HEXBUG is a brand of infrared and automaton toys developed and distributed by Innovation First International. HEXBUG uses many elements used in BEAM robotics. First piloted in the US through RadioShack, HEXBUG is now sold in most major retail stores. The original Hexbugs are based on six-legged arthropods but now come in several different varieties. The name "HEXBUG" relates to the six-sided packaging it is sold in, rather than to its number of legs. History HEXBUG was founded in 2007 in Greenville, Texas, by Innovation First International, Inc., a company that was founded in 1996 developing small-scale robotic products, mostly for FIRST Robotics Competition. HEXBUG was designed to expand the company's presence in the retail toy market, as well as add to the experience created by VEX Robotics, a subsidiary brand of Innovation First International, Inc. that specializes in robotics built in a fashion similar to Erector Sets, and Rack Solutions, which is an engineering firm that specializes in information technology products. Some products of HEXBUG have been sold abroad, such as in Japan by toymaker Bandai. The packaging in these international versions differs slightly, as the HEXBUG logo is blue instead of its signature orange and grey appearance, but the products still retain their signature hexagonal packaging. Various product lines have been sold under the HEXBUG name, such as the nano, BattleBots, Micro Titans, HEXMODS, JunkBots, and MoBots series. Additionally, separate products, such as cat toys and board games have been released. Products Original The Original HEXBUG model is a toy that reacts to loud sounds and pressure on its antennae and scurries around the room. Designed after a beetle, it was available in five different shapes and colors: Alpha (orange), Bravo (green), Charlie (blue), Delta (yellow), and Echo (red). The toy debuted in 2007 at RadioShack stores. A similar redesign would be introduced later, fittingly called the "Beetle". Crab The Crab was the second HEXBUG mechanical bug. It only moved sideways and reacted to obstacles, light, and sound by reversing direction. It was withdrawn in September 2014, most likely due to a common defect with its back legs. The Crab came in five separate colors: Green, Red, Black, Indigo, and Turquoise. This model debuted in Fall 2008. Inchworm The Inchworm was the first IR controlled mechanical bug, which utilized a remote that allowed free motion about its center and inched around with two sets of legs, hence the