PostHeaderIcon i-Que FAQ

Last Update: July 20, 2010

All About i-Que

Is i-Que a real robot or just a toy?

i-Que is a full-fledged robot which is programmed specifically to be a companion and teacher for children. He is fun, plays games, roams around, and attempts to learn about his owner and his environment. He makes a very sophisticated toy for children and adults alike. As with any electronic toy, adult supervision would be best when very young kids (in the lower recommended age group) are operating i-Que. Think of it as a family robot which both parents and kids can use together, and a robot which parents can utilize to teach their children. Great for Quality Time with the kids!

What can i-Que teach my children?

i-Que can teach many things. i-Que comes with a 70,000 word Miriam-Webster dictionary and topics on Animals, History (including a few popular sports), and Biographies of some of the most famous people. i-Que also has a ton of trivia bits programmed into his database on all kinds of subjects. Data cartridges can be purchased separately to further expand his knowledge.

i-Que also is a fun robot and can play different educational games, expanding a child's learning, reasoning and logic skills. Because i-Que can also be controlled remotely, a child can learn direction and hand-eye coordination skills.

Because one has to interact with i-Que, children will also learn how to follow instructions and pay attention. i-Que's voice is clear but sometimes he can be hard to understand. Paying close attention to his words and following his instructions exactly is rewarded with a robot that seems to do things on command! Something many children will enjoy. This is one way that parents can teach children that following instructions can result in rewards.

i-Que is a very sophisticated toy. Therefore it will take him some time to learn things. Children can learn patience as they watch him learn and grow. One can learn the basics of how any being learns through experience. In addition, children will learn responsibility much as they would in caring for a pet. But this is not just any pet. They would learn how to take care of sophisticated electronic equipment and how to play responsibly with others (some of i-Que's games allow more than one player to use the communicator). When used to it's fullest and under parental supervision and instruction, i-Que has many things he can teach. Parents may even find other things that the robot may demonstrate that can be useful to learn.

What do I need to know before I start using i-Que for the first time?

First, do NOT change the settings of ANY switches on the robot unit or the communicator! This is very important. You need to leave all switches set at factory settings. This is Ch1 for the robot and communicator, and SLEEP for the robot's On/Off/Sleep switch. You must recharge him in this SLEEP mode for up to 8 hours (minimum recommended is 5 but it's best to give him 8 hours). While you are waiting, a parent should read the entire manual and go over the basics with the primary user of the robot. The Communicator is not very intuitive so the manual is a must-read. Once you activate i-Que, take your time to go through what he asks and think before you do anything on the communicator.

Does i-Que have Artificial Intelligence?

Technically, no. However, many are equating the idea of 'Artificial Intelligence' with a machine's ability to 'learn'. i-Que is technically a pre-programmed fuzzy logic system that uses input of different types to store data, retrieve it and act according to information that it has previously stored. It is not really 'learning' as such, but basically just using a database of information to determine what actions to take, and then the computer will initiate certain movements, trigger motors, send words to the speaker, etc.

If i-Que really isn't an A.I., then why does he seem to be so smart?

Machines can be programmed to emulate certain types of things that we often take for granted such as intelligence and communication. We already are familiar with phone menu systems that talk and sometimes even understand our own words. They then use that input to do another task. Just as you use the mouse to click on an icon which tells the computer to open a program. The computer isn't 'smart' even though it knew what program to open. It's just part of the programming. What makes i-Que seem so marvelous is that his computer can process many different types of input (like bumps, sound of your voice, information from his communicator) and has a lot of programming and databases to make the robot react to these inputs. The more complex the program and actions, the more it appears to be intelligent, even if it is not.

We still are a ways off from having genuinely intelligent electronic robots in our homes. However, i-Que and other robots like him are paving the way.

When was IQ first released to the public?

According to a representative at Manley Toys, i-Que was released for public purchase in Fall 2007.

Will there be any further cartridges or improvements?

