Post by thread:[PIC:] New robot magazine using a PIC

There's a new magazine launched in the UK called Real Robots, which comes out fortnightly and has the parts to build a robot included on the cover. The first part costs 1.99UKP which includes the chassis, rear wheels, and gearbox components, subsequent issues cost 3.99UKP, the second issue contains the drive motors and battery box. Looking at the details it appears the microcontroller system is on two boards, and according to messages on their bulletin board it uses a 16C505. The later issues (a total of 40) include details of programming from a PC or Mac, presumably using EEPROM storage like a STAMP?. Before this the robot is usable with built-in programs selected by DIP switches. Issue 9 includes the first part of the controller board, apparently it has been trialed for a couple of months before general release in selected parts of the UK. Subsequent issues add line following, light following, and ultrasonic object detection. Their website is http://www.realrobots.co.uk BTW, I've bought the first issue for my daughter (that's what they all say!!), and ordered a subscription (I've also bought a second copy, worth it for the wheels and gearbox parts). As I see it, it looks decent value for money compared with robot kits you buy, the total cost comes to 160UKP, and you have a functioning robot after 34UKP. -- Nigel. /--------------------------------------------------------------\ | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : spam_OUTnigelgTakeThisOuTlpilsley.co.uk | | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | | England | Ju Jitsu | \--------------------------------------------------------------/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

Hi Nigel, I have had it brought to my attention through the heavy TV advertising it is getting at the moment at certain times of the day. Dad, can we get it Dad, it would help you with your work. Dad, can we get it Dad, it would help me with my project at school. Dad, can we get it Dad, it would ..... I think it's known as pester power Seriously, I note from their web site that it will also be available in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore as well. Although they are promoting it as a magazine, the promotion is more akin to that associated with Partworks, as is the frequency of the issues, every fortnight. Like all Partworks they never tell you how many issues there are for a complete set......Err I take that back they plan to publish 40. Now for the difficult job of persuading the Household Controller. Unfortunately she's immune to Pester Power so I cannot deploy the kids.....I think it will be easier to convince Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise that it is a valid business expense 8-) Thanks for the input Nigel. I was ignoring the advertising hype but now, after looking at their web site I note that Reading Uni are involved, I think it's worth a punt. Village shop on Monday, now which magazines do I cancel, on the otherhand I could go on a diet. Regards Chris Carr {Original Message removed}

Any Web address? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Carr" <.....nyedKILLspam@spam@BTINTERNET.COM> To: <PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 12:23 PM Subject: Re: [PIC:] New robot magazine using a PIC {Quote hidden}> Hi Nigel, I have had it brought to my attention through the heavy TV > advertising it is getting at the moment at certain times of the day. > > Dad, can we get it > Dad, it would help you with your work. > Dad, can we get it > Dad, it would help me with my project at school. > Dad, can we get it > Dad, it would ..... > > I think it's known as pester power > > Seriously, I note from their web site that it will also be available in > Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore as well. > > Although they are promoting it as a magazine, the promotion is more akin to > that associated with Partworks, as is the frequency of the issues, every > fortnight. Like all Partworks they never tell you how many issues there are > for a complete set......Err I take that back they plan to publish 40. > > Now for the difficult job of persuading the Household Controller. > Unfortunately she's immune to Pester Power so I cannot deploy the kids.....I > think it will be easier to convince Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise that {Quote hidden}> it is a valid business expense 8-) > > Thanks for the input Nigel. I was ignoring the advertising hype but now, > after looking at their web site I note that Reading Uni are involved, I > think it's worth a punt. > > Village shop on Monday, now which magazines do I cancel, on the otherhand I > could go on a diet. > > Regards > > Chris Carr > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Nigel Goodwin" <.....nigelgKILLspam.....LPILSLEY.CO.UK> > To: <EraseMEPICLISTspam_OUTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> > Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 3:25 PM > Subject: [PIC:] New robot magazine using a PIC > > > > There's a new magazine launched in the UK called Real Robots, which > > comes out fortnightly and has the parts to build a robot included on the > > cover. The first part costs 1.99UKP which includes the chassis, rear > > wheels, and gearbox components, subsequent issues cost 3.99UKP, the > > second issue contains the drive motors and battery box. Looking at the > > details it appears the microcontroller system is on two boards, and > > according to messages on their bulletin board it uses a 16C505. The > > later issues (a total of 40) include details of programming from a PC or > > Mac, presumably using EEPROM storage like a STAMP?. Before this the > > robot is usable with built-in programs selected by DIP switches. > > > > Issue 9 includes the first part of the controller board, apparently it > > has been trialed for a couple of months before general release in > > selected parts of the UK. Subsequent issues add line following, light > > following, and ultrasonic object detection. Their website is > > http://www.realrobots.co.uk > > > > BTW, I've bought the first issue for my daughter (that's what they all > > say!!), and ordered a subscription (I've also bought a second copy, > > worth it for the wheels and gearbox parts). As I see it, it looks decent > > value for money compared with robot kits you buy, the total cost comes > > to 160UKP, and you have a functioning robot after 34UKP. > > -- > > > > Nigel. > > > > /--------------------------------------------------------------\ > > | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : nigelgspam_OUTlpilsley.co.uk | > > | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | > > | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | > > | England | Ju Jitsu | > > \--------------------------------------------------------------/ > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

