Robotic Gorilla

Ask any adult what robots and gorillas have in common, and they'll be hard-pressed to come up with an answer. Kids, on the other hand, know exactly why the two could, and should, make a perfect match: they're both awesome as can be.

Enter Robotic Gorilla by Paul Beck (Silver Dolphin Books, 2007). Where others may have faltered at the prospect of primate and robot combined, Robotic Gorilla takes it to the next level. With an educational and engaging book boxed together with a gorilla robot that walks, Robotic Gorilla appeals to both the primatologist and the robot-ologist in all of us.

Though a kid might disagree, I found the book to be far more exciting than the plastic gorilla robot, which requires assembly, batteries, and is likely to be enjoyed for five minutes before being forgotten forever. In contrast, the accompanying book is an absorbing and comprehensive introduction to both gorillas and robots. With spreads on gorilla diet, habitat, society, and physical attributes, the book could stand alone as a gorilla-lover's guide. However, sections on artificial intelligence, engineering challenges, and robot technology new and old give kids the scoop on how technology and biology could one day make the perfect robot primate. In short, the book has a lot to offer.

Although Robotic Gorilla is chock-full of fun facts, the question that nagged me was never fully answered. Why do robots and gorillas go so well together? Perhaps it's because the gorilla is more like us than most animals, while robots are becoming more like us everyday. In our fascination with what's not human, are we also trying to learn about our place in the world?

Okay, so maybe Robotic Gorilla isn't meant to spark philosophical debate. Maybe robots and gorillas are just plain cool. But one thing is clear: there's a lot we don't know about how animals, humans, and machines work, and there's more to learn every day. So give Robotic Gorilla a try: you'll be surprised how much you learn.


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