perm filename VICARM.X[1,VDS] blob
sn#069514 filedate 1973-10-31 generic text, type T, neo UTF8
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␈↓↓␈↓α␈↓β␈↓∧␈↓¬
␈↓ ↓H
␈↓α␈↓ ¬7VICARM
␈↓β␈↓ ¬Q154 East Dana Street
␈↓β␈↓ ¬4Mountain View, Ca. 94041
␈↓ ↓H
␈↓ ↓H
␈↓∧␈↓ ∧QSTATUS REPORT OF NOVEMBER 1, 1973
␈↓ ↓H
␈↓↓␈↓ α_VICARM␈αhas␈αofficially␈αbeen␈αa␈αcorporation␈αfor␈α5␈αmonths␈αnow.␈αThe␈αcompany␈αhas␈αbeen␈αleasing␈αfacilities
␈↓ ↓Hfor␈α
3␈α
months␈α
and␈α
accepting␈α
selected␈α
orders␈α
for␈α
deliveries␈α
of␈α
completed␈α
systems␈α
for␈α
almost␈α
2␈α
months.
␈↓ α_There␈α
have␈α
been␈α
many␈α
questions␈α
regarding␈α
the␈α
nature␈α
of␈α
the␈α
company,␈α
the␈α
company's␈αproducts␈αand
␈↓ ↓Hfuture␈αproducts.␈αIn␈αthis␈αpaper␈αI␈αwill␈αattempt␈αto␈αanswer␈αsome␈αof␈αthese␈αquestions␈αand␈αexplain␈αa␈αbit␈α
about␈α
the
␈↓ ↓Hbasics␈α
behind␈α
VICARM.
␈↓ α_I␈α
have␈α
been␈α
associated␈α
with␈α
the␈α
Stanford␈α
University␈α
Artificial␈α
Intelligence␈α
Project␈αfor␈αover␈α5␈αyears.
␈↓ ↓HThis␈αis␈αa␈αgovernment␈αsponsored␈αresearch␈αproject,␈αadministered␈αby␈αthe␈αUniversity␈αand␈αthe␈αComputer␈αScience
␈↓ ↓HDepartment␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊃University.␈α⊃I␈α⊃have␈α⊃been␈α⊃most␈α⊂directly␈α⊂connected␈α⊂with␈α⊂the␈α⊂Hand-Eye␈α⊂section␈α⊂of␈α⊂the
␈↓ ↓Hproject.␈αIn␈αbrief,␈αour␈αgoals␈αhave␈αbeen␈αto␈αdevelop␈αcomputer␈αcontrolled␈αautomatic␈αsystems␈αto␈αperform␈αhuman
␈↓ ↓Htype␈α⊂functions.␈α⊂Towards␈α⊂that␈α⊂end,␈α⊂we␈α⊂have␈α⊂created␈α⊂a␈α⊂basic␈α∂system␈α∂which␈α∂consists␈α∂of␈α∂a␈α∂large␈α∂computer,
␈↓ ↓Hseveral␈α
smaller␈α
computers,␈α
some␈α
computer␈α
controlled␈αmechanical␈αmanipulators,␈αand␈αtelevision␈αcamera␈αvisual
␈↓ ↓Hinput␈αdevices.␈αWith␈α
this␈α
mechanical␈α
arm,␈α
television␈α
camera␈α
eye␈α
and␈α
computer␈α
brain␈α
system␈α
we␈α
have␈α
been␈α
able
␈↓ ↓Hto␈α∞perform␈α∞human␈α∞type␈α∞functions␈α∞such␈α∞as␈α∞the␈α∞assembly␈α
of␈α
simple␈α
mechanical␈α
devices␈α
from␈α
a␈α
collection␈α
of
␈↓ ↓Hparts,␈αor␈αthe␈αsorting␈αof␈αdifferent␈αobjects␈αinto␈αstacks␈αor␈αpiles␈αwhen␈αa␈αpile␈αof␈αmixed␈αitems␈αis␈αpresented␈αto␈αthe
␈↓ ↓Hsystem.␈αIn␈αmany␈αcases,␈αthe␈αmechanical␈αarm␈αis␈αused␈α
without␈α
the␈α
television␈α
system,␈α
for␈α
with␈α
touch␈α
sensing␈α
and
␈↓ ↓Hforce␈αfeedback␈αfrom␈αthe␈αarm␈αto␈αthe␈αcomputer,␈αmany␈αtasks␈αcan␈α
be␈α
performed␈α
without␈α
the␈α
need␈α
for␈α
vision.␈α
An
␈↓ ↓Hexample␈αof␈αthis␈α
is␈α
the␈α
assembling␈α
of␈α
an␈α
automobile␈α
waterpump␈α
from␈α
an␈α
assortment␈α
of␈α
parts␈α
which␈α
are␈α
placed
␈↓ ↓Hin␈αan␈αapproximately␈αknown␈αlocation,␈αas␈αmight␈αbe␈αdone␈αin␈αa␈αreal␈αassembly␈αsituation␈αwhen␈αparts␈αare␈αremoved
␈↓ ↓Hfrom␈α
a␈α
stack␈α
or␈α
lifted␈α
from␈α
a␈α
shipping␈α
container.
