🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan4.191739.26583@n1gva> fcf@n1gva (F. C. Floberg) writes:
>Will the "brains" be attached to the robot, or will you be using some
>sort of remote control scheme? I ask because it'd seem to be pretty
>hard to debug the control program if you have to chase after the keyboard! :)
>
>I've toyed with the idea of robotic control in the past, and it always seemed
>that the best approach (if not the least expencive) would be to have a station-
>ary computer do the actual decision making, and have a smaller, sencory input
>and low level moter/steering control computer on board. You could the put the
>robot on a lift of some sort (or just CHAIN IT DOWN!) so it won't wheel off
>into the sunset while debugging the software.
>
>I'm into packet radio, so I know the gear for the communications link is abund-
>antly availible (though a bit pricey).
>

Ah!!!  I'm glad you asked because I forgot to mention it!  Yes, you
are absolutely correct.  The onboard computer will be a mother board
from an Apple compatible computer but the actual high level brains
will be a currently unused Mac 512.  The data link will be via modified
(you'll LOVE this) Mr Microphone equivalents that I acquired at close
out prices from Radio (Shack) Rip Off Store for $3.00 a piece!  The
modems will probably just be 300 baud modem chips from any major 
silicon distributor like Jameco etc.  This may ruin my dream of building
a no-cost robot but top price will be around $20 when I'm done if I
really go extravagant!  =-)

BTW, I actually got the plywood cut tonight and did some tests on one
of the radio transmitters.  I think it'll work ok though a 2 way link
will require two frequencies.  Oh well!  It's cheap...  ;-D

Anthony