Sprogs Edition D by Cris Rose (April 14-release) Including Reveal of Robobees!
Be warned: This is a monster-blogpost, featuring the resin creations of UK-based Cris Rose, and showcasing his SPROG Edition D - which includes a design collaboration with Lunabee - resulting in ROBOBEES!
[7 x images in slideshow above / Full-screen viewing]
Peep the 3 new Sprog sculpts that make up half of Edition D: Rankin, Ronis and Rothstein. At 3" tall, these fully resin bots are the stylistic brothers of the Observation Drone 3" Dunny customs which are being phased out (shown below in a comparison photo with Mk3 included but orange version will not be put on sale). Do note that all 3 Observation Sprogs are 2-faced and can be displayed front or back.
Sprogs Edition D comes in Spring Green and will go on sale via crisrose.bigcartel.com on Thursday April 14th at 18:00 London time, with 20 available as blind boxes and a limited number of 3 pack sets. As always, Cris' newsletter subscribers will get first-dibs on the release, the remainder will be put up at the shop.
BACKSTORY: Observation Drones Mk1 to 3 had always been considered as their own class of robot, but with significant growth in the Sprog line of small commercial and home automatons, many customers were requested similar feature sets. It was decided to merge them into the Sprog line and make use of the developments in the platform to produce 3 new models, MkIV, MkV and MkVI. As part of their more consumer-friendly image, it was felt these should also be given names, thus Mk IV became Rankin, MkV became Ronis and MkVI became Rothstein.
Like their predecessors, these Observation Sprogs were built around large optic units with spark-generation static coils and rearward "faces" to scare away animals. The optics became larger and more sensitive, the static generators more directional and the faces were made more personable to the general public, designed to reflect their unique personalities. While overall they'd become less robust, their workings were far more repairable and they cost far less, leading to an understandable spike in sales over their predecessors.
Whether observing rare wildlife at a distance or the results of natural disasters close up, Observation Sprogs offered the best view possible for those operating on a tight budget... or those with huge budgets as it turned out, something all too apparent when Paparazzi Sprogs started appearing in bushes all over LA…
And shown here are the final 3 Sprog sculpts to round out Edition D: Rigsbee (2 eyes), Renfield (1 eye) and Rubus (5 eyes) - but these aren't just another set of Sprog designs, as these three are ROBOBEES (along with a forth exclusive sculpt - currently unrevealed), represent Cris' first collaborative resin project with the Lunabee! We've posted about Lunabee's reveals HERE.
Cris' 3 x Robobees will be up for sale on Thursday April 14th at 18:00 London time as well on crisrose.bigcartel.com as part of 20 Edition D blind boxes, as well as a limited number of sets containing all three. Blindboxes are priced at US$37.50 (plus shipping) each and 3 packs are US$105 (plush shipping) each. Do take note that there will also be a few surprise releases going on sale along side Edition D in matching colours…
[9 x images in slideshow above / Full-screen viewing]
BACKSTORY: With global bee population critically low and colonies patchy at best, growing concern that the reintroduction and repair of these species was not progressing at a fast enough rate. While the outlook was bright for the insects themselves, both crops and wild plants were noticeably suffering causing public distress. Approached by the Lunabee Trust, England's wealthiest conservation group, a proposal was put forward to develop fully robotic pollinators as a stop gap while the bees recovered. By helping fund development, Lunabee ensured that for every robobee sold privately to farmers, flower growers and hobby gardenings, 3 would be released into the wild and maintained by the Trust.
At 3 foot long and traveling at 30mph, Rigsbee, Renfield and Rubus would seem far too large and slow to replace a tiny bee. Released into a field tho, their purpose and size became apparent. As soon as the "stinger" opened, scores of tiny copies, identical to their mothership but 1/12th the size, would stream out and fly in wide formation at incredible speeds!
A closer look at one of these 3" bees revealed a pair of high thrust magnito-impuse jets that not only facilitated their rapid flight, but also generated a huge static charge. With field coils built into the body, a bubble of static electricity could be generated between the "stinger" and the "antennae" at incredible field strength and manipulated with surprising control. After a few seconds flight, mere inches from the flowers, a visible bubble of swirling pollen would form around the bot, simultaneously picking up new and depositing old as it hurtles past. When finished, the remaining pollen would be deposited and all the mini bots would return to their 3 foot queen, plugging into individual hexagonal recharging cells within.
To help raise public awareness and to ensure that urban spaces were also covered, special brightly coloured Lunabee versions were given out as part of a schools program, while industry purchased swarms in matching colours with advanced optics, guidance systems and queens.
As well Cris adds: "Lunabee has her very own version of the sculpt that i won't be selling and is only available directly from her. April 14th with see her release the first batch of entirely one-off bees in her own unique and colourful style, each with their own personality and charm. Lunabee has a stash of bee-blanks that will ensure she's able grace us with a veritable swarm of releases in the coming months - having seen some of them painted up, i know these are going to fly out of her store faster than she can paint them!"