In message <000701c13964$f7fc3b60$923f7ad5@dougal>, Chris Carr <@spam@nyedKILLspamBTINTERNET.COM> writes >Although they are promoting it as a magazine, the promotion is more akin to >that associated with Partworks, as is the frequency of the issues, every >fortnight. Like all Partworks they never tell you how many issues there are >for a complete set......Err I take that back they plan to publish 40. Yes, I thought it was nice to be told how many issues. >Now for the difficult job of persuading the Household Controller. >Unfortunately she's immune to Pester Power so I cannot deploy the kids.....I >think it will be easier to convince Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise that >it is a valid business expense 8-) Who wears the trousers in your house :-) - don't answer that!. >Thanks for the input Nigel. I was ignoring the advertising hype but now, >after looking at their web site I note that Reading Uni are involved, I >think it's worth a punt. I'd never seen the adverts until after I subscribed :-). I saw (and bought!) the magazine in ASDA when we were shopping. >Village shop on Monday, now which magazines do I cancel, on the otherhand I >could go on a diet. If you subscribe, you get a free issue, a free baseball cap, a free folder, and a free toolkit (soldering iron, solder sucker, two screwdrivers, longnose pliers, all in a soft case). -- Nigel. /--------------------------------------------------------------\ | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : KILLspamnigelgKILLspamlpilsley.co.uk | | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | | England | Ju Jitsu | \--------------------------------------------------------------/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

In message <RemoveME6907C19278A7D411849F0008C70D42F801A04E42TakeThisOuTtvtsehmail1.tvtrave> lshop.ltd.uk>, Justin Fielding <JFieldingEraseME.....TVTRAVELSHOP.LTD.UK> writes >Dam, #160 sounds like a rip-off to me, I saw the thing on TV and it doesn't >look all that. You could build a Rug-Warrior cheaper and it would be much >more useful... Similar looking robot kits start about 80UKP and go up from there, this one includes 40 magazines, various sensors (not included in the basic kits), and looks extremely professional. One of the kits about 80UKP requires you to build it on two old CD-ROM's, I think I'd sooner have a nice strong chassis :-). It looks decent value to me!. -- Nigel. /--------------------------------------------------------------\ | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : EraseMEnigelglpilsley.co.uk | | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | | England | Ju Jitsu | \--------------------------------------------------------------/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

> bought the first issue, nice layout for the magazine (should > keep my little > bro interested for a while). Instructions for building are > very simplistic, > but then this is probably aimed at children interested in > learning about > robots (which is excellent). I'll be subscribing for the next > load of issues > and cant wait to see the control boards and if its possible > to change the > Pic for a flash type so I can mess around with it. Wasn't all that impressed with the magazine content, but if it gets people interested in doing these things for themselves, I'm all for it. I just have to try to remember that it is aimed at a slightly younger age group than me... I'm hoping that it'll be slightly more than a Kevin Warwick vehicle. From the BBS, it would seem that the main control board is going to be based around a 16C505 (14 pin EPROM) so a Flash replacement will probably require a new board. Not insurmountable. Anyway, since my wife has decided she fancies building it, I may not be able to hack it... Peter This email, its content and any attachments is PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL to TANDBERG Television. If received in error please notify the sender and destroy the original message and attachments. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

