Users will appreciate that while the toy might appear to be a fragile electronic device, it is built to be durable. Thousands of tests have been performed to make a product that will provide years of enjoyment. The bot can be used as a standard RC car via the companion app for Android and iOS (‘Explorer’ mode), but Cozmo will also throw down the gauntlet and challenge you to games, wearing its emotions on its 128 x 64 pixel display…sorry, face. The vision capabilities are quite robust. These cameras work as tools like nothing else in the consumer robotics industry. Combined with facial recognition software, the latter feature means it’s capable of recognising, remembering, and reacting to up to 10 different faces, as well as interacting intelligently with its surroundings. The internal memory is as real-life as any. The robot can be fed up to 30 characters at a time and goes through a rather amusing process to learn proper pronunciation.

Cozmo 2.0 Educational Toy Robot, STEM / Coding Robot for Kids Cozmo 2.0 Educational Toy Robot, STEM / Coding Robot for Kids

Once done - it's a tad laborious - the app, which is available for both iOS and Android, is hooked up to your Cozmo and you can play... and that's when the fun really starts. Performance The latest app update is a significant one for both old and new users. It essentially makes Cozmo needy. Anki has gone down the Tamagotchi route of having to cater to your Cozmo to make sure it is getting the attention it craves.This unique programmability widely expands the functional use of the toy. It goes beyond a hard-wired mechanical device such as those used in assembly lines, which can only perform pre-programmed functions. There is a powerful software development kit (SDK) installed. This software allows code experts to create millions of unique experiences. There is immediate recognition of pets. Like people, the toy loves cats and dogs and immediately can differentiate between the two.

Meet Cozmo, the pint-sized bot with all the makings of the

The system uses an internal Lithium-ion battery. Average charge time is roughly 30-minutes from an entirely drained state. Names are learned by scanning facial features and recording specific dimensions. There are no photographs stored. The entered name will be remembered based on the scanned numerical features. The numbers for the code are tiny, but the idea is that you tap them in then the device is secure and you should only have to do it once, unless it decided to reset itself.

Explorer, all-around mischief maker

Called Needs, the idea is that you have to play with Cozmo, feed it and also give it regular tune-ups. Most of these were actually part of the old app but now they are front and center. By using Cosmo’s app, there are 32 set challenges to spur ideas. However, users in the Code Lab can explore an endless array of unique experiences to try on their toy. Cozmo is comprised of no less than 360 components, including four motors, 50 gears, an integrated CPU, and a 30fps VGA camera. Out of the box you need to charge Cozmo. This takes around 30 minutes to do - this equates to around 90 minutes' play time - which gives you enough time to connect up Cozmo to its accompanying app.