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From: hbg6@citek.mcdphx.mot.com
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re:Consumer Robots?
Message-ID: <13779@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com>
Date: 10 Oct 90 19:26:34 GMT
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Reply-To: hbg6@citek.mcdphx.mot.com
Organization: Motorola Microcomputer Division, Tempe, Az.
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In article <457@modcomp.UUCP> srp@modcomp.UUCP (Steve Pietrowicz) writes:
>I'd like to find out more about "consumer robots".   I recently saw an
>electronics catalog that had three different "robots".  One would move until
>it bumped into something and then would go off in a different direction.
> [....]
>catalogs, equipment sources, etc).  What's the best place to get equipment
>to play around with these things?  Through Heathkit?  How much will a good 
>"starter system" cost?

I guess it all depends on what you want to 'start'. If your interested in
experimenting with software for robotic applications, there is a neat
little 5 axis arm available which is controlled from a PC parallel port.
It's a little flimsy but a good 'first step'. It's available from
Circuit Specialists, (800)528-1417. It costs $189.00. I can post more
details if asked. (I don't work for Circuit Specialists)

If your more interested in hardware ( as I am ), and presuming you don't
have a corporate or university budget ( as I do not ), the best avenue
I have found is to go completely 'home brew'. With a little insight,
imagination, and patients, you can put together a fairly impressive
system for mot much money. Ask me about the " 3 axis dec-writer II robot"
sometime :-).

Good Luck,
John


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reply to 'from' address; hbg6@citek.mcdphx.mot.com
NOT the 'sender' line address!
Someday my sysadm will decide this is a 'real' problem. :-)
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All opinions expressed are mine and not Motorolas, their loss.
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