No, you don't want to come here if you want access to new products.

I'm in northern Vermont, far from the maddening crowd, and the product distributers that chase them.

This particular warehouse clearance shop is small scale, with a single row of shelves containing trashed toys from wherever they obtain them. The shop is mostly filled with office supplies, damaged can goods, clothing with minor defects, and low quality tools. I scout it out for discount materials to use in my various hobbies.

I know I'd seen Wowee product from time to time on the shelves there, so I stopped by based on my satisfaction with the RoboSapien V2. I was quite surprised to find a very pristine looking RoboRaptor and Mini RoboRaptor sitting loose on the shelf. Especially at the prices marked.

I did take a leap of faith that there would be something functional with the Raptor. I reasoned that even a partially functional Raptor would likely be a source of parts for some of the hackers here.  Now that it seems to be healthy without its remote, I'll be looking to RoboDance as a controller.

This shop also had a V2 on a shelf in the expensive shelf area. They had it tagged at $125 with no box and possibly no remote. I told them that I picked up one online last week, mint in box, for $80, and that they might need to soften the price on their single sample. 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Thanks for the quick feedback. I better get that RoboDance software downloaded, and the IR tower for it hooked up. That will get me access to more of the Raptor's function.

A quick test of the V2 interraction mode should let me know that the IR receiver on the Raptor is working. 

With regards to IR (Laser) Tracking, I have played around with some IR sources and how the V2 sees them.

When the V2 is sitting there "looking" for something to watch, a remote control from some other appliance makes an excellent "flashlight" with which to tease the V2. I've found that my V2 is very quick to notice and turn to stare at the audio receiver's remote.

A true laser pointer doesn't interest the V2 at all. I'm guessing there's insufficient IR content in that to trip the V2 sensors. 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

This just in.....

The Raptor met the Sapien, and my V2 was able to control the Raptor fully for the preprogrammed interaction sequences. That means that the IR receiver on the Raptor is working.

In one trial, the Raptor was quieted, and came up to the V2 for a nuzzle and a purr. In the next trial, the Raptor turned aggressive, and the V2 signaled retreat. After that, the Raptor went into roam mode and stomped and roared its way around the kitchen.

Looks like all this RoboRaptor needs is an IR controller to be fully functional.

Best $10 I spent this year. 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

I may have spoken just a tad too soon with regards to the RoboRaptor being fully functional.  There's no jaw motion at all. I don't know how wide it is supposed to open when "snapping" at you, but my Raptor doesn't open up at all.

I little searching found a discussion of a broken jaw for a RoboReptile, but nothing as far as a howto for working on the RoboRaptor's jaw.

I'll be opening up the body to look for obvious disconnected linkages. Does anybody who has poked around inside a RoboRaptor have any tips before I start working my way inside? Is the Raptor jaw similar to the Reptile jaw? Does it use a cable and a cam to open the jaw?

I'm experienced enough in such things to know that documenting where each screw comes from helps tremendously when the time comes to put it all back together. I'll probably just point the MPVR camcorder at the workbench and catch the whole thing as an MPEG. It might make for a handy tutorial later on. 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

I had a chance to delve inside the Raptor guts last evening.

After removing the left leg and left half of the body shell, I was able to see the neck and mouth moving mechanisms.

The cable to the mouth is intact. Tugging on it causes the mouth to open. The cable is attached via a metal ring screwed into a plastic lever arm.

When I carefully power up the Raptor to observe the function, I see the plastic piston with the beveled end pushing on the cable's lever arm. When the head turns to the side, the lever arm is pushed to the maximum amount. Less so with the head turned to the other side.

 I still observe very little mouth motion. I can convince myself that it moves a small amount, but it's very hard to notice it.  There definitely is much more range of motion possible by pulling on the cable.

It's as if either the cable is too long, the neck is too short, or the beveled piston is not throwing as far as it should/could.

I've reassembled the Raptor for the time being. Though I may have gotten a twist introduced into the neck, as it seems to be looking slightly to its left when it used to be looking straight ahead. I'll probably pop the case open again to check on that. 

 On a related topic, I did get the RoboDance alpha install done last evening. I haven't hooked up the IR Tower yet, but that's next on my list.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)