Manufacturer: Heathkit
Machine Type: Hero 1 Robot
Model Number: ET-18
Serial Number:
Current Status: Complete, but not working
Acquired: May 1999
Remarks:
While a robot may not be a classic computer that most people are used to, it's still a classic and is included here in the collection. He was purchased from the original owner for $150 complete with all options including the ET-18-1 movable arm, ET-18-2 phoneme speech synthesizer and 24k ram expansion. Total price for this configuration in 1983 was over $1500! Some of the robot's features and capabilities are:
6808 cpu with 32k total.
3 wheel base with one steering/drive wheel allowing a 12 inch turning radius.
Experimental circuit board on Hero's head allows direct access to the computer inside the robot.
Light sensor that can detect light over the entire spectrum with 1 in 256 resolution.
Sound sensor that can detect sound from 200-5000Hz with 1 in 256 resolution.
Ultrasonic sensors can detect movement up to 15 feet away and can determine range of an object up to 8 feet.
Speech synth can simulate human speech with four levels of inflection.
Hero 1's arm can extend, retract and turn up to 350 degrees and can lift 16 ounces.
Learn mode allows the robot to repeat steps that were previously shown to it.
Sleep mode conserves power.
Two seperate power systems (drive/logic) and battery charger than robot can run from whilst batteries charge.
Robot can be programmed 3 ways: via remote control, through the serial cassette port using previously created applications on tape, or via hexidecimal keypad on the robot's head.
Finally, Hero 1 weighs 70 pounds.
The particular robot featured is not working at the moment unfortunately. Originally, the robot should initialise which was not happening although he would say READY. Since the batteries are long defective, the battery charger was powering the robot but now the charger has failed so further testing is suspended until the power issue can be addressed. Thankfully, full schematics and documentation/notes were included wth the robot, so some PD will have to be done now.
Hero 1 pictures:
Interior view (265k) The circuit board shown is the aftermarket 24k RAM expansion. I kept the picture large for detail.
Robot front view (231k) This shows the robot's front side with the head turned 90 degrees.
Robot front side view (176k) Another front view at an angle. Note closeup of arm.
Robot right side view (200k) Hero's right side. Note the sonar and Ir sensors on the head as well as the speaker.
Additional Resources:
Hero-1 Robot information
[Classic Computer Intro Page] [Computer Collection Index Page (A-Z)] [D.B.Young's Page]
Questions about the Hero 1 robot? Email the curator
