The red, blue, yellow and clear plastic toy capsules caught 1-year-old Branson Viloria's eyes. His grandmother, Sandra Chang, 52, of Mililani, followed him to the Build-A-Wonder-Bot activity area in the rotunda of the Uptown section of Pearlridge Center.

"He enjoys anything round, colorful," she said, sitting down with the child at a table with a bin full of motorized, Styrofoam wheels, plastic propellers and gears.

Build-A-Wonder-Bot is among the 15 displays and activities at "Robots: The Interactive Exhibition," in both the Uptown and Downtown areas of Pearlridge Center. The exhibit will be open through Aug. 5.

The exhibit is based on the computer-animated movie "Robots" and features video presentations along with 3-D models and a collection of sketches from the movie.

A Wall of Fame timeline lists important robot-related events, accompanied by life-sized Gort and C-3PO figures from the films "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Star Wars."

The challenge of Wonder-Bot is to assemble the pieces to create a robot and make it function or accomplish an actual task like floor scrubbing.

"It's really good and wonderful for the kids to have a hands-on experience," Chang said.

Nine-year-old Alexander Hong, a robotics student in the University Laboratory School's summer program, operated a Ford robotic arm, similar to ones used in auto factories.

"I think it's a good exhibit, you learn about robots," said Alexander, who toured the exhibit with the class of 49 students. "I like that you can experience the robots and try it out."

Pearlridge general manager Frederick Paine said he likes to bring education and entertainment to the shopping center.

"It's the largest exhibit we've ever had here at the mall, and it's been tremendously successful," Paine said.

The exhibit has toured science centers and museums in Illinois, Arizona, Michigan and Maryland.

"When it's been in those places, it's usually been at a science museum where people not only have to pay to get in, but they have to pay for the exhibit," Paine said.

Although Paine couldn't give an exact cost to host Robots, "it's really expensive," he said.

The Pearlridge Merchants Association and other sponsors fund the exhibit, but this is the first time it is being offered free to the general public, he said.

The exhibit is designed to attract new shoppers to the mall, said Deborah Sharkey, president of Makana Communications.

Sharkey, who handles public relations for Pearlridge, said she is always looking for exhibits like "Robots" that all generations can enjoy at no charge.

"We do things that are educational and fun for families and we pay attention to the fact that they may not be able to afford and pay for an exhibit like the Bishop Museum," Sharkey said.

Mililani resident Laura Pasternak, 44, visited the Uptown exhibit with her three children recently, but returned to check out the rest of it in Downtown.

"I think they should do more of these exhibits," Pasternak said.

"This is educational for the kids and entertainment for the family, and for the kids it's a great learning experience for them.

"We'll be back before it ends," she said.