Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!usc!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!bronze!btaplin@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
From: Brad Taplin <btaplin@silver.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Advice for novice robot-toy project?
Message-ID: <1992May29.022710.19426@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
Summary: Looking for info on AI and robotics.
Sender: btaplin@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 29 May 1992 02:27:02 -0500
Lines: 28

Hello. I might enjoy making robotic toys, but have only
just begun looking into things. My budget and work space
are EXTREMELY limited. I use a 386sx SVGA for "real work"
and an Epson turbo-XT serving as a download/test machine.
Prefer parts designed for crampt, convection-cooled areas.
Cash and space demand that parts be small, cheap, durable.
My EE knowledge is currently limited to board-swapping.

Please recommend good general books on the subject for the
semi-serious newcomer. Pictures are nice, but so are clear
descriptions. Also, good sources for parts, software, etc.
Is there maybe a Radio-Shack-type kit somewhere, some model
suited to one who knows more about software than hardware?

Note these plans are vague at best. What I do know is that
if this flies, I'll likely try Intel chips for the brain,
since my toy must run software developed and alpha-tested
on the 386sx or 8088. I hope to use neural-net algorithms,
taking voice and tactile input but not sight to guide cute
little actions, such as "sit!" and "Here, boy!" Response
time might be enhanced with flash-ram and device buffers.

Perhaps Motorola chips are better suited, or something
else, but I've gotta live with available resources. Any
suggestions, tips, or anecdotes will be appreciated. :)
-- 
btaplin@silver.ucs.indiana.edu or simply btaplin@ucs.indiana.edu will
appreciate your intelligent suggestions, anecdotes, comments & offers.
