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Just thought I'd comment to link this from the article in case anybody misses it: http://www.rbrobotics.com/Products/RB5X.htm http://www.rbrobotics.com/Product

Just thought I'd comment to link this from the article in case anybody misses it: http://www.rbrobotics.com/Products/RB5X.htm http://www.rbrobotics.com/Products/RB5X.htm

IncRnd 8y ago
The RB5X incorporates infrared sensing, ultrasound sonar, 8 sensors/bumpers, voice synthesizer, and an optional 5 axis armature that can lift a full pound. The RB5X can play interactive games with up to 8 people. Programs can be written and downloaded from any computer--Apple Macintosh, DOS, Windows, or Linux/Unix.
enkiv2 8y ago
Author here, making a quick correction about the RB5X. When I wrote the article, I believed it was still produced by the original company. I later learned that while the same company produced the RB5X for about 20 years after its initial release, eventually the name & the remaining stock was sold off, twice. They kept afloat despite only having produced a handful of bots because the stock of parts was kept in somebody's garage & ever few years when an order came it, the gang got back together to build one. If you've got an interest in these things & aren't confident about your ability to build one from scratch, the RB5X seems like a good choice: help them clean out their garage. If you are confident in your ability to build one from scratch, I recommend downloading the code, designs, & instructions for the Gemini from Mike Fowler's site -- the Gemini is more capable than even newer robots on the market at a price comparable to what they originally asked for, & the price of components can only have gone down since.
jackhack 8y ago
Wow! $1800 for the arm subassembly. (IMO, an essential component. If you're going to have a 'bot it must be able to fetch a beer.) That strikes me as a tough price point to meet. Perhaps I'm jaded after having seen numerous 3-4-5 axis arms on thingiverse & hackaday being 3d-printed and built with servos & stepper motors for a couple hundred bucks or less.

Just thought I'd comment to link this from the article in case anybody misses it: http://www.rbrobotics.com/Products/RB5X.htm http://www.rbrobotics.com/Products/RB5X.htm

IncRnd 8y ago

The RB5X incorporates infrared sensing, ultrasound sonar, 8 sensors/bumpers, voice synthesizer, and an optional 5 axis armature that can lift a full pound. The RB5X can play interactive games with up to 8 people. Programs can be written and downloaded from any computer--Apple Macintosh, DOS, Windows, or Linux/Unix.

enkiv2 8y ago

Author here, making a quick correction about the RB5X. When I wrote the article, I believed it was still produced by the original company. I later learned that while the same company produced the RB5X for about 20 years after its initial release, eventually the name & the remaining stock was sold off, twice. They kept afloat despite only having produced a handful of bots because the stock of parts was kept in somebody's garage & ever few years when an order came it, the gang got back together to build one. If you've got an interest in these things & aren't confident about your ability to build one from scratch, the RB5X seems like a good choice: help them clean out their garage. If you are confident in your ability to build one from scratch, I recommend downloading the code, designs, & instructions for the Gemini from Mike Fowler's site -- the Gemini is more capable than even newer robots on the market at a price comparable to what they originally asked for, & the price of components can only have gone down since.

jackhack 8y ago

Wow! $1800 for the arm subassembly. (IMO, an essential component. If you're going to have a 'bot it must be able to fetch a beer.) That strikes me as a tough price point to meet. Perhaps I'm jaded after having seen numerous 3-4-5 axis arms on thingiverse & hackaday being 3d-printed and built with servos & stepper motors for a couple hundred bucks or less.