is a fully functional remote control vehicle that can move forward, backward, and turn. Its steering does not happen the way real trucks do when they tilt the axles of the front wheels within their wheel wells; Instead, Optimus turns by throwing both legs simultaneously to one side or the other, which gives the appearance that the entire cab is pivoting around a central axis.

In robot mode, Optimus' default idle behavior is not to stand perfectly still. Instead, he will slowly "breathe" with a subtle inhaling/exhaling motion like a human would have after aerobic exercise. From there, he will occasionally shift into other statuesque poses.

When asked to turn right or left in robot mode, Optimus is not able to perform that action in two or three normal steps with ankle and hip rotation like a human would. He lacks any leg joints that rotate around a vertical axis, so for him to rotate his body to the right, he must perform a startling stutter shuffle move. He pushes one foot out slightly forward, the other foot slightly backward, and maintains that orientation while rapidly sliding his legs together and apart more than once per second until the asymmetrical rapid sliding friction of his feet against the floor eventually scoots him into facing a different direction. This movement can wear out the paint on his inner soles pretty fast, even on smoother surfaces.

None of the toy's motorized joints are capable of supporting substantial weight without electricity. This means that when powered off, the robot cannot stand upright without external support. If the toy is in robot mode and senses its batteries are getting low, then to prevent a damaging fall, it will automatically shift into a droopy squatting pose that it can safely sustain while powered off. The average operating time from a full battery charge is approximately 40 minutes. The charging port is not accessible while the robot is standing up. Plugging in the charger while the toy is powered on might endanger fragile components.

Yes, the above means that this toy in effect cannot be displayed in robot mode when not in active use. It can't really be displayed in the proper truck mode either, as the robot legs need battery power to stay rigidly locked into truck configuration and will droop when turned off. It is rather clearly intended to remain in its protective carrying case most of the time.

Aside from the laser rifle, none of the LED lights in the eyes, headlights, or tail lights can be deactivated while the toy is powered on. In robot mode, the brake lights shine brightly from the backs of the feet, and the headlights shine from within the forearms. Some of the pre-programmed actions exploit this deliberately, by having Optimus brandish his bright headlights as flip-out weapons. The laser rifle's LED turns on and off with its own physical switch.

Many of the pre-loaded animations assume Optimus is holding his gun in his right hand and/or that he is holding his axe in his left hand. The toy has no sensors to detect whether those accessories are in place, and the app does not consistently label which animations use accessories. It also does not label the many animations that might damage the toy if attempted while accessories are attached, but transforming converting him or punching the ground would be a bad idea. So don't activate any animations while the accessories are attached unless you're sure you know what will happen.

In addition to action/fighting/greetings animations, there are also many silly animations available from the official download page, including: Air Guitar with the G1 cartoon theme song, air drumming, a gyrating silent "Christmas" dance, doing push-ups then getting exhausted and passing out, and the Dab.

The app-controlled motion programming interface is extremely complex. The position of each joint at each step in an animation can be dictated either with numerical parameters, or by sensing the positions of the joints on the toy during programming. Many poses can be strung together to form long action sequences. The app uses long gamified sequences of tutorials to teach programming techniques and unlock more sound clips for use in more animations. Despite that available complexity though, there are some actions used by official animations that cannot be performed in customized sequences: such as a head nod, a full mode conversion, or vehicle driving commands.

Given this piece's fragility, complexity, and high cost, it is appropriate that it is packaged in a heavy duty foam-padded carrying case, complete with clasps and a handle. But the case can't protect from paint wear issues that arise quickly via actual use. Prime's knuckles and feet will instantly get severe scrape marks if he transforms on a rough surface like concrete, but even smooth unvarnished wood can wear the gloss off the paint before long. Even soft carpeting might not be safe, as some users report toppling issues due to a lack of traction.

The sound effect for Prime's gun is of a distinctly "realistic" machine gun, and Hasbro has stated this effect may be changed.

Accurate 3-D images of this Robosen toy appear throughout its app interface, but the app also decorates prominent buttons with drawings of Evergreen Optimus. The app and manual also contain many mistakes in spelling, grammar, typography, labeling transposition, etc.

This item was revealed on Hasbro Pulse in April 2021, and began shipping to purchasers in October 2021. The TakaraTomy release of the figure is unchanged, though the dialogue is swapped from English to Japanese with Tesshō Genda reprising his role.

• Flagship Optimus Prime (2022)

• Accessories: carrying case, laser rifle, energy axe, non-removable exhaust pipes, wall charger, micro USB to USB 2.0 cable

One year after the release of the original Robosen Optimus Prime, the figure was re-labeled as "Flagship Optimus Prime" and rereleased with no changes.... except the price tag, now $999.

