'The Robot Zoo' - reveals biomechanics of robot animals

Having completed an extensive tour of major science and natural-history museums throughout North America and Asia the exhibition will arrive on 13th February as a joint effort between Al Jazeera Children's Channel, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, and Qatar Science & Technology Park.

Based on the book 'The Robot Zoo' the residents of Qatar will have the opportunity to get 'up close and personal' with animals they have only read about.

Through the complex biomechanics of the robot animals, students and families will learn about the dynamics of real animals. Along with interactive challenges and activities, 'The Robot Zoo' mobile exhibition promises to be not only educational but a fun experience for all the family.

'We are pleased to bring Robot Zoo exhibition to Doha as first destination to the Middle East' commented Mrs. Malika Alouane, Director of Marketing and Communications at Al Jazeera Children's Channel. 'Such informative and entertaining exhibition provides our children with insight details on the latest in biomechanics, and allows them to discover how real animals work'.

All schools in Qatar have been invited to tour the 5000 square-foot exhibition. Visiting students will have the opportunity to explore the magic of nature as a master engineer. Eight robot animals and more than a dozen hands-on activities illustrate fascinating real-life characteristics, such as how a chameleon changes colors, a giant squid propels itself and a fly walks on the ceiling.

'We are presenting the school teachers with an activities guide to help them maximize the benefit of their tour, and carry on the exchange of information with their students', added Alouane

The larger-than-life-size animated robots include a chameleon, a rhinoceros, a giant squid with 18-foot tentacles and a platypus. Also featured are a house fly with a 10-foot wingspread, a grasshopper, a bat and a giraffe whose head and neck alone stretch 9-feet tall.

Machinery in the robot animals simulates the body parts of their real-life counterparts. In the robot animals, muscles become pistons, intestines become filtering pipes and brains become computers.

Sensory activities include 'Swat the Fly' a test of the visitor's reaction time (one-twelfth as fast as a house fly's), and 'Sticky Feet' where visitors wearing special hand and knee pads can try to stick like flies to a sloped surface.

The exhibition is open weekdays from 08:00AM to 08:00PM for school groups and general public, and on Friday from 2:00PM to 08:00PM for the general public.