␈↓ α_In␈α⊂any␈α⊂event,␈α⊂the␈α⊂results␈α∂to␈α∂date␈α∂show␈α∂that␈α∂the␈α∂true␈α∂artificially␈α∂intelligent␈α∂robot␈α∂system␈α∂will␈α∂be
␈↓ ↓Hworking␈α
on␈α
the␈α
assembly␈α
lines␈α
before␈α
too␈α
long.
␈↓ α_My␈αparticular␈αconnection␈αwith␈αthis␈αproject␈αhas␈α
been␈α
in␈α
the␈α
area␈α
of␈α
the␈α
development␈α
of␈α
these␈α
computer
␈↓ ↓Hcontrolled␈αmanipulators.␈αI␈αwill␈αnow␈αgive␈αyou␈αa␈αfew␈α
details␈α
on␈α
the␈α
type␈α
of␈α
device␈α
we␈α
are␈α
presently␈α
using.␈α
This
␈↓ ↓Hmanipulator␈α∩is␈α∩a␈α∩6␈α∩degree␈α∩of␈α∩freedom␈α∩all␈α∩electric␈α∩motor␈α∩powered␈α⊃mechanical␈α⊃device␈α⊃which␈α⊃is␈α⊃directly
␈↓ ↓Hcontrolled␈α∪by␈α∪the␈α∪computer.␈α∩The␈α∩arm␈α∩can␈α∩move␈α∩any␈α∩number␈α∩or␈α∩all␈α∩joints␈α∩simultaneously␈α∩to␈α∩perform
␈↓ ↓Hmanipulative␈α
motions␈α
in␈α
six␈α
coordinate␈α
space.␈α
Thus,␈α
the␈α
basic␈α
manipulator␈α
can␈α
place␈α
its␈αterminal␈αdevice␈αat
␈↓ ↓Hany␈αgiven␈αpoint␈αin␈αspace,␈αwith␈αa␈αgiven␈αorientation,␈αso␈αlong␈αas␈αthat␈αpoint␈αis␈αwithin␈αthe␈αworkspace␈α(range)␈αof
␈↓ ↓Hthe␈αarm.␈αHow␈αdoes␈αthis␈αhappen.␈αCommands␈αto␈αthe␈αarm␈αprograms␈α
in␈α
the␈α
computer␈α
are␈α
inputed␈α
in␈α
one␈α
or␈α
more
␈↓ ↓Hof␈αseveral␈αways.␈αIn␈αthe␈αsimplest␈αfashion,␈αan␈αoperator␈αcan␈αgrab␈αthe␈αarm␈αand␈αmanually␈αlead␈αit␈α
through␈α
a␈α
task.
␈↓ ↓HThe␈α∂operator␈α∂can␈α∂also␈α∞input␈α∞position␈α∞commands␈α∞directly␈α∞to␈α∞the␈α∞program␈α∞through␈α∞the␈α∞computer␈α∞keyboard
␈↓ ↓Hinterface.␈α∞As␈α∞a␈α∞third␈α∞sample␈α∞alternative,␈α∞the␈α∞arm␈α∞can␈α
get␈α
its␈α
commands␈α
from␈α
a␈α
television␈α
camera,␈α
pattern
␈↓ ↓Hrecognition␈α
program␈α
which␈α
searches␈α
television␈α
scenes␈α
for␈α
a␈α
desired␈α
object␈α
or␈αpattern␈αand␈αthen␈αcan␈αcall␈αthe
␈↓ ↓Harm␈α∞program␈α∞to␈α∞direct␈α∞it␈α∞to␈α∞an␈α∞area␈α∞of␈α∞interest.␈α∞In␈α∞any␈α∞event␈α∞the␈α∞basic␈α∞pattern␈α∞of␈α∞operation␈α∞is␈α∞to␈α
make
␈↓ ↓Hminimum␈α
use␈α
of␈α
a␈α
human␈α
operator␈α
through␈α
the␈α
use␈α
of␈α
sophisticated␈α
control␈α
programs.
