HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mds@iastate.edu (Mark D. Smucker)
Subject: Small clips of robots on PBS's "Space Age"
Organization: Iowa State University of Censorship and Repression
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 03:04:25 GMT


Tonight on PBS here in Ames, Iowa the show "Space Age" had 3 small
segments on robotics in reference to going to Mars.

First shown was Ambler at CMU.  

Second, was Rodney Brooks ( with Anita Flynn? ) and Atilla walking
across rocks in the lab.  Brooks spoke of tiny "tumblebots" that would
be blown around Mars and when they found perhaps water would stop
themselves to be seen by a satellite in orbit around Mars.

Next they showed an underwater ROV ( I didn't catch what university) .
The camera on the ROV was controlled by head movements of the operator
who saw the camera's view with builtin goggles on the helmet.

In general, the rest of the show was only average exciting.  The robot
clips came about halfway into the show.

The show may be showing later in the week in different television
markets around the U.S.

The excerpt from the newspaper:

"The program takes a worldwide view as it examines scientific,
economic and technological aspects of the space programs launched by
various countries.   The opening installment concentrates on the
`Quest for Planet Mars,' outlining the difficulties that have existed
in mounting a mission to the planet and also projecting what the voyage
would be like, via simulation.  Part 1 of 6."

Mark D. Smucker   ----   mds@iastate.edu
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: MIT robotics papers?
From: bushbo@hiramb.bitnet
Date: 16 Oct 92 08:33:50 -0500
Organization: Hiram College
Nntp-Posting-User: bushbo

hello!
  does anyone know how and/or where i can get MIT Robotics papers on
subsumption architecture and from the insect lab at MIT.
			thanks in advance.....brian

-- 

brian o. bush
IN%"bushbo@hiramb.bitnet"

   /
   \ yber                       

Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: ssingh@frc2.frc.ri.cmu.edu (Sanjiv Singh)
Subject: Robotics Research in Japan: Summer 93
Reply-To: ssingh@ri.cmu.edu (Sanjiv Singh)
Organization: Field Robotics Center, CMU
Distribution: comp
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 16:53:44 GMT


Well, actually this program announcment is not limited to robotics,
but it is an excellent way of doing research at some of the best 
robotics labs in Japan. Read on...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

          The National Science Foundation and the National Institutes
          of Health announce...

          ... that applications are now being accepted for the

                      1993 SUMMER INSTITUTE IN JAPAN

          for U.S. Graduate Students in Science and Engineering,
          including Biomedical Science and Engineering.

                  APPLICATION DEADLINE:  December 1, 1992

          Program's Goal:

          to provide 60 U.S. graduate students first-hand experience
          in a Japanese research laboratory

          Program Elements:

          **    Internship at a Japanese government, corporate or
                university laboratory in Tokyo or Tsukuba

          **    Intensive Japanese language training

          **    Lectures on Japanese science, history, and culture

          Program Duration and Dates:

          **    8 weeks;  June 25 to August 21, 1993

          Eligibility requirements:

          1.    U.S. citizen or permanent resident

          2.    Enrolled at a U.S. institution in a science or
                engineering Ph.D. program,

                Enrolled in an M.D. program and have an interest in
                biomedical research,
                or
                Enrolled in an engineering M.S. program of which one
                year has been completed by December 1, 1992.

          For application materials and more information:

          Request NSF publication number 92-105, "1993 Summer
          Institute in Japan," from NSF's Publications Office at

                pubs@nsf.gov (InterNet)  or   pubs@nsf (BitNet)
                Phone:  (202) 357-7668

          Be sure to give your name and complete mailing address.

          To download application materials:

          Send e-mail message to
                 stisserv@nsf.gov (InterNet)  or
                 stisserv@nsf     (BitNet)

          Ignore the subject line, but body of message should read as
          follows:
                 Request:   stis
                 Topic:     nsf92105
                 Request:   end

          You will receive a copy of publication 92-105 by return
          e-mail.

