For 10-year-old Craig McKee, operating robots at the North Museum was more difficult than playing with his toys at home.

"I like the cranes," Craig said Wednesday while visiting the museum. "I play with LEGOs® at home but the cranes are hard (to operate)."

The cranes that Craig was referring to are the robotic arms that museum visitors can use to grasp and move building blocks.

The arms are one of many robotic applications on display at the museum, which opened its doors this month to "Robot Adventure," the newest temporary exhibition.

Guests to the museum can drive a probe robot over "alien" terrain and help "nocturnal" robots move by shining a flashlight on them, among other activities.

The exhibit was created by MRISAR, Institute of Science, Art & Robotics. Based in Michigan, MRISAR develops robots for use by museums, universities, NASA-funded projects and the film industry. The 2007 film "The Last Mimzy" featured robots built by the company.

Since the exhibit opened June 8, museum marketing and membership coordinator Amanda Eckinger said more than 1,200 people have visited the museum.

"In our temporary exhibits, we really try to provide things that people don't normally get to see," Eckinger said. "The kids really enjoy this because it's so hands-on, they can actually see things working."

Alec Fatta, 7, learned how to operate a probe robot Wednesday. "This thing is hard to move," Alec said while operating the controls.

Eckinger said the exhibit relates to current events.

"I think this exhibit fits right in with what's going on today with robots being sent to Mars and being used in missions," she said.

The North Museum, at 400 College Ave. in Lancaster city, will be offering two other programs this summer related to the robot exhibit.

July 11, the museum will unveil an exhibit called "Return of the Robots."

"That's going to be more of an artistic exhibit," Eckinger said. "We're partnering with the Toy Robot Museum in Adamstown. There will be a bunch of photographs as well as robot toys here on display detailing the old robots that were popular in the past."

The MRISAR exhibit will still be on display on the first floor of the museum, while the "Return of the Robots" exhibit will be on the second floor.

Another program, "Robots on Mars," will begin July 17. The program, scheduled for Thursdays through Aug. 14, encompasses ideas of how robots today get to Mars; what robots are and what robots can do; what scientists are looking for on Mars; and the past, present and future of robotic missions to Mars.

"That's really a summer enrichment program. It provides kids with various disciplines related to robots," Eckinger said.

Participants will take field trips along the Susquehanna River and at Millersville University as part of the program, which is limited to 20 children ages 11 to 15.

Museum members also are invited to a viewing of the animated film "Robots," featuring the voices of Robin Williams and Halle Berry, among others. The film will be shown at 6:30 p.m. July 16 in the museum's planetarium.

Eckinger said there are still spots available for the "Robots on Mars" program. Cost is $150 to museum members, $180 for nonmembers.

For more information on the exhibit or other museum programs visit www.northmuseum.org or call 291-4371.

E-mail: jwalk@lnpnews.com