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From: gleicher@duke.cs.duke.edu (Michael Gleicher)
Newsgroups: comp.edu,comp.ai
Subject: Re: Robotic "kits" for kids
Message-ID: <10752@duke.cs.duke.edu>
Date: Sun, 6-Dec-87 12:39:24 EST
Article-I.D.: duke.10752
Posted: Sun Dec  6 12:39:24 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Dec-87 06:24:48 EST
References: <2656@potomac.ads.com> <17232@glacier.STANFORD.EDU>
Reply-To: gleicher@duke.UUCP (Michael Gleicher)
Distribution: na
Organization: Duke University, Durham NC
Lines: 34
Keywords: fishertechnic, robots
Summary: fishertechnic stuff is good, but don't expect robots
Xref: mnetor comp.edu:856 comp.ai:1200

When I was about that age I had a lot of fishertechnic stuff. It was neat
because you could build things that really worked, with exectric motors and
gear drives and stuff.
A lot of the stuff I had were strange gear boxes, strain gauages,
differentials, or other things an 11 year old kid would understand. My dad (a
mechanical engineers) liked these toys as much as I did.

A few years back at a computer show (I think it was the Trenton Computer Fair)
I saw some rather impressive demonstrations of robots build with the stuff.
The small electric motors were easy to interface with computers.
Unfortunately, these constructions were build out of a LOT of parts (and these
things are EXPENSIVE!!! they were expensive 10 years ago, I'd hate to see what
they cost now) and were very complex (they were designed and built by
engineers, not by kids).

I don't think if you buy your kids a whole bunch of fishertechnic stuff they
will be building robots. But they will be building other things, and probably
having as much fun with it. It is my personal philosophy (I am NOT a
psychologist) that things like this help develop not only an interest in
mechanical things, but also develop skills like mathematical ability, logical
reasoning, design, planning and the like. Once these things are developed,
you're ready to build robots.

One last comment: Fishertechnic pieces are EXPENSIVE (or at least were). There
might be cheaper alternatives (what ever happened to old fashioned erector
sets? (with the metal pieces and minature bolts). these might be even better
for building mini-robots).

Mike

Michael Lee Gleicher			(-: If it looks like I'm wandering
	Duke University			(-:    around like I'm lost . . .
E-Mail: gleicher@cs.duke.edu)(or uucp	(-:
Or P.O.B. 5899 D.S., Durham, NC 27706	(-:   It's because I am!