In message <001f01c13ab6$60361320$0c987ad5@dougal>, Chris Carr <RemoveMEnyedTakeThisOuTspamBTINTERNET.COM> writes >Ok everyone who got suckered into buying the first copy at only #1.99. That >includes me who was sufficiently pestered into placing an order for >subsequent issues at the Village Shop. > >The Proprietor of said shop has just shown me a circular letter from the >local distributors Menzies. > >Price of Issue 1 #1.99 >Price of Issue 2 #3.99 >Price of Issue 3 onwards #4.99 !! >Total number of issues 60 > >This contradicts somewhat the information in Issue 1 and on the Web Site. > >I have asked Eaglemoss International for an explanation >Anyone care to guess what the reply will be ? If I get one.. I'll be interested to hear what reply you get (if any!). I wonder if this is just for shop bought copies? - I've subscribed to the next 6 issues (with the first one free) for 19.95UKP. It also clearly states that subsequent 6 issue subscriptions are 23.94UKP - and you can cancel after any 6 issues. -- Nigel. /--------------------------------------------------------------\ | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : EraseMEnigelgspamspamBeGonelpilsley.co.uk | | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | | England | Ju Jitsu | \--------------------------------------------------------------/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Eaglemoss International replied to my query...well sort of. Here is their reply REAL ROBOTS Thank you for your enquiry regarding the above publication. We hope you find the following information Helpful: PLANNED ISSUES 36 COVER PRICE #3.99 (Issue 1 #1.99) (IR4.99 Issue 1 #1.99) FREQUENCY Fortnightly BINDERS 3 @ #4.99 each SUBSCRIPTION First payment 6 issues @ #19.95 IR24.95) (1 issue free) then 6 issues @ #23.94 (IR29.94) paid by continuous credit/debit card (appearing on your credit card statement as Eaglemoss Hastings). Unfortunately we do not accept Switch payments. Cheques (made payable to Eaglemoss Publishing) must be paid in advance for the first 12 issues. Please send your order to the following address: Eaglemoss, PO Box 700, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4ZG. Free Gifts Subject to availability, the free gifts for mail order subscribers only consist of a TOOL KIT, BASEBALL CAP and one BINDER. REAL ROBOTS ORDER FORM -----C lip---------- Alternatively log on to The Real Robots Website : http://www.realrobots.co.uk to subscribe. ____________________________________________________________________________ __________ ISSUE 1 chassis + 11 inserts, gear housing piece 1 (x2), 4 self-tapping screws (to fix housing to fix to chassis), gear housing pieces 2+3 (x2), 4 screws (to fix housing pieces in position), 2 tyres (for rear wheels), 2 wheels, 2 rear axles (with gear 3 and wheel hub pre-assembled), gears 1+2 (x2) ISSUE 2 2 motors, battery box (6V), battery lid, springs/wires, 4 self-tapping screws, video. ISSUE 3 castor housing, castor wheel, castor tyre, castor axle, switch (with wires and connectors attached), 2 self-tapping screws (to fix cover to switch), front bumper, rubber, rear bumper, rubber, 6 self-tapping screws ISSUE 4 motor power board, screws (x2), motor test board, screws with nuts (x2) ISSUE 5 front screen (L), 2 self-tapping screws, front screen (R), 2 self-tapping screws ISSUE 6 front screen (top), 2 self-tapping screws, rear body ISSUE 7 light sensors with wires attached ISSUE 8 light I/O board, 2 screws with nuts ISSUE 9 light processor board, 2 screws with nuts ISSUE 10 2 side panels, 4 screws, 1 nipple (1 spare), Piezo speaker, dome ISSUE 11 antennae and line follower housings ISSUE 12 line follower sensor ISSUE 13 sonar processor ISSUE 14 sonar input/output board ISSUE 15 sonar transmitters and insulators ISSUE 16 sonar receivers and insulators ISSUE 17 ONWARDS TO BE ANNOUNCED Disclaimer: This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. You must immediately inform the sender, if you have received this email in error. You should then delete this email from your system. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. Woodgate Fulfilment Ltd do not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message. > In message <001f01c13ab6$60361320$0c987ad5@dougal>, Chris Carr > <RemoveMEnyedKILLspamBTINTERNET.COM> writes > >Ok everyone who got suckered into buying the first copy at only #1.99. That {Quote hidden}> >includes me who was sufficiently pestered into placing an order for > >subsequent issues at the Village Shop. > > > >The Proprietor of said shop has just shown me a circular letter from the > >local distributors Menzies. > > > >Price of Issue 1 #1.99 > >Price of Issue 2 #3.99 > >Price of Issue 3 onwards #4.99 !! > >Total number of issues 60 > > > >This contradicts somewhat the information in Issue 1 and on the Web Site. > > > >I have asked Eaglemoss International for an explanation > >Anyone care to guess what the reply will be ? If I get one.. > > I'll be interested to hear what reply you get (if any!). I wonder if > this is just for shop bought copies? - I've subscribed to the next 6 > issues (with the first one free) for 19.95UKP. It also clearly states > that subsequent 6 issue subscriptions are 23.94UKP - and you can cancel > after any 6 issues. > -- > > Nigel. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList piclist-unsubscribe-requestSTOPspamspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu

In message <spamBeGone6907C19278A7D411849F0008C70D42F801A04E95STOPspamEraseMEtvtsehmail1.tvtrave> lshop.ltd.uk>, Justin Fielding <KILLspamJFieldingspamBeGoneTVTRAVELSHOP.LTD.UK> writes >Not bad, thanks. Do you know which issue has the control board? It sounds like they are just going to charge more in the shops, a magazine about Egypt did the same, I know someone who subscribed to it and it remained 1UKP cheaper than the shop price. Issue 9 has a board with a 16C505 on it, there's also mention of a 'motor board' in issue 4, but I've no idea if it includes a processor or not?. The complete robot is said to have two processors though!. Interesting their reply mentioned 36 parts :-). The website suggests 40, and the Menzies memo apparently said 60!. -- Nigel. /--------------------------------------------------------------\ | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : EraseMEnigelgEraseMElpilsley.co.uk | | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | | England | Ju Jitsu | \--------------------------------------------------------------/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList @spam@piclist-unsubscribe-request@spam@spam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu

> It sounds like they are just going to charge more in the shops, a > magazine about Egypt did the same, I know someone who subscribed to it > and it remained 1UKP cheaper than the shop price. I suspect that this is what they intend doing. I would prefer to support the village shop and am prepared to forego the toolkit, baseball cap etc. but an extra quid a copy. hmmm > > Issue 9 has a board with a 16C505 on it, there's also mention of a > 'motor board' in issue 4, but I've no idea if it includes a processor or > not?. The complete robot is said to have two processors though!. I observe that the Issue 9 component is described as a "Light Processor Board" I further observe that Issue 13 has a "Sonar Processor". As there is also a Sonar I/O board this is probably the second processor. > > Interesting their reply mentioned 36 parts :-). The website suggests 40, > and the Menzies memo apparently said 60!. > -- Really inspires one with confidence that they are a competent company that knows what they are doing doesn't it. Regards Chris Carr -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spamBeGonepiclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu

In message <00a201c13c84$9bd10140$f97f7ad5@dougal>, Chris Carr <.....nyedspam_OUTBTINTERNET.COM> writes >> Interesting their reply mentioned 36 parts :-). The website suggests 40, >> and the Menzies memo apparently said 60!. >> -- >Really inspires one with confidence that they are a competent company that >knows what they are doing doesn't it. Well their website did say the final number of issues wasn't 'cast in stone', presumably leaving themselves a loophole to add a few extra issues :-). Interestingly new reports on their bulletin board suggest that only the advanced subscribers will get a 16C505 - the normal ones will provide an EMC chip for the first processor. The same articles suggest a final total of 8 processors (some of which still said to be PIC's), 5 in the robot, and 3 in the I/R remote control. Presumably some of these will be used for the promised speech control? -- Nigel. /--------------------------------------------------------------\ | Nigel Goodwin | Internet : TakeThisOuTnigelg.....TakeThisOuTlpilsley.co.uk | | Lower Pilsley | Web Page : http://www.lpilsley.co.uk | | Chesterfield | Official site for Shin Ki and New Spirit | | England | Ju Jitsu | \--------------------------------------------------------------/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads