Subject:
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Re: LEGO robotics dis'd in CACM Forum.
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:22:58 GMT
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Original-From:
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Paul Speed <pspeed@augustschell.comANTISPAM>
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Viewed:
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652 times
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Tilman Sporkert wrote:
>
> > Anyhoo, it's an interesting point. I'm not aware of other kits
> > that are mechanically superior *and* as flexible as LEGO. I
> > always assumed that the flexiblility and reusibility were the
> > keys, as well as teaching general problem-solving.
>
> Fischer-Technik is mechanically far superior and more flexible than
> Lego. It uses metal axles, allows variable positioning (not studs),
> and is much stronger overall. You can build mechanisms that do real
> work without worrying about plastic axles bending or parts coming
> off. Building a cable car with a base station weighted down with
> books on the floor and another station clamped to the top of a book
> shelf is no problem. Or building a construction crane that lifts
> real weights.
Either of your examples are possible with Lego... at least
for sufficiently small quantities of "weights". Seriously, I
always liked the engineering challenge that Lego provides. Solving
the structural and mechanical issues generally carries over to other
kinds of kits. If you can figure out how to make a Lego robot that
can pull twice its weight and survive a drop from a table then you
could probably make a pint-sized robot that pulls several hundred
kg with a stronger kit.
Personally, I've already decided that when I find Lego to
be severely limiting then it's time to start building that machine
shop I've always wanted and custom-manufacturing my own parts. :)
>
> But it lacks in availability, variety, refinement and
> fool-proofness. Here in the US, Fischer-Technik is very hard to come
> by. There's no equivalent of S@H, no sets at your local Target,
> Fry's Electronic, or Toys'R'Us. No integrated wiring system that
> you can't get wrong. No trains. No DUPLO. No $25 submarine sets
> with air tanks. Even in Germany (where it comes from), you find
> Fischer Technik only in the hobby section of larger toy stores,
> next to the model trains and remote control airplanes. Store
> inventory is usually very limited. Their equivalent of the RCX
> isn't much more than a circuit board with plug connectors on the
> inputs and outputs. You have to fiddle with individual wires and
> ribbon cables.
>
> Reminds me a little of the Beta vs. VHS situation.
It reminds me of a really good guitarist I knew that made
a point to practice at least an hour a week on a cheap plastic
toy guitar. (I think it even had pictures of cartoon characters on
it.) His theory was that if he could make that guitar sound good
then it would improve his playing overall. I can't argue with him.
He made that little guitar sound pretty good.
-Paul (pspeed@progeeks.com, http://www.progeeks.com/)
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | RE: LEGO robotics dis'd in CACM Forum.
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| (...) Fischer-Technik is mechanically far superior and more flexible than Lego. It uses metal axles, allows variable positioning (not studs), and is much stronger overall. You can build mechanisms that do real work without worrying about plastic (...) (25 years ago, 6-Oct-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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