Well, Corey, that's just silly. Everyone knows Atari beats them both! ;-) On Thursday, September 29, 2016, Corey Cohen via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Wow this is sounding like an old Apple vs C64 argument from back in the 80's.
corey cohen uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ
On Sep 29, 2016, at 4:04 AM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org <javascript:;>> wrote:
Well if I knew that this was battle bots, then I would have constructed something to crush your puny little car. I think mine will knock yours over and can beat you in a race too!
On Thu, Sep 29, 2016 at 2:21 AM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org <javascript:;>> wrote:
Jeff B., Corey, Mouse, and yours truly are staffing the VCFed booth at World Maker Faire this weekend. They said we're in a tent this year. That is all I know for now, location-wise.
Our theme is the same as at HOPE -- vintage computer robots.
Jeff is showing an improved version of his Capsella robot controlled by a BASIC program on a Commodore 64. He has many more parts available now than he did for HOPE.
I'm showing a Lego robot powered by a LOGO program on an Apple //e, vs. at HOPE my Lego demonstration used BASIC on a Compaq 386 luggable (in the form of a Network General Sniffer).
By coincidence, Jeff's robot and mine are both car-like and they're both around the same size. So let me just say:
MY LEGOBOT CAN KICK BRACE'S CAPSELLABOT'S BUTT. :)
Here's mine: http://vcfed.org/evan/legobot.jpg
I figured a black frame, red racing stripe, and huge rear spoiler all give it maker-cred.
One motor controls forward/backward, another motor (via the exposed chain drive up front on the left side of your screen) controls steering, there is a touch/bump sensor on front, a light sensor in back, and working head/tail lights.
I need to put a little Lego dude and steering wheel in the cockpit!
Of course, the point of this is to show people (mostly children) that Lego computerized robotics are not a modern invention, but in fact existed 30 years ago. LOGO works like BASIC -- you can type a program and run it instantly (no compiling) or type commands directly. But in most ways it's even more basic than BASIC. Instead of FOR-NEXT loops you have REPEAT; instead of GOSUB you have LIST-TO-RUN; there aren't line numbers; and I'm trying to understand their oddly formatted IF-THEN method (which is also called something else; I forget what right now).
Maybe I'll disable the front bump sensor and program the 'bot to go full speed into BraceBot. :)
All in good fun, of course.
Hope to see many of you this weekend.
-- Jeff Brace - ark72axow@gmail.com <javascript:;>