WowWee Licenses Segway Tech for…Robots!

Hong Kong's WowWee Ltd. has licensed Segway's Smart Motion technology for its next generation of Robonetics brand entertainment robots.

Hong Kong’s WowWee Ltd., the parent company of WowWee Robotics, has become the first to license Segway’s Smart Motion technology, made famous (if not yet widespread) by the Segway Human Transporter. And what does WowWee want to do with this technology? Make cool toy robots! WowWee plans to integrate Segway’s Smart Motion technology in its next generation of consumer entertainment robots. WowWee’s current consumer robots offerings include Robosapien and Robosapien V2, plus Roboraptor and Robopet.

"Working with Segway we will continue to raise the bar, surpassing the boundaries and expectations people have regarding the possibilities for everyday, useful and affordable consumer technology products," said Richard Yanofsky, president of WowWee, Ltd. "We will use Segway Smart Motion to enable our products to move and behave in ways that challenge the imagination and provide advanced functionality."

WowWee is the first company to ink a deal under Segway’s new technology licensing program, part of the company’s efforts to increase revenue and fund the development of new Segway products, including the forthcoming Concept Centaur, a lightweight, four-wheeled electric concept vehicle.

WowWee plans to launch its first products with Smart Motion technology in 2006.

(Hint to WowWee: as long as you’re in a licensing mood, you have no idea what some people would pay for a life-size Cylon. I’m just sayin’.)