Erector Spykee - The Spy Robot

by Erector

Product Features

• Spykee can move, observe, hear, speak and take real time pictures with video and with sound effects
• Spykee is a digital music player
• A video surveillance device
• Activates an alarm or sends you a picture by email
• Recommended for 8 years and up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inches ; 4.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000N6470A
• Item model number: 870850E
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,768 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Spykee The Spy Robot takes interactive Erector sets beyond the limits of kids' imagination. This latest build-your-own Erector set from Nikko America does everything from play digital music to guard a home or business.

Spy from Anywhere
Recommended for ages eight and up, Spykee is far more than your ordinary toy robot. Perfect for audio-visual surveillance, Spykee has the ability to move, watch, speak, and hear. With a built-in video camera and microphone, the robot takes real-time pictures with video and with sound effects. When motion is detected, Spykee activates an alarm or sends a picture by email. Compatible with Skype 3.0 (PC) technology, Spykee can also be used as a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone and web camera. Best of all, this motorized robot is equipped with a WiFi card, which means kids can access and control Spykee via the Internet from anywhere in the world.

3-in-1 Robot Fun
But there's more fun than just spying! Combining a classic robot design with the latest technology, kids can use Spykee to construct three different robot models from this same set. Downloading their favorite songs to Spykee, this spy robot even acts as a digital music player with its own loudspeakers. Compatible with most Erector sets, it features lights and optical fibers, and an IR auto-parking recharging system automatically sends Spykee back to the power station for a recharge.

The Spy robot takes real-time pictures with video and sound effects. View larger.

The robot is equipped with a WiFi card, which means kids can access and control Spykee via the Internet. View larger.

Product Description

Spykee, the spy robot, is a crafty 'bot that you control via the WiFi connection in your computer. This means you can give Spykee commands from virtually anywhere in the world! Plus, he does just about everything except feed the dog.

Spykee moves, watches, hears, speaks, takes pictures, records video and sound, and can act as a surveillance camera. What's more - when he begins to lose steam, he automatically heads back to his charging station (included) for more "energy." Compatible with classic metal Erector sets, sold separately. Requires one 9.6V battery (included). Measures 12" x 12" x 12".

Spy Robot

As you control him through your computer, Spykee can move, watch, hear, speak, take pictures, and record video and sound. Send him off on your most intriguing missions while you watch from the safety of your home computer.

VOIP Phone

Need to make a call' No problem. Spykee acts as a VOIP phone and webcam, and is compatible with Spykee 3.0 (PC) technology.

Video Surveillance

Spykee keeps an eye out for you. When he detects a movement, an alarm is activated on your computer, or he'll send you a picture via e-mail.

Digital Music Player

Jam to the beat of your own tunes with Spykee. He's happy to play your favorite songs.

Other Play Functions

From taking snapshots, sound and video recordings to providing video filters, there's not much Spykee doesn't do.

Requirements

PC requirements: Windows 2000/XP with .NET framework 2.0. MAC requirements: MAC OS X.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Fun but needs work in a few areas, December 29, 2008

By 

Garth Gerold Jones (dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Erector Spykee - The Spy Robot (Toy)

I got one of these from Toys R Us for Christmas. Here's my review of it. 1st the instructions could have been written better. (a lot Better)After spending 3 hours to get it together its a lot of fun. being able to control it from anywhere via wi-fi is cool. There is a slight curve in learning to maneuver it around without tipping it over (once its tipped your done if you are remotely controlling it) all in all its a pretty cool toy, yes, just a toy, that said here's what I'd like to see improved in the next version or maybe just an update to this.
1 The camera, there's no zoom, pan, tilt or rotate on this so what you see when controlling it is strait ahead. Seems like this would have been and easy addition since there are already web cams out that can do this
2 the arms, the arms, they do nothing, can we get some arms that maybe pick things up? or maybe even assist when the thing is tipped over.
3 The Sound, the volume is not very good, if your in a quiet room yes you can hear the thing. but the slightest noise downs it out..maybe we can get stereo speakers with a little more volume?

All in all I'm happy with this product and feel its worth the money. yes I'd like to see improvements, but compared to other items like it on the market this one rocks..

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spykee's Fun, With A Little To Be Desired..., August 21, 2009

By 

R. Thompson (Camarillo, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Erector Spykee - The Spy Robot (Toy)

My wife ended up buying this for me (after recommendation from myself) and I was very excited.

The first thing I did after receiving it was to put the base into the charger. The unit arrives uncharged, so I strongly recommend starting with this step.

The next thing you will notice, is that you have a box full of bags of parts, and nothing that looks like a robot. The base turns out to be one of the last pieces you will use, which means most of the assembly can commence while the charging is occurring.

Assembly is somewhat tedious, though not overly difficult if you take your time. It will take you an hour or two, to do, so make sure not to get overly anxious as there is a lot of work between receiving and using.

The most difficult part seems to be the wireless configuration. There are a lot of rules to follow, a few of which may require you to reconfigure your home wireless network. Spykee doesn't like spaces or special characters in network names, and even in passwords. It took me several resets before I came to realize this was the problem.

The biggest downfall once you are up and running is the fact that the camera isn't movable. The issue is that the higher you have the camera pointed, the less ground you see and the harder it is to navigate. The lower you have it the easier to drive, but the less you can actually see. Once its up and running this seems to be the biggest downfall. Also, Spykee features a light that can be switched on for dark rooms. I found the only thing this light really lets me do is avoid hitting stuff I'm right next to. The light is nowhere strong enough to allow practical use of the robot in a pitch black room...

Also, the robot has a vox mode, allowing the user to speak and listen though the robot, however if you try to do so without some kind of headset you will get a lot of echo. One of the reasons I got it was so that instead of calling a friend or messaging them, I can have them connect and interact with them...

The remote mode, which allows access from outside your home, is nice and works without much lag. The only problem I found with it is that my work's firewall is blocking the ports necessary for access. But aside from at work it allows me to take a look around my house from almost any computer...

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of fun and possibilities!, February 26, 2009

By 

OnyxCobra "onyxcobra" (Detroit,MI USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Erector Spykee - The Spy Robot (Toy)

Pretty good fun. It didnt take me too long assemble Spykee and after alot of button pushing/page turning this thing does work as advertised. I have no problems accessing and controlling the robot in local or remote modes. My wife likes to follow me around the house with it while she is in class. You can skpe using a regular usb headset( I use the one from my PS2), and its rather cool. It would be nice if Spykee's arms moved though. It is and Erector product so its compatible with Eretor pieces. I have even done a few low-tech modifications using a reciever and a few servos from one of my rc helicopters giving Spykee mobility in a few joints when in local mode. The developers could have given him a few more functions but overall, Spykee is a lot of fun. Maybe I'll arm him with an airsoft weapon...hmm.