Today, we spotlight two more BigBot robots. They are part of Robot 250, a massive, multi-site event showcasing the region's creativity in robotics and art.

These kinetic sculptures were created by regional artists exploring new ways of using robotic technology to communicate something about the world we live in. None fit the mechanical man image many have of robots, but all challenge viewers to think about robots in new ways.

'Extreme Animals: The Video Game'

Artists: Matt Barton and Jacob Ciocci.

Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History (through Aug. 30).

The Carnegie's T. rex and crew have some unusual house guests this summer -- a collection of animatronic stuffed animals playing video games (pictured at right) on the upper level of the "Dinosaurs in Their Time" exhibit.

"Extreme Animals: The Video Game" is a wild assembly of taxidermy and toys, salvaged materials and thrift store items, mixed with robotic controller boards and digital video.

A colorful wooden hut houses a group of stuffed wild animals, all captivated by an ongoing video game. The fox, who's playing the video game using an ancient keyboard, keeps up a steady patter: "All right! Yes! This part's real hard."

With its cluttered dorm room atmosphere and empty pizza box littering the floor, "Extreme Animals" will remind many parents of their own kids' rooms. It's a collaboration between artists Matt Barton and Jacob Ciocci. Barton has a master's in fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University. Ciocci is a founding member of Paper Rad, an art collective whose works are inspired by popular culture.

Barton calls "Extreme Animals'' "a regurgitated taste of our ever-evolving popular culture. The animals never tire of playing the video game, which has no linear structure, playing it all day, every day, until the show comes down."

'The Look-See Tree'

Artist: Ally Reeves.

Where: Touring through city parks with the Citiparks Roving Art Cart through Sept. 15.

Kids this summer have been captivated by the sight of a tree being hauled through city parks by a bicycle. It's "The Look-See Tree," a tree trunk that is home to a magical collection of moving robotic animals nestled inside.

A Tennessee native who graduated this spring with a master's degree in art from Carnegie Mellon University, Ally Reeves creates works that are both performance and object, often requiring her presence acting as a guide, or "artist-in-attendance," as she puts it in her artist's statement.

"Conceptually, I like to look at the various ways humans frame their relationship to nature. I decided that for Robot 250, using robotics and a means of portability to do that could create a fascinating setting for conversation about how technology and mobility shape our culture," Reeves says.

The tree and bicycle total around 14 feet in length, presenting an imposing spectacle. But it's also built close to the ground: "Most of my audience is under 4 feet [tall], and the focus of the visit is very much geared toward encouraging questions and creating an educational atmosphere," Reeves says.