Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!netcomsv!netcom.com!nagle
From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Armatron vs. Mobile Armatron
Message-ID: <nagleCHnDr1.B1@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
References: <CHLoCt.tp@vortex.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 04:28:13 GMT
Lines: 13

lauren@vortex.com (Lauren Weinstein) writes:
>The original Armatron used a completely mechnical system (with,
>I believe, only *one* motor) to control all arm motions.  The arm
>itself was mounted on a stationary platform.  The all-mechnical
>system made interfacing for computer control a mess.  I recall
>reading an article many years ago that detailed the process--I decided
>it wasn't worth it at the time and never bought the unit.

      One motor, clutches, and manual joysticks.  Still, all the degrees
of freedom came out as shafts at one point in the base, and if you put
servomotors on each shaft, you could have a nice little arm.

					John Nagle
