Tried and tested for Christmas: The Hexbug

Ideal as a Christmas gift for teenagers, dads and gadget loving kids, the fascinating Hexbug is a  micro-robotic creature guaranteed to keep up the entertainment through the Queen’s Speech.

The range consists of five different Hexbugs, each with different abilities and some operated by remote control.

The original Hexbug is an attractive palm-sized bug which will react to touch and sound. It has bump feeler sensors to help it avoid obstacles. If it comes across something blocking its path, or encounters a loud noise, cleverly it changes direction all by itself.

Dad-of-two, Mike Joiner tested out the Hexbug for Chopsy Baby with his eight-year-old daugher Helen.

Mike says: “The bug almost looks like a thing a GCSE or A level student may make for a exam since its built out of coloured yet clear  perspex. This means you can see the circuit board and gears that make it work. That is something I like about it as it makes you wonder if I could make one.

“The bug is very clever as it has wires on the front that act like cats whiskers and sense when it can’t fit into something or if its about to walk into something.  I showed it to my eight year old daughter and she was amazed with it as much as I was, so much so she built a maze out of  building blocks for it to navigate around.

“I even showed it to my 11 and 12 year old niece and nephew to see what they thought of it. After a few minuets  of making it walk around the worktop they to fell in love with it and it almost went back to France with them.

“The only downside I can find it as its made out of perspex its not very strong so avoid giving it to kids that are a bit rough.”

£9.99
www.hexbug.com