Subject:
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Re: AFOL/Mindstorms stagnation (Was Re: FLL not allowing NQC)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Sun, 13 Mar 2005 19:15:44 GMT
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Original-From:
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Mr S <szinn_the1@yahoo.%NoSpam%com>
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Viewed:
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1367 times
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--- Mark Bellis <mark.bellis@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
> To improve the power to weight ratio you could make
> a power interface and use RC motors, but unless
> someone makes the interface to sell it's a bit
> prohibitive.
This is exactly what I'm doing for my robot.
Mindsensors.com has an interface that will control two
R/C servo motors using an IR interface. I'm building
one that will use a modified 9v battery box (includes
voltage regulator) and IR interface to control upto
eight servo motors. The electrical interface is much
easier than the mechanical one. I'm studying plastics
that I can mold at home to work on that 'issue'. I
promise to publish when its working :)
> Mmmm yes! I'd buy 100 pneumatic switches at $2 each
> if they were available. I wish flex tubing could be
> available in 100m reels too.
There is the first item for the piece parts product
list: pneumatic parts. I can see that those who like
the pnuematics would easily make a piece parts product
line work for pneumatics.
> True - to make bulk technic parts worthwhile they'd
> have to put lots in a bag, but then people would
> only buy a few bags, which would fail to meet the
> volume sale requirement. Five pneumatic switches in
> a bag for $10 might work though - I could buy 20
> bags and others might buy only one.
That's my thought. With some market study, it would be
possible to make 'grab bags' of parts for particular
functions. I'm sure that there could easily be upto
five add-on kits for robotics that LEGO could sell to
those who already have a RIS kit.
Suggested parts for add-ons:
1 - A chain link
2 - gear kit and/or differential kit
3 - Worm gear kit
4 - battery box / wires kit
5 - beams kit (lots of 16 hole)
6 - pnuematics kit (probably several of them)
7 - several varieties of various parts not available
in the RIS kit
8 - Sensor kits in several varieties
9 - physical case parts for standard servos?
10 -Turntable kit
The list can go on, and these are just parts that I
know will work for AFOL robot builders.
My thought is that you would have to order a minimum
dollar value, say $25 USD to get any of the kits. This
ensures revenue for the added task of making these
kits. Mail/www order direct from factory distribution
center so there is no cost associated with
distribution or sales per se'. Just the straight cost
of boxing them up. LEGO already uses pre-made kits
that are then put into various box kits. So making
these is part of their manufacturing process. Note how
the RIS parts come in separate bags? A motor kit has 2
or 3 bags of parts that ship together? It is only the
boxing of the kits for shipment that adds cost.
Anyway, I hope they are listening. I wouldn't even
mind a 14 day wait for parts ordered online, and that
would give them time to make the parts, that is to say
that they would not need to be stocked up anywhere, so
there is no loss in revenue for those associated
overheads.
S
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