Manley/ToyQuest may release more cartridges if there are enough people purchasing and using i-Que. It depends on how popular he becomes. They do not have any plans for improvements or any updates to the i-Que robot itself in the immediate future. But we would all like to think maybe some day they can be persuaded. ;)

The box has some black stickers over some descriptions. Why?

We are not sure about this either. It may be that when the robot was manufactured, there may have been some features that were not installed after all or features that didn't work the way that they had hoped. If we find the answer, we'll let you know!

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Communicating With i-Que

Why doesn't i-Que respond to my voice?

i-Que's microphones are not that sensitive. Furthermore, noises in the room will confuse the audio input and i-Que would not recognize the sounds. He'll just hear sounds. He may even ask "What's that?" and ask you to type in the description in the communicator. Also if you have a heavy English accent, he may not be able to understand you. For best results speak into one of the two microphones in the lit silver area on his base. Best to be a few inches to about a foot away at the longest distance. Also be sure that the Voice Recognition is set to 'On' in the Communicator Setup menu. If you have had i-Que turned off or the switch in the 'Off' position, or if he was in sleep mode or the switch in 'Sleep' position, then you'll have to reset the Voice Recognition to 'On' again.

i-Que can only recognize 4 words in English: i-Que (his name), Repeat, Yes and No. He is not able to recognize any other words. i-Que cannot have a verbal conversation with you because of this.

How do I talk to i-Que?

i-Que understands certain text abbreviations and you can use them to "talk" to him. We put "talk" in quotation marks because you are limited to using these abbreviations to communicate with i-Que. This is done via the Text Mode on the Communicator. There is a list of abbreviations he recognizes, including some common IM chat ones. However, some are not so easy to figure out and the manual does not explain them, only to try them and see what happens. We will try to make a list of the definitions in the documentation section as we learn what they are. Whenever you use one of these abbreviations, you type it in the Text Mode and press enter. i-Que will take a random response from his database that is linked to that abbreviation and say it. Some of them can be rather humorous!

For anyone who studies Artificial Intelligence and ChatBots, i-Que does not have a Natural Language processor. He uses pre-programmed responses which are triggered by input from the communicator or from one of the 4 recognized spoken key phrases.

Why didn't i-Que respond when I sent data from the Communicator?

There may be several reasons for this. Either i-Que or the Communicator (or both) may be low on battery power. i-Que may be soon ready for a recharge and/or you may need to replace the batteries in the communicator. Another reason may be that you are too far away from i-Que. The communicator's best signal range is 30 feet (even though some say it's 50 - 100 feet). Try again by getting closer to the robot. Also be sure there isn't anything working that can potentially interfere with the signal. Sometimes other radio-controlled toys or devices that transmit radio waves may interfere with the signal.

Another thing you can try is to press the Red 'No' button every 2 - 3 seconds until either the communicator or i-Que responds. This works especially well if you are in cartridge mode and are stuck in Triva or Search.

Can I change the sound of i-Que's voice?

i-Que has several voices you can set him to. Once set he will continue to use that voice. However, if you turn him off or take out his batteries (or if his battery charge expires completely), you may have to reset the voice again. Here's how to set up i-Que's default voice:

  • Press the MENU key.
  • Press 'spacebar' until you see SETUP (if you can't find it, press the MENU key again).
  • Press the blue ENTER key.
  • Press the 'spacebar' until you see 'Voice Select' and press the blue ENTER key.

Now i-Que will speak in the currently selected voice. Follow his instructions. If you like it, press the green 'Yes' button. If you don't like it press the red 'No' button. i-Que will cycle through them all and start at the beginning in case you missed the one you wanted to choose.

I got an answer right but he said it was wrong!

This is a result of the communicator not being understood properly by the robot. This can happen for several reasons. The robot or the communicator is running low on battery charge (though i-Que will automatically seek his docking station, so check your communicator batteries). Something may have been interfering with the signal from the communicator to the robot at the time you sent the transmission. Or, you are too far away from the robot for the signal to reach. Weak or distorted signals can cause i-Que to think you gave a wrong answer.

Why is voice recongition off every time I reactivate i-Que?

This is a known issue. The VR settings will default to "Off" when you recharge the robot or put him to sleep. VR is the "Voice Recognition", which is basically turning his on-board microphones on or off.

Spelling Game: How Do I Type In The Answer Before He's Done Talking?

When playing the spelling game, if you know the answer but type it in and press Enter when he's talking it won't register. Timing starts after he finishes talking. So if you know the answer before he's done with his definitions, just press the 'No' button first to stop him and then press Enter (you can type in your answer before pressing the 'No' button and it won't erase your answer).

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Programming & Database

During i-Que's first setup, he said to press the 'Preview' button. I can't find it.

Actually, he said "Press the Green Yes" button. Some things he says may not be all that understandable. You need to pay attention and even then it might be difficult. Press the green button marked 'Yes' on the communicator to get him to start the setup process.

Can I program i-Que?

If you're talking about programming him using an external computer or using some sort of scripting or programming language, then no. The only programming capabilities is to store a routine of movements into i-Que's memory to be played back or to store words so that he can speak a phrase or paragraph that you can create yourself. Do realize that if you try to use inappropriate language, i-Que is pre-programmed to not store or speak the pre-programmed words. You'll have to start over from scratch and reprogram the speech.

Where's IQ's data on subjects other than sports, history, animals & biography?

i-Que's other information seems to be in bits of trivia he would define, in his dictionary and during trivia games. Unless you use a data cartridge, i-Que is limited only to History (including a few select sports), animals and biography. The dictionary has 70,000 words with definitions. It is from a student version of the dictionary so many words you think would be included may not be.

How do I get i-Que's status including what he has learned?

  • Press MENU and then 'spacebar' until you see SETUP (if you can't find it press MENU again).

  • Press the blue ENTER key.

  • Press 'spacebar' until you see 'Check Status' and press the blue ENTER key. i-Que will say the date, time, and a couple other things. There is also a status check button on the robot itself which will do the same thing.

To learn what information i-Que has retained, go into Text Mode and type in INFO? (including the question mark which is done using the SHIFT and then the 'G' key). i-Que will give a limited amount of information including who his owner is, the nickname, and a couple other things. If you find any of this missing, he did not get that information stored in the database. The manual will tell you what information he will give.

How do I 'start over' with i-Que? How do I reset him back to factory defaults?

There are three ways to reset the robot. However there is only one way to reset the robot to factory defaults. But before you do any of these, please realize he will lose all information he learned, including any maps he may have stored about things in your home (i.e.. where he bumped into something, etc.) and also will forget YOU, your likes and dislikes, your birthday. In a total reset, he'll be just like he was when you first took him out of the box and will go through his setup routine again.

One way to reset him via the SETUP menu on the communicator. The manual shows how to do this. The other method is to take a pen point and press the reset hole on the bottom of the robot. Finally, there is a reset button on the back lower right of the communicator, inset into a hole. Use a paper clip or pen point to press this to reset the robot and communicator.

To do a total reset where he will go through his setup routine, follow these steps:

  1. Turn the robot's switch on the underside to "On".

  2. Go into the Setup Menu and choose Reset.

  3. After i-Que confirms the reset, turn the switch on the bottom of the robot to Sleep Mode (not Off).

  4. At this point, it's best to put i-Que on his charging dock for a few hours. Once done, then you can turn the bottom switch to "On". i-Que should go through his default setup script.

Why does he keep asking me the same questions?


If you had not answered one of his questions before or had skipped it by not responding or selecting 'No', then i-Que will not store anything for the question in his databanks. As a result, if he finds there is no answer to a question he has selected at random, then he'll ask. Sometimes some questions he may ask again to see if you've changed your mind or want to change your response.

There is a known issue, however, with the i-Que asking for your birthdate. This can happen even several times during a powered-up session. This might just be a programming glitch. Setting his birthdate via communicator menu does exactly the same thing but he still will ask again maybe during the same session or another one.

i-Que says I dislike the things I like when I type INFO?