          For further inquiries, contact NSF's Japan Program staff at

                 NSFJinfo@nsf.gov (InterNet) or
                 NSFJinfo@nsf    (BitNet)

                 Tel:  (202) 653-5862
----------
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sanjiv Singh                                    ssingh@ri.cmu.edu
Field Robotics Center                           (412) 268-5895
Carnegie Mellon University
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: cmcmanis@pepper.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Microcontroller boards.
Date: 11 Oct 92 18:56:58 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: pepper

In article <Bvt4Ao.54x@world.std.com> (Greg A Kulosa) writes:
>What is wrong with the 6.270 design by Fred Martin?  I don't know if
>any of you have read the docs, but it definetely deserves some
>attention.  It uses a 68HC11, has 32k of battery backed RAM, something
>like 16 or 24 analog inputs, controls 6 motors, has a small LCD screen
>for user interaction (along with two buttons and a knob that you can
>use to make menu choices, calibrate, etc. with).  It also has a
>prototyping area with access to the 6811 bus.  
...
>The REALLY nice part of the system, however, is the Interactive-C that
>Fred and Randy Sargent designed for the board.  It hooks to the board
>over an RS-232 line from a PC or unix machine and allows you to
>execute C commands INTERACTIVELY with the board...

Sounds good, I have been assuming that if MIT and/or Fred wanted to
get into the business of distributing/maintaining this design they
would have said something by now. I'm on the wrong coast to take the
class :-). 

Other interesting news on the uController board front; in the November
1992 issue of "ComputerCraft" (which used to be Modern Electronics)
there is an article titled "Special Report on Microcontroller Boards"
by Jan Axelson. It contains tables listing 60 boards for 8 bit MCUs
including the 8051 series, Z8 series, and 68HC11 series. It includes
11 systems based on the HC11, but doesn't included the GCB11 from
Coactive so there are at least 12 HC11 systems. I'm going to probably
get the literature on all of them to compare features.

The september issue of this magazine had an article on "Motion-Control
Basics" which had good information on driving stepper motors etc.


--
--Chuck McManis						    Sun Microsystems
uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis   BIX: <none>   Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM
NIS+ Architect
These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you.
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: kilian@cray.com (Alan Kilian)
Subject: Re: 68HC11EVBU fanout data
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 13 Oct 92 12:48:59 CDT


I like Fred's method of connecting HC11s better than mine for all the reasons
he stated.

I got my idea from the way that Motorola uses the SPI interface on the
HC16 to connect to several LED device drivers. They are all connected
daisy chained and you send out a 24 byte packet to update all the LEDs
pretty much like that method for controlling many motors from one HC11
using shift register chips.

I have changed my mind and I like connecting all the MOSI MISO and SCK
pins together (You know what I mean) and have software deal with getting
the slaves to talk back to the master one at a time.

By the way there is also a slave-select pin *SS which will select which
slave will receive the data. You could use this pin on 8 slaves connected
to an 8 bit output port on the master and not bother any of the other 7
slaves from having to recieve the packet and then toss it if it is not for
them. It does take up an 8 bit port though but if your slaves are using
all their power to just keep up with their workload then this keeps them
from having to recieve packets and them throw them away. I doubt I'll need
to resort to this and I'll just have a header with a slave address.

-Alan "It's a man's right to change his mind until he gets a good one" Kilian

-- 
 -Alan Kilian           kilian@cray.com 612.683.5499 (Work) 612.721.3990 (Home)
  Cray Research, Inc.   655 F Lone Oak Drive, Eagan  MN, 55121 
                        "It's based on actual math". -Dilbert
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: af093@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (James Szorady)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: list of robomaniacs
Date: 10 Oct 1992 01:08:17 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


Does anyone know of any list of people doing research in
robotics ? Perhaps some sort of organization or publication
mailing list ? 


Thn[D
Thanks

-- 
I THINK, THEREFORE I RAM....
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: man@labrea.zko.dec.com (Richard Man)
Subject: Re: Small clips of robots on PBS's "Space Age"
Reply-To: man@labrea.zko.dec.com (Richard Man)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 14:48:58 GMT


In article <Bw1HvD.BB2@news.iastate.edu>, mds@iastate.edu (Mark D. Smucker) writes:
> Second, was Rodney Brooks ( with Anita Flynn? ) and Atilla walking

No, that wasn't Anita. Don't know who she is...

BTW, Brooks, Anita, Colin got some good mention in Steve Levy's new book
Artificial Life.

