If you want to build a robot, but feel you need a little um... encouragement, then this is a good place to start.

I have been building robots and other weird things since I was young boy. Now that's a while ago and I now like to pass on some of this interest to keen youngsters. Oldsters too but they have to be keen! :-)oooooo

At the moment I offer a two hour show & tell as well as a more formal builders course that runs over a period of 12 weeks.


This is the outline of the show & tell.

INTENDED AUDIENCE:
Anyone that likes to take stuff apart. Should be no more that about 20 people so everyone gets a turn playing with the bots.

APPROACH:
Hands on. I'll be talking generally about building/playing with personal robots and will show a variety of examples.

BOTS COVERED:
Cybug Scarab - This is an example of what's called BEAM. Here's a pic: http://www3.sympatico.ca/doc/robotone/images/cybug.jpg I bought this in kit form from Active Components on Victoria Park in Toronto. More information on the company web site: http://www.jcminventures.com
BIOBUGS - There are several "flavors" and I'll bring along at least two examples. Here's a page that describes all four: http://www.wowwee.com/biobugs/biointerface.html
SUMO BOT - Although it doesn't look anything like a bio bug, it shares one of the main design features of the BIOBUGS. It has an on board microcontroller. But unlike the BIOBUG, you have full access and can control this using the cbasic language.
MECCANO MAN - When I was about 12, I built this thing: http://www3.sympatico.ca/doc/robotone/images/robot.jpg He's not a "real" robot, but he comes along for the ride. :-)
MAKE MY DAY - This is a remote controlled combat robot that I built last summer: http://www3.sympatico.ca/doc/robotone/images/mmd.jpg
Other stuff depending...

TECHNICAL LEVEL:
I can get just about as technical as you want. During my intro talk, I aim for a "once over lightly" and go into more details as questions arise.

WHAT I NEED:
A table. An open space about 12x12' on the floor. At least one person who's interested! :-)

HOW LONG:
Generally takes about 1-1/2 hours. Longer or shorter depending on questions.

WHEN:
I try to avoid Friday evenings. Other than that I'm pretty open. Maybe you can suggest a couple of times and we will settle on one.

WHERE: I live about an hour north to Toronto. So Toronto's not a problem and anywhere within about an hours drive is fine.

PR:
I'm trying to develop interest in the community so I'm happy to talk to anyone from the press that you may wish to invite.

COST:
There is no charge for this. But if you have a budget available to cover travel that's always nice.