I remember all of those except the Arctec Gemini.<p>There were also some noteworthy lower-end toy robots, like:<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Trak" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Trak</a><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armatron" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armatron</a><p>Less-known were electronics parts mail-order catalogs with sections of assemble-it-yourself small robot kits (not much more than a PCB, components to solder, and some motors), like: light-seeking robots, line-following robots, Logo-style turtle graphics pen robots.<p>And occasionally a magazine would have an article a homebrew robot that some teen had built. To kids with access to scrap wood, garage sale appliances to strip for parts, and the occasional Radio Shack or mail-order component purchase, these homebrew robots seemed more accessible than ones costing hundreds or thousands of dollars.
I had a Topo from Androbot. The prior owner didn't understand how to program it, so I got it at a discount. I kept the motor drivers, etc and replaced the brain with a CP/M machine that I could move programs on a floppy to it.<p>It was a struggle, but it was fun to work on. Or maybe not, we were giving a party and someone asked about the robot and asked if it had a name. My young son piped up "I know it's name, it's called "F*cking Robot".<p>The poster above me mentioned the Armatron. A few days ago I pulled one out of the "Closet of Doom". It still works! It went back into the closet with a disapproving spouse look.
Not in the same decade, but I attribute a non-zero part of my robotics obsession to a friend's cybot (<a href="http://lpilsley.co.uk/cybot/" rel="nofollow">http://lpilsley.co.uk/cybot/</a>). I remember being amazed at it following a line, and always wanted the magazines. Tragically, it was long discontinued by the time I discovered it.<p>Every now and then I think about trying to get my hands on a collection and following along. I'd love to find out if there is anything in there that I haven't yet learned, despite working with robots professionally...