$2,400 Robotic Gymnast

Every year the same holiday question arises: what to get for the man/woman who has everything?  Chances are he doesn’t have Hammacher’s Advanced Acrobatic Robot.

This 13-inch tall toy includes 17 servos that work in unison with an included gyro sensor and accelerometer to perform a variety of tricks that range from backflips to air guitar.  We’re not kidding, though we haven’t found a video to demonstrate its acrobatic feats.  Hammacher says that the “points of articulation in its neck, arms, hands, legs, and feet are so precise” that it can grasp objects, punch the air like a boxer and even feign a soccer kick.  To further its compelling nature each action is accompanied by a sound effect from the built-in 1 watt speaker.

The frame of this robot is built from lightweight, precision-machined aluminum, while the plastic exoskeleton is injection molded. However, it does weigh 3lbs and cost a whopping $2,400.   For that kind of money we’d expect a robot butler.  At least you can program additional moves using your computer, provided you’ve got one running Windows 7, XP or 2000.  2000, seriously?