Well, are they or aren’t they? (Real Robots - magazines)

Member Name: dragonone

Product:	Real Robots - magazines
Date:	24/11/01 (330 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Informative, educational

Disadvantages: Slow progress on the Robot, strange subscription model

Why on earth am I writing this? All I know is that I have the urge to do it and never being one to ignore an urge. Well if you are interested in why I am writing this, read on and we may both find out.

<< The Concept >>

The idea behind this magazine series is to enable you to learn something about Robotics and build your own robot in the process. To date, 23 November 2001, there have been 6 issues published in the shops, 7 if you have a subscription. I am uncertain as to the target audience for this magazine, a guess would be for anyone over the age of 13 with an interest in robots. I could narrow it further by adding the word male to the last sentence, but that would be sexist hand have me hounded from DOOYOO by a group of indignant ladies.

<< The magazine >>

A very colourful A4 magazine published every fortnight, costing £3.99 an issue. Each issue comes with a number of components for the robot you are building. The magazine is divided into six sections: -

- CYBOT: Step by Step. This section gives very detailed instructions on how to add the components supplied with the issue to the robot you are building. The Robot is called a CYBOT and I will describe it in more detail below.

- Cyber Science: This section describes aspects of robot technology be it Robotic arms, Artificial Intelligence, sensors etc.

- Workshop: If you have ever watched the excellent Robot Wars TV program, this section is a must. Each issue describes in detail the workings of the awesome robots from this show. Razer, Cassius and Hypo-Disk have all been examined.

- Robostars: Popular robotics linked personalities and cybernetic creations are looked at. An Isaac Asimov profile and a look at the T-1000 Terminator are a couple of the highlights

- Robot in Action: This section deals with real productive robots, Car-Making, mining etc. Each aspect of these working robot is examined and explained clearly
<
br>- Network: This section contains a number of small articles that inform and amuse, some interesting Internet links are listed here and some tech-speak is explained.

<< The Issues >>

I am not going to describe the issues in great detail, just a brief tester to wet the old appetite. I will make no mention of the Network section in each issue as it deals with small articles of about 20 to 50 words each.

#1: 24 pages. Introduces you to the CYBOT and shows you how to assemble the Gearbox and wheels on the Chassis. ‘Cyber Science’ introduces robotics in general and the environment you can find a robot. ‘Workshop’ starts explaining how to build a Robot Wars Class robot from 'scrap' parts. Takes a look at Cassius. ‘Robostars’ examines the T-800 Terminator. In 'Robots in Action', various rescue robots are examined.

#2: 20 pages. CYBOT gets two motors and the main battery box fitted under the chassis. Artificial intelligence is introduced with the concepts of Expert systems and Neural networks explained. The ‘Workshop’ gives more details on Cassius. Sony's AIBO robot dog is featured in ‘Robostars’; do you remember K9 from DrWho? Robot Spies are the theme of ‘Robots in Action’.

#3: 20 pages. Wheels and bumpers are fitted to CYBOT. In ‘Cyber Science’, humanoid robots such as C3P0 are discussed. Find out how to control Cassius in the ‘Workshop’. In 'Robostars' tremble with fear as the DARLEKS are here. 'Robots in Action' leaves the planet earth to see how our artificial friends help us explore beyond the Earth.

#4: 20pages. CYBOT gets is first control circuits - a Motor Power Board, add some batteries and turn the power on - did it move? Delve into the depths of the Oceans with 'Robots in Action'. A profile of Sci-Fi writer Isaac Asimov in Robostars is good reading. Find out ho
w microprocessors have changed our lives in Cyber Science. That most scary Robot Wars star, Razer, gets an outing in the 'Workshop'.

#5: 20 page. Our 'nude' CYBOT gets some clothes as we add the front shield; half dressed is better than undressed - maybe. Robot appendages, arms and legs, are examined in Cyber Science. Razer is back in the workshop showing us how to move. The Honda P3 humanoid robot walks down the stairs in 'Robostars' -unfortunately you cant buy one. Robot helpers in 'Robots in Action' show us how they can improve our lives, robotic lawnmower and a vacuum cleaner - not the same machine.