This is a known issue. He will speak a list of things you like. Then he'll say you dislike and speak the same list! It appears to be a programming bug.

What is the difference between sleep mode on the robot and communicator?

i-Que can be put into sleep mode both by the switch on the underside of the robot or via a menu item on the communicator. However, these two are not the same.

Putting i-Que into sleep mode using the switch on the underside of the robot will cause him to stay in a non-active standby mode. His clock and calendar should continue to work, and he can recharge if set on the docking base. But he will not be active. His head will go down and his lights will go out (except the green LED in the center of his face if he's charging). If he is not charging he will sit there as if turned off. He will not reactivate unless you position the switch on the underside to "On".

If you put the i-Que to sleep using the communicator, i-Que stays Semi-Active. His lights will not go out, but will dim. His head might stay up. He will say random things at times, and even snore! Some of the things he says may be quite humorous as he talks in his sleep!

Will he forget everything if I take his battery out?

The Flash RAM in the i-Que Robot is apparently non-volitile. You can remove the battery and leave it out for months and he will still remember you and most of your information. The only thing ihe will not remember is the time and date, which apparently is dependant on the battery, as well as the robot being placed in the On or Sleep mode. The only way to erase all information is to reset the robot via his communicator.

How do I get i-Que to recognize my pet robot?

When he asks if you have any pets, answer 'yes'. He will ask you if it's a dog or cat. Answer 'no'. He will then ask you to enter the name of the animal. Type in 'robot' (without quotes). Then proceed to answer his other questions about the pet robot.

Many thanks to "RoboPizza" from the RoboCommunity forums for this answer.

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Autonomous Use and Roaming

Will i-Que roam around all the time when I'm trying to sleep?

No. There are many reasons and ways you can prevent this. First, his batteries only can last a certain amount of time (less than 2 hours) before he needs to recharge. Once he's recharging, he does not move from his base at all unless you press a button (any button) on his communicator. So he stays put and inactive the whole time until woken up via communicator (even if his switch is set to the 'On' position). You can also program him to be inactive during certain hours, or just turn his switch on the bottom to SLEEP. This way you can keep him off the charger and/or unplug the charger and he will stay put and never bother you.

How do I get i-Que to be quiet?

In order to get him to stop talking, press the red 'No' key.

If you want him to stop moving, go into Text Mode and type MOTORS? (including the question mark). He will not move. Though he may still talk.

You can always turn him off, or to preserve the time and date, and your birth date information, you can move his switch to SLEEP.

Why does my i-Que still bump into things or try to go off the table?

i-Que uses infrared sensors to navigate his environment. Infrared needs something reflective so that the signal will get back to the sensor and alert the system that something is or is not there. It does not work all that great on dark surfaces, however. Therefore a black table, dark rug, darkened room or corner may cause problems for i-Que. You can reposition him yourself by picking him up and setting him down in another place or by using the communicator to go into DRIVE MODE (Press MENU first and 'spacebar' to find the option. Press MENU again if you can't find the option). In DRIVE MODE you can remotely control i-Que and get him out of a bind.

Can I leave i-Que on 24/7?

According to the manual, i-Que is designed to stay on 24/7. However in reality this is not so. His batteries only last a certain amount of time before he has to recharge. Once docked, he won't move from there, or even activate unless you press a key on the communicator or remove him from the docking station. So this doesn't really make him very autonomous. Furthermore, i-Que may not always be able to get out of the way of things or able to avoid all obstacles. For this reason, it's best not to leave i-Que active unsupervized.

Can I have him stay inactive during certain hours?

You can program his Quiet Time using the Communicator. You need to go into the SETUP menu to find the Quiet Time setup. i-Que will help you set up the start and stop time. Start time will be when he stays quiet and stop time is when he'd be active again. Though this might only work if he's got a fairly good charge when the start time is encountered. He won't go into a sleep mode or appear shut off. His blue lights will be on, head up. But he will not move or say anything until the time which the quiet time ends.