• Elite Optimus Prime (2022)

• Accessories: carrying case, laser rifle, energy axe, non-removable exhaust pipes, wall charger, micro USB to USB 2.0 cable

"Elite Optimus Prime" is a downsized version of the original (and now "Flagship") Robosen Optimus Prime, standing a mere 16" instead of 19" and costing $699. The different proportions result in a few noticeable but minor visual changes, such as the fuel tanks on his legs being a different shape and elevation compared to the original toy. It retains all the features and programmable functions as the original.

• Bumblebee G1 Performance (2023)

• Accessories: blaster, wall charger, USB-C to USB 2.0 cable

Robosen's follow-up to their auto-converting G1 Optimus Primes, "Bumblebee G1 Performance" is a highly-interactive, programmable robot based on Bumblebee's appearance in the G1 cartoon. Unlike the two Optimus Primes, Bumblebee does not transform, leaving him stuck in robot mode... though this does contribute to his significantly lower $399 price point. He's nevertheless still a vague in-between of "toy" and "high-end showroom tech", with 45 custom microchips, 17 servo motors, LEDs in his eyes, foot headlights, and his blaster accessory, 69 classic soundbytes on top of newly-recorded voice lines by Dan Gilvezan (or a very good impersonator), and his own dedicated iOS/Android bluetooth app interface (separate from either of the two Optimus Primes' apps). Bumblebee stands at 13.5 inches in height, meaning he scales a bit better with the taller "Flagship" Optimus Prime.

Bumblebee is primarily powered by an internal rechargable lithium ion battery, with his USB-C port located in an added notch on his lower back. His speaker/vent is located just above that, on a raised circular outdent on the center of his back.

There are a variety of ways to interact with Bumblebee, including pre-programmed voice commands, pre-programmed app controls, and user-created movement scripts. The former two have a long list of scripted actions to pull from, including action poses, fighting scenes, greetings, and a variety of silly actions; if Robosen's continual rollout of new actions for Prime months after his release is anything to go by, Bumblebee will likely have more actions added in the months to come. New to Bumblebee is a "Mini-Theater" mode, essentially longer pre-programmed action sequences with appropriate backing music, sound effects, and voice lines, with scenes featuring Bumblebee by himself and alongside Optimus Prime available to pick from. And if all that weren't enough, you can program any number of poses and movement sequences using the app.

The lack of transformation allowed Robosen to slightly beef up Bumblebee's flexibility and movement compared to Prime, with them advertising a state-of-the-art gait algorithm that allow's Bumblebee's two walking speeds to appropriately match your movements, as well as a built-in 6-axis IMU (internal measuring unit) to detect your posture, enabling Bumblebee to perform more difficult poses and automatically stand back up if he falls. Although he still lacks wrist and foot rotation like Prime, Bumblebee does have partial neck rotation, allowing him to look to his left or right without rotating his body. He can also stand up without being powered on; although he will hunch forward a bit on his knees when powering off, his legs can be straightened out a bit more with no worry of him falling over afterwards, likely thanks to his large feet.

Bumblebee was first shown off at the Middle East Film and Comic Con in March 2023, with Robosen later uploading a promotional video to Weibo in May. He was made available to buy from Robosen's online store on June 20, 2023 without any advance warning, with orders shipping out from that date on.

• Grimlock Auto-Converting Robot (2023)

• Accessories: carrying case, galaxial rocket launcher, energon sword, crown, wall charger, USB-C to USB 2.0 cable, collector coin

The third entry in Robosen's series of G1-style Transformers robots, this Grimlock is a highly-interactive, programmable transforming robot. Made with 85 microchips, 37 servo motors, and a 6-axis IMU, and capable of speaking over 150 voicelines (all newly-recorded by Gregg Berger), Grimlock straddles the line between "toy" and "high-end showroom electronics" like the other Robosen robots... though it definitely leans more towards the latter, given that Robosen not only touts Grimlock as "The World's First Dual-form, Bipedal Walking Robot," but his regular asking price is also an absurd $1700. Using either voice commands or a companion iOS/Android bluetooth app interface, users can control Grimlock's movements by either using pre-programmed commands or creating movement routines of their own. From an aesthetic perspective, on the other hand, this Grimlock is essentially a 15" tall upscale of his Masterpiece figure, down to various sculpted details that were seemingly recreated 1:1.

Grimlock is primarily powered by an internal lithium ion battery, charged via a USB-C connection. Based on Optimus Prime, the LEDs for Grimlock's Galaxial Rocket Launcher and "energon sword" are likely powered by a replaceable CR 1220 3V battery.