␈↓ α_Recently,␈αwith␈αthe␈αgrowing␈αinterest␈αin␈αmechanization␈αand␈αautomation,␈αother␈αgroups␈αand␈αorganizations
␈↓ ↓Hhave␈α∞become␈α∞interested␈α∞in␈α∞these␈α∞artificially␈α∞intelligent␈α
systems␈α
as␈α
a␈α
means␈α
of␈α
increasing␈α
productivity,␈α
and
␈↓ ↓Hreducing␈αlabor␈αneeds.␈αPresently,␈αthere␈αare␈αa␈αnumber␈αof␈αsupposed␈α"robot"␈αdevices␈αoperating␈αin␈αindustry.␈αThe
␈↓ ↓Hmost␈αnotable␈αis␈αthe␈αUnimate,␈αmanufactured␈αby␈αUnimation␈α
Corp.␈α
Several␈α
hundred␈α
of␈α
these␈α
devices␈α
are␈α
used␈α
in
␈↓ ↓Ha␈α∩number␈α∩of␈α∩different␈α∩industries,␈α∩especially␈α∩the␈α∩automobile␈α∩assembly␈α⊃lines␈α⊃where␈α⊃they␈α⊃can␈α⊃be␈α⊃rapidly
␈↓ ↓Hprogrammed␈α⊂to␈α⊂move␈α⊂over␈α⊂a␈α⊂continuously␈α⊂repeating␈α⊂pattern␈α⊂where␈α∂conditions␈α∂from␈α∂part␈α∂to␈α∂part␈α∂do␈α∂not
␈↓ ↓Hchange.␈α∞Obviously,␈α∞the␈α∞next␈α∞step␈α∞is␈α∞to␈α∞employ␈α
the␈α
more␈α
adaptable␈α
system␈α
I␈α
have␈α
described␈α
in␈α
brief␈α
detail
␈↓ ↓Habove.␈α
This␈α
is␈α
where␈α
VICARM␈α
comes␈α
into␈α
the␈α
picture.
␈↓ α_As␈αa␈αdeveloper␈αof␈αthese␈αmanipulators,␈αwhich␈αare␈αsophisticated␈αmultidegree␈αof␈αfreedom␈αservo␈αsystems,
␈↓ ↓Hheavily␈α∞dependent␈α∞on␈α∞computer␈α∞control␈α∞for␈α∞their␈α∞high␈α∞performance,␈α∞I␈α∞have␈α
been␈α
asked␈α
by␈α
others␈α
to␈α
make
␈↓ ↓Havailable␈αdetails␈αof␈αmy␈αdevelopments.␈αIt␈αseems␈αthat␈αthere␈αis␈αnow␈αa␈αmarket␈αfor␈αsuch␈αdevices.␈αInitially,␈αthese
␈↓ ↓Hmanipulators␈αwill␈αbe␈α
used␈α
by␈α
research␈α
organizations␈α
such␈α
as␈α
universities␈α
and␈α
the␈α
research␈α
laboratories␈α
of␈α
the
␈↓ ↓Hgovernment␈α⊂and␈α⊂large␈α⊂corporations␈α⊂who␈α⊂already␈α⊂have␈α⊂the␈α⊂required␈α⊂computers.␈α⊂But␈α⊂eventually,␈α⊂with␈α⊂the
␈↓ ↓Hdecreasing␈α⊂cost␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊂mini-computer,␈α⊂and␈α⊂ready␈α⊂access␈α⊂to␈α⊂large␈α⊂timeshare␈α⊂computers,␈α∂these␈α∂artificially
␈↓ ↓Hintelligent␈αsystems␈αwill␈αappeal␈αdirectly␈αto␈αmanufacturing␈α
firms,␈α
and␈α
organizations␈α
which␈α
employ␈α
manual␈α
type
␈↓ ↓Htask␈α∞performing␈α∞personnel.␈α∞This␈α∞can␈α∞even␈α∞include␈α∞a␈α
use␈α
in␈α
the␈α
average␈α
household␈α
as␈α
a␈α
system␈α
to␈α
perform
␈↓ ↓Hroutine␈α
household␈α
chores␈α
under␈α
the␈α
direction␈α
of␈α
the␈α
inhabitants.
