From: kiko2@ix.netcom.com (FRANCO ARTESEROS ) Subject: ANNOUNCE: ROCKIES ROBOTICS GROUP Date: 15 Jan 1996 04:30:45 GMT Message-ID: <4dcl9l$r23@ixnews4.ix.netcom.com> Organization: Netcom From: kiko2@ix.netcom.com (FRANCO ARTESEROS ) FROM: FRANCO ARTESEROS (RRG) =========================================================== THE ROCKIES ROBOTICS GROUP (HOME OF THE MINIBOT) Dear Robotics enthusiasts, thank you for your interest in the Rockies Robotics Group. RRG is a robotics group in Colorado dedicated to the research and experimentation in the field of home-robotics. RRG was founded in 1990 and it is made out of people like you and me who share various backgrounds and ideas, some highly technical others purely inquisitive, but we all share the same passion for building robots. The free flow of information and ideas as well as the desire to learn and share, are the key ingredients which make the Rockies Robotics Group an exciting and fun environment to let the imagination run free. The technological explosion of the 20th century, and the incredible evolution of computers and electronic devices in the last ten years has laid the perfect groundwork for the next revolution, the Robotics revolution!!. We believe that the next five to ten years will be witness to the birth of a new wave of entrepreneurs, researchers, and pioneers in the field of Robotics. The staggering evolution of microcomputers, microcontrollers and software both in complexity and availability makes it possible today to design very sophisticated machines at affordable prices. RRG is working very hard at becoming a pivotal point for the free exchange and distribution of information related to Robotics. By utilizing the latest information technology, such as the WWB, and EMail, RRG plans to be reachable from all corners of the world. And who knows?.... maybe even further . Some of the projects we are presently working on are summarized below: - The MINIBOT (See section on MINIBOT and A.I Electronics) - Upgraded boards for the MINIBOT based on the BASIC STAMP I/IImicrocontroller - Upgraded boards for the MINIBOT based on the MC8H11 microcontroller - The MEGABOT (See section on A.I Electronics) - INSECTOZOIDS miniature robots based on B.E.A.M technology ( B.E.A.M stands for Biology. Electronic. Aesthetics. Mechanics. Its creator, Mark W. Tilden from Los Alamos National Labs, envisioned robots created from old consumer products and powered by solar energy thus allowing them continuos operation with minimal maintenance. Based on these theories and available materials we will build solar powered robots which will mimic basic insect behavior, in this way combining both the study of insects and robotics.) * HISTORY OF THE ROCKIES ROBOTICS GROUP The Rockies Robotics Group was conceived in the twisted mind of its founder, Franco Arteseros, in 1990 when he came across an old HERO JR robot at a computer swap-meet. It was love at first sight!!. A vision quest for the ultimate automaton began in the beautiful Colorado rockies. The following years proved to be both frustating and enlightening as the group grew both in numbers and knowledge. Many long hours were spent tinkering, designing, researching and testing any available technology which could be utilized to build robots. Today RRG is dedicated to research, experimentation, and the proliferation of any information which may contribute to the advancement of robotics, especially home-robotics. * HOW TO CONTACT THE ROCKIES ROBOTICS GROUP You can contact the Rockies Robotics Group by: Mail: Phone/Fax: 13702-E E.Lehigh Ave (303) 680-9324 (PH) Aurora, Co 80014 (303) 680-9324 (FX) E-Mail: WWW Site: kiko2@ix.netcom.com http://www.he.net/~roundy/RRG.html * RRG MEETINGS: The Rockies Robotics Group meets second Saturday of every month, at the Aurora Public Library in Aurora, Colorado. (For more information on specific dates and times and how to join RRG send E-Mail to kiko2@ix.netcom.com or call 303- 680-9324) *** BRING YOUR DROID FOR EXTRA BROWNY POINTS !!!! *** * OTHER ROBOTICS RESOURCES - MONDO-TRONICS INC: http://www.robotstore.com - ARRICK ROBOTICS : http://www.robotics.com/robots.html - YAHOO SEARCH PAGE: http://www.yahoo.com If you have any interesting sites you would like to add to the resources list please send E-Mail to kiko2@ix.netcom.com (RRG) ----------------------------------------------------------- ***** THE MINIBOT ***** (A.I. ROBOTICS AND ELECTRONICS) ----------------------------------------------------------- * INTRODUCTION TO THE MINIBOT: The MINIBOT is the first in a series of robots created by A.I. Robotics, and adopted by RRG as it's main robotics platform. Each new model will have increasingly more complex sensors and sub-systems leading toward a useful, fully interactive autonomous domestic robot. The MINIBOT has an open and simple design providing the perfect platform for anyone to learn basic robotics, and it also provides more experience users a great platform to experiment and implement diverse technologies which may apply to robotics. The MINIBOT is the perfect platform for school and university robotics projects, as well as home- robotics. The basic MINIBOT kit has no microprocessor to be programmed. Instead, it uses four simple timer functions to process the imput signals from its sensors, which give MINIBOT instinctive reactions to the outside world. It is a powerful but simple to understand machine that will help educate you in many aspects of robotic machine control, simple robotic vision, and basic applied electronics. All soldered components and connections are done at the factory. The rest is socketed allowing the builder to complete the MINIBOT in less time and easily correct any mistakes made. This type of assembly makes it easy for the user to experiment on their own by sustituting components with different values. New models and upgraded boards based on the "Basic Stamp I/II" computer will be available, by RRG, to the public in the near future making the MINIBOT a fully scalable and supervly documented robotics platform at an affordable price . * PRICES FOR MINIBOT (BASIC UNIT: MINIBOT + complete documentation ): 1 unit = .................. $139.95 + shipping and handling 5-10 units = ........... $124.95 + shipping and handling 10+ units = ............ $ 89.95 + shipping and handling You may contact A.I Electronics directly at: (303) 841- 1272, Daniel M. Anthony or Send orders and inquiries to kiko2@ix.netcom.com (RRG)