He will activate if you use the communicator during those times. But once he's done with the task and you haven't given him another for awhile, he will not go exploring or asking questions. He'll stay still and quiet again until his pre-programmed end quiet time.

Why doesn't i-Que's head go down when I turn him off?

Apparently he was designed this way. The best way to get his head down is to put him in sleep mode.

What do I do if his motor(s) will not turn off?

If i-Que's motors (wheels or other motors) won't turn off, but keep on running, then you will need to turn his switch on the bottom of the unit completely to the "OFF" position for 1 - 2 seconds. Then turn it to SLEEP or ON again. This will reset his motors. This may happen after docking or at any other time if you notice he's "stuck". Do not keep the switch in the OFF position for more than 15 seconds or you'll have to reset his time/date. Note that he may get stuck in a corner and make some loud "clacking" noises while he tries to navigate. This should not last long. It's best to pick him up and reposition him or put him in DRIVE MODE and back him out of the area. If all else fails and the motors are still going, then reset it as mentioned previously in this question. Using MOTORS? on the communicator may not shut his motors off in the instance that his motors are stuck on and running when they shouldn't be or can't shut off.

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Support

How long is the warranty and who do I contact?

The warranty period is 30 days from the date of purchase (so if you purchased him online, it doesn't start the day the robot arrived at your doorstep, but starts on the day the online store charged your credit card). If you need to get warranty service, you'll need to contact ToyQuest Customer Service. They will more than likely make arrangements to replace the defective unit.

Who do I contact for tech support?

Tech Support is said to be available from riproarmedia.com. You'll have to e-mail 'help'. We typed it this way because we wish to help prevent spam. Just type 'help' without the quotes and the @ sign and the domain. Then use the subject "i-Que Tech Support Request" without quotes. Be sure you give them as much information about the problem as you can. You need to be very detailed and include any steps to take that will recreate the problem so they can see if they can recreate it on their end.

How do I get another battery pack?

You can get replacement battery packs from ToyQuest Customer Service.

The web site in the manual is no longer there, what's the correct URL?

According to a representative at Manely / ToyQuest, the ique-robot site is currently unavailable and they are still working out the finer details. It is suggested that people visit the ToyQuest i-Que Robot site for further information. While we are not an official site, i-Que Robot Lab is also here to help with any questions or information you need. Between these sites and ToyQuest Customer Service, hopefully you'll be able to find the information you need.

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Docking and Charging Issues

How do I get my i-Que to dock?

The i-Que robot is known to have problems finding it's docking station in some situations. The docking system uses an infrared sensor to get the i-Que to home in on it, like a beacon. If there are objects in the way between the robot and the docking station, or if there is other interference, then the i-Que may not find the station. Also the color of the wall where the charger is located may cause problems. Light colored walls are best. Remember, IR works best in light environments. Also be sure the area is well lit.

Very low battery power may cause i-Que to not be able to process well enough to find the docking station. In this case you'll have to put him on the charger yourself.

Even in an optimal environment, i-Que takes a good bit of time (over 1 minute) to adjust himself to the docking port. As he does this more often, he may learn the area well enough to cut down on the time it takes for him to actually dock. Though it does also depends on the above circumstances and his position (where he's located) when he starts to look for the docking station.

Why do I hear a high-pitched noise when i-Que is charging?

This is due to interference in i-Que's speakers from the docking station itself. It is harmless and nearly inaudible. People with very sensitive hearing and some pets may be disturbed by this, however. If this is the case, move i-Que's charging station to another optimal location where it will not bother anyone.

How long should I leave the robot on the charger?

