Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: heinz@focus-systems.on.ca (Heinz Wolter)
Subject: Re: Toy robots, mac control
Message-ID: <D4D2J8.8M4@focus-systems.on.ca>
Organization: Focus Automation Systems Inc.
References: <3hecpg$a7i@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu> <3heghh$1ai@bigboote.WPI.EDU> <Pine.ULT.3.91.950215123005.25838C-100000@rac6.wam.umd.edu>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 1995 17:42:43 GMT
Lines: 27

In article <Pine.ULT.3.91.950215123005.25838C-100000@rac6.wam.umd.edu> Keith Wiley <keithw@wam.umd.edu> writes:
>> The Armatron is from Radio Shack and this past Xmas they reintroduced it.
>> so it is back on the shelves. And is what I have started with as it is cheap
>> and easy to pull apart. 
>> 
>> Pete
>> 
>So, you are going to program a Mac to talk to your Armatron?  I have Mac 
>incidentally, but how in the world are you going to do that.  I mean, do 
>you have to make your own board to stick in the Mac with wires sticking 
>out of it to the Armatron?  I'm more an artficial life and neural 
>networking person.  Robotics, as fascinating as I find it, seems 
>unrealistic for a dorm-room hacker.  Is this stuff realizable or do you 
>have to be an engineer with money for parts and everything?
>Keith

Keith, don't be such a twit. It seems you are lacking the imagination. OK,
get a a little board with some PIC chips on it (several companies make them)
that turns rs232 commands to motion on up to 8 RC servo motors. Then mount
then in a gimbal type arrangement to actuate the joysticks on the armatron.
Tough stuff. Did you need your EE degree for that? No fuss, no muss, no wires
going into the mac... In the future DON'T discourage any newbies or budding
roboticists from experimenting. Even you with your vast knowledge and resource
had to start somewhere;) The best way to learn is to do it, or fail trying!

heinz

