Roundup: 4 Robots

Wired Pits Bot Against Bot to Find the Master of the Droid Universe

Roomba may be from Boston, but most of our favorite robots hail from the Land of the Rising Sun. Of course, not all Japanese mechas are created equal. We put these four imports to the test.

1. Kondo KHR-3HV
This aluminum and plastic bot stands head and shoulders above the rest — literally. But don't think its strapping 15.8-inch physique means it's sluggish. With 17 servomotors, each cranking out 12 inch-pounds of torque (huaa!), Kondo can be programmed to bow and do push-ups. Extra-wide feet and rigid ankle brackets impart quake-worthy stability.

WIRED Seventeen axes deliver more movements than a milk of magnesia-frosted bran muffin. Backpack has ample space for extra sensors, motors, or even speech modules. NiMH battery recharges in 1.5 hours; comes with an easily swappable spare.

TIRED Pricey: $80/inch, $380/pound! Assembly is tougher than learning kanji.

$1,260

2. Vstone Robovie-nano
Walking the walk is only part of the robo-equation. This 1.3-pound mighty mite has a chest-mounted speaker to belt out phrases like "Hajime-mashite" (Nice to meet you). Fifteen servos provide an impressive range of motion. Command Robovie-nano to pull a cartwheel while declaring, "Ai shite'ru yo!" (I love you!). Dude will do it — he has no choice.

WIRED Industrial-strength metal skeleton makes this well-priced minibot samurai-tough. Easy-to-access USB hackin' port. Programming complex routines is a breeze with the software's flowchart interface. Functioning "gripper" hand attachments available (sold separately).

TIRED Walking is a bit shaky. Noisy gears eliminate covert-ops potential. Does not speak English.

$550

3. Hitec Robonova-1
If you're gonna drop big bucks on a robot, it may as well be gold (or at least painted gold). Under the Robonova's anodized armor are 16 servomotors that do a solid job with preset headstands, boy-band poses, and even karate kicks. Good enough for a podium finish, but compared with our top bot, this 12.5-incher's wobbly walk is more deserving of bronze.

WIRED Control board can manage up to 24 servos. Wealth of online RoboBasic software tutorials makes it easy to master this droid's universe. English-friendly Web site with spare parts and plenty of info. Visor glows blue.

TIRED Puny conventional remote control feels like you're programming a VCR. Five-cell battery can't muster more than an hour of action. Tiny screws strip easily.

$1,050

4. Futaba RBT-1
Powered by 20 servomotors and built mostly of plastic, the 2-pound, 10-inch RBT-1 should be a speed demon. Nope. This bot face-planted more often than a freshman during rush week. We're not saying drunken robots aren't hilarious, but with such a crunked center of gravity and sky-high price tag, this little fella should come preset for panhandling.

WIRED Programmed for fencing (surprisingly, it's a well-balanced sword fighter). Fastest out-of-the-box startup. Luminous green eyes.

TIRED Calling the RBT's gait tipsy is being polite — simply strolling is a challenge. Precanned roll maneuver failed on all surfaces. Chintzy plastic frame. Clumsy battery charger — three separate, bulky pieces and a tangle of cords.

$1,700

• Type: For kids
• Manufacturer: Roundup:
• Price: $550 to $1,700