Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!tallent
From: tallent@netcom.com (Mike Tallent)
Subject: Re: Student Research Quest:  Robotics
Message-ID: <tallentCL7Don.KEI@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
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References: <2jgilq$q6f@eis.calstate.edu>
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 07:19:35 GMT
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Cory M Wisnia (cwisnia@eis.calstate.edu) wrote:
: February 8, 1994


: Dear Internet:

: 	I am a 8th grade student at the Mendocino Middle School.  I am 
: working on an I Search Project for my Science class.  I chose Robots as 
: my topic.  I chose this topic because I really love machines and I wanted 
: very much to find out how a robot works.  I was able to get a lot of 
: information about the history of robots and how it's derived from a Czech 
: word and idea, but I haven't been able to find anything about how to put 
: a robot together.  More than writing this paper, I would love to build my 
: own robot at home.  I was hoping to find out that a 13 year old with not 
: much money could build one.  

: 	I was hoping that through the Internet I could find out what I need 
: to know about how robots work besides that they are programmed to move by 
: a computer unit inside of them.  I was also hoping if I could get some 
: information on how I could put one together myself.  Anything you can 
: find for me, I would really appreciate. 

: 	You can e mail me through my teacher, Cory Wisnia, at 
: cwisnia@eis.calstate.edu.

: 	Sincerely,


: 	CLIFTON GARRARD
: -- 
: Teachere's note.  Clifton is a student that needs a lot of special 
: attention.  I have tried to have him limit his project somewhat in order 
: for it not to be unreachably over his head.  *Any* encouragement will go 
: a long way with him!  I also have had a student who is very capable who 
: earlier put out a letter on the net regarding robotic hands.  He (Stephen 
: Green) is doing a great job on this. I am going to have him share some of 
: his findings with Clifton.  Thank you for any assistance for this young 
: fellow,  and thanks to all who have been so helpful for Stephen. I 
: believe you have helped develop a real interest in this field for him and 
: I know that Clifton will appreciate every thing you send.

: ___________________________________________                            
: ||   >>>/\__/\>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<      ||
: ||     / \|/  \  CORY  WISNIA             ||                                  
: ||     |(O)(O) | cwisnia@eis.calstate.edu ||         
: ||     \     /  MENDOCINO   CA           ||
: ||___>>|||---|||>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<______||

This brings to mind a book I read when I was problably about Clifton's 
age, it was something like "How to build a self programmed robot", some 
TAB book of some kind. I remember reading the pages of this book and 
thinking that I could build this very robot in this book. So I set out 
to, in my garage. And about 1 month later, from my garage, emerged a 
wonderful hunk of metal that didn't do anything.

But don't be upset, with practice it will happen. But don't set your eyes 
on something to far out of reach. We are a long way from Science Fiction 
Robots. Start small, learn the basics. And with a lot of money from some 
research grant somewhere, and a lot of schooling, you'll do just fine.

Remember, you have to be a draftsman, electronics guru, programmer, and 
overall wizzard to really make a dent in a practical robot. 

Good luck, tell your parents you want to go to CMU. Say Hi to Hans 
Moravec and Kevin Dowling while your there.

Mike

-- 
                                             tallent@netcom.com