#6: 20 pages. We continue to dress CYBOT with a Top and rear shelf, additional power is added with a 9volt battery box. How robots use sensors to examine the world around them in 'Cyber Science'. A look at Nightmare's weaponry in the 'Workshop'. The TV program Robot Wars is examined in 'Robostars' and car-making robots are described in 'Robots in Action'.

#7: 20 pages. CYBOT’s light sensors are supplied with this issue. Automatited guidance systems are examined in ‘Cyber Science’ and that totally awesome machine, T-1000 terminator, is shown in ‘Robostars’. The Hypno-disk is spun out in ‘Workshop’ while mining machines are dug up in ‘Robots in Action’.

<< Who is behind it >>

There are two 'experts' involved with this magazine; Prof Kevin Warwick who with his team at Reading University designed the robot you are building from the mag. Rex Garrod is the man behind the Cassius robot from Robot Wars.

<< The Robot >>

This has got to be the main reason for buying this mag. It certainly was for me. As you have read above, the robot is called a CYBOT. It is about the size and shape of half a large Easter egg. Built of a solid black chassis with two independently driven r
ear wheels. A third wheel is mounted at the front to aid with stability and steering. Under a semi-transparent blue dome, all the control electronics are located. Six forward facing sensors can be mounted on the dome and two LED antennae give CYBOT a bug like appearance. Battery boxes and motors are mounted on the underside of the chasis.

When the CYBOT is completed it should be able to perform a number of tasks: Rotate 360 degrees, move forward and backwards, follow an object (You, a line, a light). The feature that interests me most is the ability to control the CYBOT using the PC and an infrared link, but this is some way off.

<< A Website - www.RealRobots.co.uk >>

Yes there is a website where you can post questions, enter chats, order spare parts, subscribe to the mag, etc. At the moment it is fairly cbasic and the content limited. This has / will improve as each issue hits the streets.

<< A Subscription >>

Before you ask, yes I took out a subscription for the mag, for your first subscription you get 6 issues + 1 free, a baseball cap, magazine folder and a zip up tool kit containing a soldering iron, solder sucker, wire clippers and two screw drivers - a flat head and a cross head. The Subscription is payable by credit card and lasts for six issues. You will be automatically re-subscribed unless you give 28 days notice of your wish to cancel. The Subscription also includes Postage and packing. Although the magazine is published fortnightly you actually get 2 issues in one delivery. The upside of this is that you get you parts before anyone else; the down side is that you have to wait a month before the next delivery.

<< Spares >>

Spare or replacement parts are available from the website or mail order and come in issue packs. i.e. you can only buy the parts in packs as they we distributed with the each issue of the magazine.

<< COSTS >>

Issue 1 £1.99
Issu
e 2 onwards £3.99

Subscription from issue 1 for six issues is £17.99, then £23.94 for every additional 6-issue subscription.
Subscription from issue 2 for six issues is £19.95, then £23.94 for every additional 6-issue subscription.

Spare part packs are £2.50 including Postage & Packing

<< Conclusion >>,

Real Robots is a good quality magazine that examines and explains it subject matter really well with very clear pictures and articles. I read the mag on the train to work in the morning cover to cover - takes me about an hour. Assemble-ling the parts of CYBOT can take 10 minuttes or half an hour depending on how fiddly it is. I have short chubby fingers, which can be a disadvantage when working with small components. For fans of the Robot Wars TV program the 'Workshop' section is a must.

So far I am pleased with my subscription, but I would have preferred the magazine to be a monthly publication and get more components for the CYBOT in each issue. Although I personally like the magazine and will continue subscribing to it, I do find the slow progress with the CYBOT frustrating and have reduced the number of stars awarded accordingly.

In answer to the question at the start of the opinion, I guess I am writing it to justify why I am subscribing to the magazine.

Summary: