UBTech shows off two robots for kids (pictures)

UBTech (pronounced YOO-bee-teck) unveiled the voice-controlled Alpha 2. The smart robot has a lot up its robo-sleeve, from controlling your smart home lights to doing yoga.

Here's some of what the Alpha 2 can do:

• Take photos
• Tutor
• Set reminders and alarms
• Control smart home equipment like locks and lights
• DJ, dancing, yoga poses

The Alpha 2 comes in red or blue right now, but UBTech says more colours are in the pipeline.

Battery life lasts about an hour, but the robot can be tethered to its proprietary charger for a longer running time.

The Alpha 2 will retail for $1,300 (AU$1845, £890 converted) around March. In the US, there are plans to get the robot stocked at Toy R Us and Amazon.

Hardware specs:

• 17 inches by 9 inches, 5 pounds
• Android 4.4
• 2,150mAH battery
• 16GB internal storage
• 2GB RAM
• Wi-Fi-enabled
• USB connector

The Jimu targets kids as young as eight with a robotics kit that contains color-coded parts and instructions for building complete robo-sets. Youngsters can build a giraffe, trumpeting elephant and penguin, but the determined kids can go off-road and build anything they want.

You can control your creations through a companion app for iOS and Android.

The Jimu will be in stores in late January or early February and ranging from $100 to $200 (about £70 to £135 and AU$140 to AU$285).