␈↓ α_Agreed,␈α∂some␈α∂of␈α∂the␈α∂possible␈α∂applications␈α∂are␈α∂still␈α∂far␈α∂off␈α∞but␈α∞even␈α∞these␈α∞far␈α∞off␈α∞tasks␈α∞will␈α∞grow
␈↓ ↓Hcloser␈α
to␈α
realization␈α
at␈α
an␈α
increasingly␈α
greater␈α
rate␈α
as␈α
the␈α
number␈α
of␈α
research␈α
systems␈α
increases.
␈↓ α_What␈α∞role␈α
does␈α
VICARM␈α
play␈α
in␈α
this␈α
picture␈α
at␈α
the␈α
present?␈α
With␈α
the␈α
increasing␈α
interest␈α
in␈α
robot
␈↓ ↓Hsystems,␈α⊗I␈α∃have␈α∃created␈α∃VICARM␈α∃to␈α∃manufacture␈α∃and␈α∃sell␈α∃copies␈α∃of␈α∃the␈α∃two␈α∃computer␈α∃controlled
␈↓ ↓Hmanipulators␈αI␈αhave␈αdeveloped␈αover␈αthe␈αpast␈α5␈αyears.␈αThe␈αlarger␈αof␈αthe␈αtwo␈αis␈αthe␈αdevice␈αwhich␈αis␈α
currently
␈↓ ↓Hoperating␈αat␈αStanford␈αUniversity␈α(there␈αare␈α3␈αcomplete␈αarms␈αthere,␈αwith␈α2␈αoperating␈αtogether␈αin␈αa␈αtwo␈αarm
␈↓ ↓Hprototype␈α⊂system).␈α∂This␈α∂arm␈α∂has␈α∂a␈α∂10␈α∂lb.␈α∂load␈α∂capacity␈α∂and␈α∂a␈α∂40␈α∂inch␈α∂maximum␈α∂reach.␈α∂Under␈α∂computer
␈↓ ↓Hcontrol,␈αit␈αcan␈αservo␈αfrom␈αany␈αone␈αpoint␈αto␈αany␈αother␈α
point␈α
in␈α
its␈α
range␈α
in␈α
less␈α
than␈α
2␈α
seconds.␈α
In␈α
addition,␈α
it
␈↓ ↓Hcan␈αsense␈αand␈αexert␈αcontrolled␈αforces,␈αit␈αcan␈α
sense␈α
touch,␈α
and␈α
can␈α
accomodate␈α
constraining␈α
trajectories.␈α
As␈α
an
␈↓ ↓Hexample,␈αthe␈αrobot␈αsystem␈αcan␈αwrite␈αits␈αname␈αon␈αa␈αsheet␈αof␈α
paper,␈α
holding␈α
an␈α
ordinary␈α
pen␈α
which␈α
it␈α
can␈α
pick
␈↓ ↓Hup␈αoff␈αa␈αtable.␈αIt␈αfirst␈αfinds␈αthe␈αpen␈αeither␈αby␈α
looking␈α
for␈α
it␈α
or␈α
feeling␈α
around␈α
and␈α
sensing␈α
it␈α
by␈α
touch,␈α
then
␈↓ ↓Hpicks␈α
it␈α
up,␈α
orients␈α
it,␈α
presses␈α
the␈α
pen␈α
tip␈α
to␈α
the␈α
paper␈α
with␈α
a␈αconstant␈αforce␈αand␈αperforms␈αthe␈αcontrolled
␈↓ ↓Hmotions␈α
required␈α
to␈α
create␈α
the␈α
letters␈α
of␈α
its␈α
name.