Like Optimus Prime before him, the voice command that triggers Grimlock's transformation is officially "convert", but "transform" works just the same. All told, Grimlock has 42 built-in voice commands he can respond to, from simple movement commands like turning left or right to actions like leaning forward and roaring in dino mode. Carried over from Robosen's Bumblebee is "mini-theater" mode, a selection of longer pre-programmed action sequences with matching sounds, with sequences featuring Grimlock either by himself or with other Robosen G1 robots available to pick from. Considering that Robosen continually rolled out new commands and firmware updates for Optimus Prime for months after his release with no clear end date, Grimlock will more than likely receive additional commands for some time after his release.

37 servo motors is definitely a lot, but that effort was more so put into ensuring Grimlock can transform and remain balanced while doing so – compared to contemporary 1st-party figures costing over a thousand dollars less, Grimlock's robot mode lacks basic neck and wrist rotation, and his legs are incapable of rotating such that his feet can point any direction other than straight forward. Dino mode likewise has a notable sacrifice: while his T. rex neck can rotate a bit to the left or right and his head can look up and down, this comes at the cost of no arm articulation whatsoever.

When asked to turn right or left in robot mode, Grimlock is not able to perform that action in two or three normal steps with ankle and hip rotation like a human would. He lacks any leg joints that rotate around a vertical axis, so for him to rotate his body to the right, he must perform a startling stutter shuffle move. He pushes one foot out slightly forward, the other foot slightly backward, and maintains that orientation while rapidly sliding his legs together and apart more than once per second until the asymmetrical rapid sliding friction of his feet against the floor eventually scoots him into facing a different direction. This movement can wear out the paint on his inner soles pretty fast, even on smoother surfaces.

Sadly, Grimlock shares the same inability to stand in robot mode without power as Optimus Prime – when turned off, Grimlock will lean forward and rest his robot arms and legs on the ground. Dino mode fares better, as he will stay standing up when he's powered off... but as his joints have now gone limp, he's liable to tip or slouch at the slightest bit of disturbance, so if you do decide to put him on display in this mode, make sure he's somewhere very stable.

Grimlock's pre-programmed animation set assumes his rocket launcher is in his right hand and his sword in his left. There aren't any sensors to detect whether they and/or the crown are in place, so it's best to avoid, say, transforming converting Grimlock while they're in place. On a lighter note, Grimlock is capable of wearing the crown in both modes, meaning it no matter whether he robot or dino – Grimlock always king!

The app-controlled motion programming interface is extremely complex. The position of each joint at each step in an animation can be dictated either with numerical parameters, or by sensing the positions of the joints on the toy during programming. Many poses can be strung together to form long action sequences. The app uses long gamified sequences of tutorials to teach programming techniques and unlock more sound clips for use in more animations. Despite that available complexity though, there are some actions used by official animations that cannot be performed in customized sequences (if Optimus Prime is anything to go by, at least), such as a head nod or a full mode conversion.

Given this piece's fragility, complexity, and high cost, it is appropriate that it is packaged in a heavy duty foam-padded carrying case, complete with clasps and a handle. But the case can't protect from paint wear issues that arise quickly via actual use. Grimlock's knuckles and feet will almost certainly instantly get severe scrape marks if he transforms on a rough surface like concrete, but even smooth unvarnished wood can wear the gloss off the paint before long. Even soft carpeting might not be safe, as some users of Optimus Prime have reported toppling issues due to a lack of traction. Grimlock is designed to be more stable thanks to his IMU, but heed caution all the same.

Grimlock was revealed on Hasbro Pulse on July 19, 2023, with orders set to ship out from both Pulse and Robosen's own online store in late Fall 2023. When revealed, Grimlock was made available at a special introductory price of $1500 which lasted until September 30.

• Megatron Auto-Converting Robot (2024)

• Accessories: Carrying Case, Sword, Mace, 4 tank shells, Optimus Prime paper target, Collector coin

Robosen Megatron is a high-end programmable interactive transforming robot. Responding to user voice commands or the Robosen app, Megatron transforms from a 21" tall robot into a tank with functioning treads and firing cannon. His robot mode is highly evocative of the Leader-Class Combiner Wars Megatron figure, including the vertically-mounted tank treads on his back. Features include 112 different LED functions, 36 servo motors, 118 microchips and over 200 lines of dialogue from Frank Welker. Unlike previous Robosen robots, Megatron has a battery level indicator on his chest, and the ability to react to the user's touch. However, like the previous robots, he is unable to stand when powered off in robot mode due to the joints having gone limp. It is, therefore, best to power him off in tank mode. MSRP was $1200 but a special "early bird" price of $899 was available until May 25th.