Haro

A toy line launched to little fanfare in 0078. Haros are small, round robots; the standard Haro line is roughly the size of a basketball, while the new-generation Haro Mini is roughly the size of a cantaloupe.

While Haro initially had only hobbyist appeal, too complex for children and too cute for 'serious' robotics hobbyists, the toy's popularity skyrocketed thanks to Amuro Ray and his heavily-modified Haro, which accompanied the ace pilot through the One Year War.

The Mk. II Haro, released in the 0080s, saw many of the aftermarket modifications Amuro made -- including more mobile limbs and several basic biometric scanning devices -- incorporated into the main toy line. The more recent Mk. III Haros are mostly an internal upgrade, though the Mk. III line also includes the smaller Haro Mini. Haro Minis are notoriously difficult to modify and markedly stripped down compared to the baseline Mk. III, but modifying them for full functionality is possible.

Modifying Haros is a favorite pastime among the technically inclined of just about any age, and crosses political boundaries.