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At
about 20 inches high, this
interactive R2D2 Astromech Droid was an
instant hit for Hasbro.
Released in 2002 for around $50, he has been
continually repackaged,
and in 2010 sold for over $100. He's just as
popular today, if not
moreso, and no wonder. He speaks his native
Droid, turns his head,
lights up, and can respond to more than 40
voice commands. He takes
four AA and 4 D alkaline batteries. Where's
the remote? There isn't
one, because he's interactive. Flip the small
switch on his back, and
he'll turn his head, talk, and flash his mood
light red and blue as he
gets warmed up. Then he's ready to go.
Above
left: R2D2 with his headlight
turned on. The blue lamp to the left is his
mood light, here indicating
that he's happy. right: The red lamp at the
bottom of his torso
indicates that his wheels are locked, so he
can't fall off a table or
down stairs. Click the lamp to turn off the
wheellock and enable him to
move.
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Above,
left to
right: R2D2 comes
mostly assembled. Snap his legs on, and snap
in his head (light)/
projector piece, put in the batteries, and
he's ready to go. Various
packages, but the same droid. The 2002 box
featured deluxe packaging. A
flap, held closed with velcro tabs, opens to
reveal a viewing window.
The brand name is "Industrial Automaton" with
only a tiny Hasbro logo.
On the far right is the 2009 incarnation, with
wrap around viewing
window.
Below left: detail of the wheellock lamp and
switch, indicating the
locked position. right: detail of head(light)/
projector piece,
installed to the right of the blue lit mood
lamp.
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Above
left: the
2002, 16 page
instruction manual measured 8.5 X 5.5 inches. It
can be downloaded at
the Old Robots site (see below).
right: The 2009
instruction manual can be downloaded from
Hasbro.com. The website
referred to in the manual, R2droidfactory.com is
redirected to Hasbro's
site (see below).
Below: Both manuals include a small command chart,
with instructions to
cut it out and store it in R2D2's cargo hold. But
who wants to cut up
the manual? It can easily be copied instead.
Or download this
color version, shown below, from the Old Robot
Site (below).
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R2
functions in three modes, as
shown on the chart above: the Companion, Game, and
Command Modes.
This chart shows eleven vocal commands in the
companion mode, but
the chart below, which comes courtesy of the Old
Robots site, gives
several more, along with some hidden "Advanced
commands". The
2009 models include a Quick Reference Guide with
tips and tricks that
are also in the manual. The main one to know is to
say "Reset System"
to put R2 back in companion mode to start a new
command or when you're
not sure what mode he is in.
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