HERO (robot)
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HERO (Heathkit Educational RObot) is the name of several educational robots sold by Heathkit during the 1980s. The Heath Company began the HERO 1 project in October 1979. The first units were available in 1982. Models included the HERO 1, HERO Jr., and HERO 2000. All three were available as kits, or for more money, prebuilt by Heathkit
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[edit] HERO 1 (ET-18)
HERO 1 was a self-contained mobile robot controlled by an onboard computer with a Motorola 6808 CPU and 4k of RAM. The robot featured light, sound, and motion detectors as well as a sonar ranging sensor. An optional arm mechanism was available.
[edit] technical data
| CPU | Motorola 6808 |
| RAM | 4 kB |
| Monitor-ROM | 2 kB |
| Input | Hex-Keypad with 17 keys |
| Output | 6 7-Segment-LEDs |
| Storage | Compact-Cassette |
[edit] HERO Jr. (RT-1)
A smaller version of HERO was released later, called HERO Jr. Heathkit intended it for the home market, and therefor made it less complex, and more self contained. Like HERO 1, HERO Jr. had a 6808 processor, but only 2k of RAM. As well, it sported onboard speech synthesis, a Polaroid sonar range sensor, a light sensor, and a sound sensor. An optional infrared sensor was available as well. Other optional components included a pair of extra batteries to double the operational time between charges, from an estimated 4 hours to 8 hours. A remote control accessory allowed users to drive the robot around.
The drive mechanism is backward compared to the HERO 1, with the drive and steering wheel in the back of the robot. The head section featured an indentation to allow the robot to transport up to 10 lbs. The robot could speak several phrases from various films that either involved robots or computers.
[edit] technical data
| CPU | Motorola 6808 |
| RAM | 4 kB, extentable to 24 kB |
| Monitor-ROM | 32 kB |
| Input | Hex-Keypad with 17 keys |
| Output | 9 LEDs |
| Batteries | 6v 3.8ah x2, x4 optional |
[edit] HERO 2000 (ET-19)
The much more powerful HERO 2000 included several onboard microprocessors, onboard speech synthesis, several sensors, and the ability to add expansion cards using a passive backplane.
[edit] technical data
| CPU | Intel 8088 |
| RAM | 24 kB, extendable to 576 kB |
| Monitor-ROM | 64 kB with integrated BASIC |
| Input | RS-232 Terminal-Interface |
| Output | RS-232 Terminal-Interface |
[edit] HE-RObot
The forthcomming HE-RObot is the result of a strategic partnership between Heathkit and White Box Robotics. When available it may cost as much as $8000. The HE-RObot is expected to be marketed to the educational market.[1]
[edit] technical data
| CPU | Intel Core Duo |
| RAM | ? |
| Monitor-ROM | ? |
| Input | ? |
| Output | ? |
[edit] Literature
- Mark J. Robillard: HERO 1 - Advanced Programming and Interfacing, H.W. Sams 1983. ISBN 0672221659
- Howard Boyet: Hero 1 - Advanced Programming Experiments, Heathkit/Zenith 1984. ISBN 0871190362
- John D. Hubbard, Lawrence P. Larsen: Hero 2000 - Programming and Interfacing, Heathkit/Zenith 1986. ISBN 0871191539
