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From: kreed@mail.boi.hp.com (Ken Reed)
Subject: Robot Survey Summary
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Date: Thu, 2 Feb 1995 20:42:21 GMT
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Robot Survey Summary  02/02/1995

Number of Responses so far is 12.
I will keep adding to this survey as new information comes in, or
as requests for clarification come in.

>>What size is the robot? (inches please)
Avg Height is 18", max Height is 36", min Height is 6".
Avg Length is 15", max Length is 22", min Length is 6".
Avg  Width is 19", max  Width is 18", min  Width is 4".

>>Was the basic platform scratch built, a kit, or purchased assembled?
Built from scratch 67%
Build from kit      0%
Purchased          33%

>>Who developed the robot? (check one and add text if desired)
1 individual, personal use robot             58%
team, personal use robot                      0%
1 individual, developed for work, or school  17%
team, developed for work, or school          25%
other, explain                                0%

>>How much has the robot cost to date, in man hours and U.S. dollars?
Avg dollars spent $644, max dollars spent $2000, min dollars spent $250
Avg   hours spent  344, max   hours spent   800, min   hours spent   30

>>What does the robot do?
This question stumped a lot of the people responding. It seems that
most of the robots being built have no task except to be developed.
There is lots of room for creativity here.

One person built a DDYES, the Dumbest Dog You Ever Saw.  He further said
that his robot was alive.  It is autonomous and feeds itself.  It is alive 
even after an extended vacation, where only DDYES was home.    

One persons robot can get the newspaper, but he further said
that the newspaper was out of date by the time is was delivered.

One teams robot did not move at all nor had an arm, but composed and played
relaxing music that varied with sensor inputs.

>>How is the robot controlled? (check one and provide text if desirable)
remote control via wires              17%
remote control via the airwaves        0%
it follows pre-determined programs     8%
autonomous, it thinks for itself      75%

>>What type of locomotion does the robot use?
Tracks                                         8%
One powered steering wheel, two fixed wheels  25%
Two powered wheels, one caster                33%
Two powered wheels, two casters                8%
Doesn't move                                   8%

>>What kind of computers are used?
The 68HC11 has captured this market, over 50% used this STAMP as local
computing power.  Many also used a remote PC.  QuickBasic and C dominate
the language catagory.

>>What kind of sensors does it use?
Most had bump sensors, and ultrasonic ranging.  One fellow made a compass
work, but said it wasn't worth the effort.  Others have passive IR, light
intensity and direction, and sound intensity.

>>How does it navigate its environment?
This category had the most variation.  Some robots bumped into things and
turned as their only navigation system.  Several used mapping techniques.

>>Does it have an arm?
The robots with arms were only 25% of the responses.  One fellows robot 
digs in the dirt autonomously.

>>What have your successes been?
Mostly the successes listed were to get a robot running.  One fellow has
80 robots running in his lab on a network.

>>What things would you do differently?
This catagory surprised me.  Most of the respondents didn't learn anything,
that is, they mostly said they would not change much.  There is great
opportunity here.

>>What contests has your robot been entered in, and how did it go?
Only one robot of the 12 has been in a contest, and it took second place.

>>What robot club do you belong to? (give name, address and BBS number)
Only one person responding belonged to a club.

>>Would you like a summary of this info supplied on the net?
Every respondent wanted a survey published.  So here it is.  If you
have questions, let me know.

>>Is this information confidential? (check one)
Only one respondent said his information was confidential.  The information
for his robot is included in the numerical data, but not in the textual
answers.

THANKS your for your inputs!!!
+============================================================================+
|     digital control systems        \ /  simplest possible solution         |
|     electrical engineering        --O--  machinist / metal working         |
|      software / computers          / \    wood working                     |
|        autonomous robots       /\          self sufficient living          |
|         observed trials   /\  /  \  /\      wind power generation          |
|                   guns   /  \/    \/  \      photovoltaic power generation |
| minimalist government   /    \     \   \      water power generation       |
|              welding   /  ken reed  \   \      technical curiosity         |
|============================================================================|
|disclaimer: the above are the ramblings of ken reed, and only ken reed      |
+============================================================================+