--
- Richard F. Man (man@labrea.zko.dec.com)
"Small Rovers, Big Dreams"
From: simon@engcon.marshall.ltv.com (SHSIMON)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Please Repost Stiquito info
Date: 13 Oct 92 12:22:50 GMT
Reply-To: simon@engcon.UUCP (SHSIMON)
Distribution: na
Organization: LTV MEG, Dallas, TX

Could someone please repost the Stiquito info (description, address, cost?).

Our newsfeed was deleted before I had a chance to read it.

Thanx,
Hank

Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: mhatz@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mike Hatz)
Subject: Newbie Questions
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 15:51:54 GMT

I am new to this group and found no references to a FAQ or FTP site for roboticsinfo.  Can someone please rsvp with a FAQ or a site to get one from?  Thanks!


Mike
From: boone@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: more re: Gyros, Acceleros, & Inclinos
Date: 16 Oct 92 05:58:17 GMT
Organization: Northern Arizona University

B00000000000000
B00000000000000-
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: dave@unlv.edu (David Ence)
Subject: 6811
Originator: dave@cleanhead.cs.unlv.edu
Organization: UNLV
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 92 01:15:31 GMT

Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: miniboards
Summary: 
Followup-To:ence@nye.nscee.edu 
Distribution: world
Organization: National Supercomputer Center for Energy and the Environment
Keywords: 

   I've been going threw some of the comp.robotics news and have been intrested
in the "miniboards" that have been so frequently talked about. I'm an undergrad
in comp sci and am very intersted in robotics. Can anyone tell me where i can
get more info on the 6811 miniboard and also the motorola 68333 and 68332?
I'am just seeking info. Any info would be welcome. Please send response to
ence@nye.nscee.edu. Thanks

		later,
		David A. Ence
From: sundermm@columbia.dsu.edu (MARC SUNDERMEYER)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Looking For...
Date: 14 Oct 92 03:39:21 GMT
Organization: Dakota State University


	I am looking for a used HERO 2000, in good condition, or information 
on if they are any that are any availible that are still new.
From: gratclif@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Gregory W Ratcliff)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Miniboards 2.0 Second run
Keywords: Miniboard 68hc11
Date: 11 Oct 92 14:59:56 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University

All the miniboards from the first run were shipped two weeks back.

I have received a few back that were returned to sender.
1 person (so far) was shorted a board, Oops.

If you have NOT received your Miniboards and I advised that you were
in the first run, email me now with qty, and your mailing address.

I would expect people outside the US might not have their boards yet.

________________________________________________________________

Second run status:  

The run will be for 100 boards.  

I have checks for 52 in hand!  The firm count was 70, I guess some of 
Alans deadbeats came to me.

This leaves 30 boards up for grabs.  $6.00 each, in the US.

The Second run boards will be shipping by the 30th of October.

Greg Ratcliff





-- 
Gregory W. Ratcliff  Ratcliff.8@osu.edu  on the internet   
Columbus, Ohio     ICBM
nz8r@w8cqk 	 on the air
N1697X     	 in the air
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: pdavies@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Paul Davies)
Subject: mit lego robots
Organization: University of Toronto Chemistry Department
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 20:02:29 GMT

I was wondering if MIT ever released the info to build the lego robots.
I know you can get the manual but I want to know if you can get a
pc-board or artwork for one.

thanks,


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 | "The effects of technology do not occur
Paul Davies / Synthetic Man      | at the level of opinions or concepts, but
pdavies@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca | alter sense ratios or patterns of per-
rec.arts.bodyart FAQ Keeper      | ception steadily and without resistance."
                                 |  - Marshall McLuhan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: bleck@aztec.ai.mit.edu (Olaf Bleck)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Question on Light Stripe Generation
Date: 15 Oct 92 21:54:47 GMT
Reply-To: bleck@ai.mit.edu
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

In article <1992Oct14.232342.8698@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov>, behar@robotics.jpl.nasa.gov (Albert Behar) writes:
|> How are light stripes usually generated?
|> 
|> I'm thinking about using a light stripe and
|> a low resolution imager to get range data.


The one on Herbert at MIT (Jon Connell) used a laser with a cylindrical lens
(i.e.  a glass rod)--very simple.  It used a 30x30 camera with an optical
notch filter matched to the laser's band, which all gave a very reliable
image of the resulting paralax.

