Chinese dad who creates robot toys for son praised by mainland diplomat Mao Ning
Father-son team develops array of impressive mechanised figures from cheap, second-hand materials, attracts widespread interest on social media
A father in central China has wowed mainland social media, and even the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, for making sophisticated robot toys for his son.
“A hardcore dad engineered a robot toy for his son that’s straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster,” Mao wrote on social media on February 25 while forwarding a video clip of Yao Cong and his robot creations.
Yao, a former architect living in Changsha of Hunan province, has spent a lot of time learning mechanical manufacturing and making robot toys for his 10-year-old son since he quit his job years ago, the Red Star News reported.
His account, @zaomengxiaoyi, on a major social media platform, has 1.2 million followers, shows dozens of self-made robot toys and joyful interactions between Yao and his son, nicknamed Xiaoyi.
These dazzling multifunctional inventions include a walking robot which can sweep the floor and put clothes into a washing machine.
Also among the creations is a bag carried by his son connected to two machine arms that are able to move automatically and shoot plastic bullets in response to a signal from a special helmet the boy wears.
They have also created a mechanical snake which slithers in rivers, on sand and in marshes.
Another is a robot which can transform into a car in just seven seconds and a lifelike machine spider.
