OK i just had to do a little more searching & b/c what I found didn't look like a robot to me, but hey I'm 58 I think a robot should have a head, arms & lights so what do I know, I found a toy called a shell shocker that was called by the Toy Industry Assoc "best toy for boys for 2006 went to the Tyco R/C Shell Shocker from Mattel. And it is one of the ugliest RC toys I've seen. But the Shell Shockers performance is amazing." Here's the description that I found "With a rhino-type "skin" and a scorpion-like tail that whips around, the Shell Shocker is one beast of a radio control vehicle. It transforms from a cyberball to a cyberbeast in seconds! Mud, grass, pavement can't stop the Shell Shocker, the incredibly adaptability will fascinate kids!" I don't know if I can post a link to another site to show you a pic of it but it truly is ugly. http://www.amazon.com/Tyco-Radio-Controlled-Shell-Shocker-2d/dp/B000BY5ZBY I hope this site goes thru so that you all can see this thing & cashandra you will know if it's what your son got. If the link doesn't come thru on the post PM me & I'll send it to you. Even tho I'm old I can remember when my kids were little & they had their hearts set on one main thing & they got their hearts broken. Especially since you thought you had done the right thing & not knowing would drive me nuts. So maybe there's a tiny chance the mystery has been solved.............