-Olaf
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: paulxxxx@leland.Stanford.EDU (paulastya gupta)
Subject: Linear DC motors - sources wanted
Organization: Kensington Labs, Richmond, CA
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 92 20:53:30 GMT

I am looking into selecting a linear DC motor for an application 
which needs a travel of 1" total.  Preferably, I would want a 
brush type motor (based on my motion controller).  The resolution 
needs to be in the order of microns, and thus I am thinking of using 
a glass scale for feedback.  

PROBLEM:  DC linear motors run into $1000+ price range. I am 
wondering if anyone knows of a manufacturer that is supplying 
these things for commercial applications,  and has a more 
reasonable price.  I have tried sources like Inland Motor etc. 
which command such prices ($5000!!!) since they cater to 
military applications.

Work number (510) 620-0235 ask for PAUL GUPTA 
Work Title: Design Engineer, Kensington Labs, Richmond, CA

Thanks a lot!

Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: dsato@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu (Derek Sato)
Subject: Actuators, any good mail order houses?
Organization: University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Engineering
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 19:34:54 GMT



Can anyone supply me with the names,addresses,and phone numbers of
mail order houses which sell actuators(all types)?

Thanks in advance...
From: croehrig@.cs.ubc.ca (Chris Roehrig)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Supplier for MC68HC811E2FN  (Miniboard CPU)  ????
Date: 8 Oct 1992 21:36:49 GMT
Organization: Computer Science, University of B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
NNTP-Posting-Host: carib.cs.ubc.ca


I need a small quantity (1-5) of HC11E2s for my miniboard project, and the
only supplier I can track down is Future (Active, here in Vancouver) who
only take orders for 23 or more units.   

Does anyone know of a mail-order house that can ship me five (or at least one)  
HC11s immediately?    (I won't have time to compile a net-order, and I can't  
bankroll my own stockpile to sell later. )

Chris Roehrig
Dept. of Computer Science
University of British Columbia
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: truk@leland.Stanford.EDU (Kurt Schwehr)
Subject: Re: Small clips of robots on PBS's "Space Age"
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 17:07:26 GMT

In article <Bw1HvD.BB2@news.iastate.edu> mds@iastate.edu (Mark D. Smucker) writes:
>
> [del]
>
>Next they showed an underwater ROV ( I didn't catch what university) .
>The camera on the ROV was controlled by head movements of the operator
>who saw the camera's view with builtin goggles on the helmet.
>
>
>Mark D. Smucker   ----   mds@iastate.edu
>
I wish I coulda seen the show.  Here's a little about the ROV:

The ROV was put together at NASA's Ames Reseach Center.  (I didn't actually
see the show, but I only know of one ROV that has head tracking.)  The
system is run with an Amiga 2000 and a Polhemus head tracker.  The group
has two sets of goggles (HMD's): one build from two sony camcorder view
view finders and one that uses fiber bundles to project a color image.
It's a neat system which is being sent to Antarctica in the next few weeks
to study a lake.  

Kurt
-- 
Kurt D. Schwehr                                DaPhone: 415-948-0257
Email: truk@leland.stanford.edu                Undergrad - Junior
Smail: P.O. Box 11067, Stanford, CA. 94309     CS + Geology
From: cmcmanis@pepper.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: ComputerCraft info
Date: 14 Oct 1992 08:15:36 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc., Mountain View, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: pepper

Because a lot of people have been asking :

	ComputerCraft is published by CQ Communications
	76 North Broadway, Hicksville NY 11801
	Tel (516) 681-2922 Subscription $18.97/year US

	The issue with the uController review is NOVEMBER
	(the latest) with a picture of a prototyping MCU
	driving an LCD display.

Also "Nuts & Volts" which used to be a free classifieds rag
that you could pick up at HAM swaps has gone commercial and
the current issue has a new "regular" column on amateur
robotics. Didn't buy it so I don't have similar information
on them.


--
--Chuck McManis						    Sun Microsystems
uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis   BIX: <none>   Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM
NIS+ Architect
These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you.
Organization: Junior, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Date: Wed,  7 Oct 1992 15:09:09 -0400 
From: "John C. Henderson" <jh61+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Mac EPROM Burner

Howdy,
 
Has anyone out there ever used an EPROM burner that interfaced with a Mac?
(That is, apart from any serious serial-port hacks.)  If so, I would be
very interested in learning how it performed, who manufactured it, how it was
purchased (i.e. mail order, electronics store, etc.), and how much it cost.
 
If anyone out there is interested, I'll summarize to the board.
 
Thanks in advance,
 
-John
From: gcouger@olesun.okstate.edu (Gordon Couger)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Question on Light Stripe Generation
Date: 16 Oct 92 04:08:28 GMT
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

In article <29439@life.ai.mit.edu> bleck@ai.mit.edu writes:
>In article <1992Oct14.232342.8698@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov>, behar@robotics.jpl.nasa.gov (Albert Behar) writes:
>|> How are light stripes usually generated?
>|> 
>|> I'm thinking about using a light stripe and
>|> a low resolution imager to get range data.
>
>
>The one on Herbert at MIT (Jon Connell) used a laser with a cylindrical lens
>(i.e.  a glass rod)--very simple.  It used a 30x30 camera with an optical
>notch filter matched to the laser's band, which all gave a very reliable
>image of the resulting paralax.
>
>-Olaf

I have used a photoflash, two razor blades and a projector lens to project the 
stripe. I also have used a fan laser, I don't recall the sorce. I can probably 
find it if you need it.

Gordon Couger 
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: rg9538@ehsn5.cen.uiuc.edu (Ronald E Garnett)
Subject: Re: 68HC11EVBU fanout data
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 05:38:42 GMT

kilian@cray.com (Alan Kilian) writes:


>rg9538@ehsn8.cen.uiuc.edu (Ronald E Garnett) asks:
>> Does anyone out there in net land know how many SLAVE units that the 68HC11
>> EVBU board can drive from a master.

>The synchronous connections are generally daisy chained so that each CPUs
>output only drives one other CPUs input. This way you can connect an infinite
>number of CPUs together. Like this:

>probably be O.K. These things have CMOS inputs so it doesn't take too much
>current to get them to switch. This and the fact that the SPI does not
>switch THAT fast means that one CMOS output can drive several CMOS inputs
>just fine. I'd say ten would be O.K. The problem with this version is
>that it is only a one-way connection. You cannot connect the ten other CPU's
>output lines back to the one CPU's input line. That would be bad news.

>The asynchronous (SCI) channel should be able to drive several other CPUs
>inputs the same as the synchronous (SPI) channel can. You have the same 
>problem with it being a one-way connection. You cannot connect several
>CPU's Transmit lines to one CPU's recieve line.


I tried posting an intelligent response to this, but I'm logging in from home,
and the computer ate my post!!   I'll try again in less detail!


The task which I am trying to do is create an expandable network of HC11's
to be used for control (robotics) projects for which a single processor
just won't hack it.  I would like to have the ability to synchronize (not
by clocking by the same crystal) each processor at the same time.  I was
hoping to use a bus structure to accomplish this.  Restraints on the 
multi-controller network are as follows:

	1)  Simplicityto the programmer is a key.  (So that users of this
	system won't have to get too heavily into the communications 
	between nodes.  I will put as much as possible in ROM and write
	simple (to use) subroutines for the programmers.

	2)  Easy to expand for difficult projects, easy to contract for
	simpler projects.

	3)  Minimum use of ports, pins, memory, timeslices, etc.  In other
	words, low cost in terms of the 68HC11's resources.

	4)  A rough similarity to living organisms' nerve systems is desired.
	each bus of controllers could be a seperate subsystem such as an arm
	or leg or whatever.  The seperate buses could be connected to form
	a body.  Possibly with a "spinal cord" and a "brain" when needed.

The limits on the chain are:  not as easy to globally synchronize each 
controller, longer delay (tied to first one).

If a bus gets used, I will probably connect the MOSI and MISO outputs together
using a bus arbitration scheme and open drain outputs on port D (SCI).
But tif the number of HC11's I can connect iis only two, then I have gain       nothing!  10 might be acceptable....

Ron Garnett,
Grad student in Electrical Engineering (M.S. program)
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

rg9538@ewshp.cen.uiuc.edu

.