Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!utcsri!psych.toronto.edu!colin
From: colin@psych.toronto.edu (Colin Hinz)
Subject: Re: Fischertechnik computer control
Message-ID: <CFwv27.1HE@psych.toronto.edu>
Organization: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 10:13:18 GMT
Lines: 25

In article <2b6au8$gh3$1@tadpole.Tadpole.COM> ma@tadpole.com writes:
>
>The U.S. Distributor is Model Technologies in Modesto CA, on (209) 575 3445.
>Since my last message, I have discovered that fischertechnik is not very
>common at all
>any more.  It's expensive, and there doesn't seem to be much effort put into
>marketing it - shame.  Although fischertechnik is (in my opinion) far
> superior for this type of application than lego, it seems that lego has
> much more visibility in general (and is less expensive).  
>
Well, it's also a shame that Meccano-Erector has (so far) dropped the
ball when it comes to computer interfaces and other advnaced
applications. Like Fischertechnik, it's also more expensive albeint
*MUCH* more suitable to robotics, than LEGO could ever be. However,
Meccano-Erector is now widely available in North America (including all
the weird spare parts) and the growing number of hobby groups are delving
into the computer interface problem.

The Meccano hobbyists sure could use a little more computer smarts
though. They buy their parts at Radio Shack, and program in GW-BASIC.
Aaaaaaaggggghgghghg!

- Colin


