| World Book Dictionary defines robot as "a machine | | | | Get a Grip on Robotics |
| made in imitation of a human being; a mechanical | | | | This exhibit explores the jointed-arm robot which |
| device that does routine work in response to | | | | "looks similar to a certain part of your body." Each |
| commands." I met my first robot in 1979 at the | | | | direction a joint can move gives the robot one |
| Texas Instruments plant in Austin, where it delivered | | | | degree of freedom. So, a robot arm with three |
| mail. Despite early promises to the contrary, robots | | | | degrees of freedom can move in three ways: up |
| today are found not in the home, but primarily in | | | | down, left/right, and forward/backward. Although |
| factories. And although there are robots made out of | | | | some robots have six, eight or even twelve degrees |
| Legos, there is no robot designed to pick Legos up | | | | of freedom, six is enough for most basic tasks, and |
| from the floor. I, however, remain hopeful. Find out | | | | therefore most working robot arms have six degrees |
| more at the following websites. | | | | of freedom. The human arm, however, has seven. |
| Design Your Own Robot | | | | Find out which movement you have that most |
| "Robots come in all shapes and sizes. But what does | | | | robotic arms do not. |
| it take to design one?" You are about to learn. First, | | | | Robots and Space Toys |
| you'll be assigned a mission for your robot. Will it be | | | | Robby the Robot is not the latest student project |
| to search a sunken ship for gold? Or to explore the | | | | from M.I.T. He's a classic robot toy. Brian Hayes of |
| surface of Mars? Design your robot by choosing | | | | England, shares with us his passion for collecting |
| elements for six basic functions: sensing, movement, | | | | vintage robot and space toys. To view these gems |
| manipulation, energy, intelligence and looks. When | | | | from the fifties and sixties, visit his Robot Gallery and |
| finished, you'll view your robot and your design will be | | | | Classic Plastic. If you wonder how much that robot |
| critiqued. This totally awesome exercise requires the | | | | toy found in your attic is worth, Brian has a bulletin |
| free Shockwave plug-in. Get it now. | | | | board and posts free classified ads. |