[vcf-midatlantic] VCFed @ World Maker Faire this weekend
Jeffrey Brace
ark72axow at gmail.com
Thu Sep 29 04:04:08 EDT 2016
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 at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> 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 at gmail.com
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