Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Subject: Re: "That's not robotics; that's toy building"
In-Reply-To: reeder@reed.edu's message of 16 Aug 93 08:49:45 GMT
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Reply-To: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Organization: Field Robotics Center, CMU
References: <CBHzGn.DI6@cs.uiuc.edu> <1993Aug12.190036.24847@phx.mcd.mot.com>
	<CBq6n8.IvL@cs.uiuc.edu> <CBtBHI.38B@cs.uiuc.edu>
	<24nhn9$7sn@scratchy.reed.edu>
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1993 16:31:56 GMT
Lines: 43

In article <24nhn9$7sn@scratchy.reed.edu> reeder@reed.edu (P. Douglas Reeder) writes:

   Anonymous writes:
   :
   :if a robotics
   :person needed to actually build his own control circuit (which
   :is unlikely, given the large number of computer interfaces available
   :for robots these days), he would use an off-the-shelf processor
   :board.  if a robotics person needs a robot arm, he buys an arm,
   :if he needs a mobile base, he buys one, etc... 

   Certainly, one should use off-the-shelf systems when they meet one's
   needs.  However, in legged robotics, a special interest of mine, the
   off-the-shelf system are unavailable.  (Odex, a six legged walker, is
   available, but it is only one geometry out of many.)  Groups doing
   legged locomotion research MUST have someone who can design interfaces
   and such.  And to learn these skills, you must design and build them.
   The situation is the same in underwater robotics and aerial robotics.

I am currently doing two things: The first is working on my
dissertation, the topic of which will be robot design. This is
robotics research/science. I am also designing and having built a six-
legged walking robot. This is engineering, a task that any good
engineer could carry out. Designing and building this robot will make
absolutely zero contribution to the field, however, the CONCEPTS that
were used to develop this particular configuration and the software
system that are under development will make a major impact on the
community. Of course, the thing has to be built to prove the concepts
and the software.

See the difference?

--
Gerry Roston (gerry@cmu.edu)    | The most foolish mistake we could possibly
Field Robotics Center,          | make would be to allow the subjected people
Carnegie Mellon University      | to carry arms, history shows that all
Pittsburgh, PA, 15213           | conquerors who have allowed their subjected
(412) 268-3856                  | peoples to carry arms have prepared their own
                                | fall. Adolph Hitler
The opinions expressed are mine | 
and do not reflect the official | 
position of CMU, FRC, RedZone,  | 
or any other organization.      | 