The actual answer is unknown. When you first get i-Que out of the box and prior to his first activation, you must charge the batteries for a minimum of 5 hours (8 hours is suggested to be best). As for leaving i-Que on the charger continuously, this may not be a good idea for any electronic device. If you used i-Que and he went to charge, give him about 5 hours. Also note that a green light on the center of his face will slowly blink while he's charging. When he's done, the green light will not blink (his face will remain dark). Give it some time to observe because the green light goes on and off slowly. If you don't intend to use him for awhile, then unplug the docking bay and put him in SLEEP mode. If you are going to store him away for a lot longer, you may want to turn him off using the switch on the bottom of the unit. This slows the power drain since it will not use the batteries to keep the time/date (you'll have to reset them when you turn him back on again). If you don't plan to use the robot for 30 days or more, it's probably best to also remove his batteries. He will not lose what he learned though. This is all stored in flash RAM and will only be erased if you use the RESET function or his reset button on the bottom of the unit. Just taking out the batteries will be much like turning him off. You'll just have to reset the time/date functions. However, the advantage to removing the battery is that it helps protect the robot against potential battery leaks during long-term storage. Always wrap the batteries in plastic bags and store them away from the robot to prevent any potential damage. Before putting the batteries back in, inspect them carefully for any damage or leaks. If you find anything that doesn't look right, don't use the pack. Instead contact ToyQuest Customer Service for a replacement battery pack.

Why doesn't i-Que start charging?

Is i-Que's switch turned 'On' or in 'Sleep'? Is the charger plugged in? Are you sure he's aligned on the charger correctly? Is the electric outlet working? Is the charger plugged into the charging dock fully? Are the contacts dirty? (If they are, an adult must unplug the charger, wait about 1 hour, and then carefully clean the charging contacts with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip, then let stand a few minutes to dry before plugging the unit back in.) These are some things that may cause i-Que to not start charging. i-Que is charging when the green light is glowing on the charger, and i-Que's green light in the center of his face is slowly blinking. Also keep in mind that if he's already fully charged, the light on his face will not blink even if the charging dock green light may be on.

Are the contacts on the charger dangerous to touch?

They shouldn't be. However, even though they have some protection circuitry, you will still want to discourage kids and pets from touching the contacts, even when the charger is not plugged in. It's best to put i-Que's charging system where he can find it but in an area where children and pets know they should not go. Older children should be taught never to touch open contacts. This also preserves the contacts from becoming too soiled to make proper contact.

How long does i-Que's batteries last between charges?

Approximately 1.5 - 2 hours, depending on use and how active he is. The more you do with him, the more battery power he'll take. So playing a lot of games or if he moves around a lot will diminish the amount of time he needs between charges.

i-Que seems very warm while charging. Is this normal?

During charging, i-Que's batteries will become quite warm as can other areas of the underside of the robot. This is normal. Within about 2 hours after charging stops (when i-Que's green light stops blinking), the temperature should return to normal.

What do I do if i-Que's light kept blinking after I take him off the charger?

This might happen if you take him off the charger while he's still charging. You can turn him to the "Off" position and back "On" or "Sleep" to fix this. Note that i-Que may lost his time and date settings if he's in the "Off" position for too long.

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Troubleshooting

i-Que's head keeps going up and down and make clicking sounds.

This has been seen in some units. If your i-Que does this, it is more than likely defective and needs to be replaced. Call customer service and explain what is happening and request for a repair or replacement.

i-Que made a siren sound, lights went dim, and no response.

This has happened in an i-Que. What happened may have been a program error and he had went into Semi-Active Sleep Mode. To reset him again, turn the switch on the underside of the robot to Sleep, let the robot's head go down all the way, then turn the switch back to On. The robot should now operate properly.

What to do if i-Que malfunctions and won't respond.

The best thing to do is to turn the switch on the underside of the robot to Sleep, allow the head to go all the way down and then turn the switch back to On again.

The robot seems to only move in one direction or moves erratically.

The robot's sensors may be dirty and causing the robot to not read the information correctly. Follow the instructions in i-Que Robot Cleaning Procedure to properly clean the robot and then reactivate. If the problem continues, try resetting the robot. If there is still a problem, contact tech support.

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