Make:

@The NYC Toy fair 2008 was a favorite - Innovation first. They make the VEX robots as well as the HEX bugs.

The big news, they announced the Vex-Mini and Vex Wi-Fi... both of these are good additions to their robotics / learning line up. Here are the details...

The VEX RCR Mini, like the Vex Robotics Design System, is an open-ended robotics platform that includes all the parts and accessories inventors need to design and construct a radio-controlled robot. At less than half the size and one-third the cost of the VEX Robotics Design system, VEX Mini will be accessible to even more hobbyists and students at the high school, middle school and now elementary school levels interested in learning about robotics. Vex Mini will be sold as a 300 part kit including gears, motors, wheels, metal and hardware, with additional accessory kits available. The VEX Mini's quarter inch pitch is structurally compatible with all half inch pitch full-scale VEX EDR and RCR robots, enabling builders to design more capable, dexterous and agile robots by mixing parts (cost is $100).

In addition to the VEX Mini, Innovation First extends its leadership in robot control systems with the introduction of a first-of-its kind, revolutionary new control system built on the Wi-Fi 802.11 standard. The patent for the new Control System is pending and the technology will offer a secure, affordable option for education and competition robotics users. The Wi-Fi controller will let users program their VEX robot wirelessly through any computer, including OLPC, running Windows, Mac, or Linux operating systems. The system also facilitates new features like robot to robot communication and even allows operators to drive robots remotely via the Internet.

More:

• Innovation first- Link.
• More photos of Innovation first @ Flickr - Link.
• Giant set of NYC Toy fair 2008 photos @ Flickr - Link.
• MAKE's coverage of the NYC Toy Faire 2008 in one place! - Link.