BOSSA NOVA ROBOTICS - TDmonthly Toy Fair Preview and Highlights Page

This ToyShow Preview was last updated on 12/22/2009

Penbo the Penguin: A Nostalgic Toy from the 2000s

Penbo the Penguin was a popular interactive toy that emerged in the early 2000s. Part of a broader wave of electronic pets and interactive toys, Penbo offered a unique and engaging experience for children. Key features of Penbo included: Interactive Play: Penbo was designed to respond to touch and sound, engaging with users through movements and sounds

Understanding Penbo's origin involves looking at Bossa Nova Robotics, the company that brought this interactive toy to life.

Company Background

Founded in 2005 by students from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, Bossa Nova Robotics began as a startup focusing on consumer robotics. Initially, they developed robotic toys like Penbo the Penguin and a programmable gorilla. Although these toys did not achieve massive commercial success, they laid the groundwork for the company's future endeavors.

In 2012, Bossa Nova unveiled mObi, a ballbot designed to act as a personal assistant with a tablet interface. This innovation marked a shift from toy manufacturing to more advanced robotics applications.

In late 2020, Walmart ended its contract with Bossa Nova Robotics. The decision led the company to lay off workers and close its European robotics division. Despite this setback, co-founder Sarjoun Skaff emphasized the company's commitment to advancing AI and robotics technologies, focusing on their core competencies.

Bossa Nova


Penbo penguin		About Penbo
Penbo is a lovable interactive penguin that sings, talks, dances and plays games with you and her surprise Bebe. She responds to touch and sound and communicates with her Bebe through infrared sensors. Penbo also plays five games with you and Bebe; the more you play, the happier she becomes! Watch Video Now [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?] Shop for Penbo penguin		Penbo is an autonomous robot designed to move like a penguin and interact with you and her Bebe through an array of sensors. She is aware of her surroundings, loves to dance, plays games and talks with Bebe in Penguish, her own language. Press Penbo’s heart to reveal a surprise egg with her Bebe inside; each color Bebe interacts differently with Penbo. For more information visit the Penbo website at www.penbo.com. [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?] Shop for About Penbo


Prime-8 Action Robot		About Prime-8
Prime-8 is a fast and agile gorilla robot that does everything from play laser tag to run with your kids down hallways. He explores his own surroundings or responds to remote control. He is silly, occasionally rude, and goes crazy when disturbed in his sleep! Prime-8’s intense interactivity is powered by a battery of sensors that allow him to respond to people and to his environment. Internal sensors measure his orientation constantly, and prompt him to right himself should he fall down. Outbound sight and sound sensors help Prime-8 maneuver around obstacles, respond to questions with grunts and growls, and express himself. Finally, motion detection sensors keep Prime-8 alert so that he can chase away intruders by firing rockets! For more information visit the Prime-8 website at www.prime8robot.com. Watch Video Now [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?] Shop for Prime-8 Action Robot		Created by scientific experts from the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, Prime-8 has unique Animotion technology that gives the biped, power to outrun, outgun, outsmart, and outmaneuver almost every other Bot out there. And if you don't own Prime-8, it'll OWN you because it is fully-loaded with hi-tech features, weaponry, and sensing technology to move and groove automatically on its own. It even rights itself if it falls down. For more information visit the Prime-8 website at www.prime8robot.com. [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?] Shop for About Prime-8