␈↓ α_This␈αarm,␈αlabeled␈αeither␈αthe␈α"Scheinman␈αArm"␈αor␈αthe␈α
"Stanford␈α
Arm",␈α
is␈α
now␈α
being␈α
manufactured␈α
and
␈↓ ↓Hmarketed␈α
by␈α
VICARM␈α
in␈α
conjunction␈α
with␈α
the␈α
Dest␈α
Data␈α
Corporation,␈α
of␈α
Sunnyvale␈α
,Ca.␈αOur␈αfirst␈αarm␈αis
␈↓ ↓Hscheduled␈αfor␈αdelivery␈α
to␈α
the␈α
Stanford␈α
Research␈α
Institute␈α
by␈α
about␈α
Nov.␈α
15.␈α
It␈α
sells␈α
for␈α
about␈α
$18,000␈α
with␈α
a
␈↓ ↓Hhand␈α
and␈α
driver␈α
electronics.␈αNot␈αincluded␈αis␈αthe␈αcomputer␈αand␈αthe␈αsoftware␈αnecessary␈αfor␈αcontrol.␈αSRI␈αwill
␈↓ ↓Hhook␈α→this␈α→arm␈α_up␈α_to␈α_their␈α_Digital␈α_Equipment␈α_Corporation␈α_PDP-10␈α_computer␈α_for␈α_use␈α_in␈α_their
␈↓ ↓Hindustrial-automation␈α
project␈α
which␈α
has␈α
heavy␈α
funding␈α
from␈α
some␈α
of␈α
the␈α
country's␈α
largest␈αmanufacturing
␈↓ ↓Horganizations,␈α
including␈α
Ford,␈α
GM,␈αGeneral␈αElectric,␈αand␈αDow␈αChemical.␈αThe␈αNational␈αBureau␈αof␈αStandards
␈↓ ↓Hhas␈α∞expressed␈α∞interest␈α
in␈α
a␈α
couple␈α
of␈α
arms␈α
(they␈α
come␈α
in␈α
right␈α
and␈α
left␈α
handed␈α
versions␈α
for␈α
multiple␈α
arm
␈↓ ↓Htasks),␈α
and␈α
so␈α
we␈α
are␈α
awaiting␈α
a␈α
response␈α
to␈α
our␈α
quotation.␈α
The␈αagreement␈αwith␈αthe␈αDest␈αData␈αCorp.␈αwas
␈↓ ↓Hmade␈αto␈αexpedite␈αdelivery␈αof␈α
the␈α
first␈α
arm␈α
to␈α
SRI,␈α
and␈α
although␈α
they␈α
are␈α
a␈α
progressive␈α
young␈α
company␈α
of␈α
50
␈↓ ↓Hplus␈α∪employees␈α∪manufacturing␈α∩servo␈α∩system␈α∩oriented,␈α∩electromechanical,␈α∩computer␈α∩related␈α∩systems,␈α∩the
␈↓ ↓Hagreement␈α
is␈α
not␈α
ironclad,␈α
as␈α
regards␈α
future␈α
business.
␈↓ α_The␈αsecond␈αmanipulator␈αbeing␈αmarketed␈αis␈αcalled␈αthe␈αM.I.T.␈αarm␈αbecause␈αit␈αwas␈αdesigned␈α
by␈α
me␈α
while
␈↓ ↓Hat␈αM.I.T.␈αfor␈αfive␈αmonths␈αin␈α1972,␈αas␈αan␈αinvited␈αresearcher␈αof␈αtheir␈αArtificial␈αIntelligence␈αProject.␈αThis␈αarm
␈↓ ↓His␈αa␈αsmall␈αdevice,␈αdeveloped␈α
to␈α
be␈α
a␈α
desk␈α
top␈α
manipulator␈α
for␈α
use␈α
as␈α
part␈α
of␈α
a␈α
"mini-robot"␈α
system.␈α
The␈α
same
␈↓ ↓Hingredients␈α
are␈α
there,␈α
only␈α
the␈αscale␈αis␈αreduced␈αin␈αan␈αeffort␈αto␈αappeal␈αto␈αsmall␈αsize␈αtypes␈αof␈αtasks,␈αsuch␈αas
␈↓ ↓Hsmall␈α∩device␈α∩assembly␈α∩(i.e.-␈α∩camera␈α∩assembly),␈α∩or␈α∩delicate␈α∩operative␈α∩tasks␈α∩such␈α∩as␈α∩performing␈α∩medical
␈↓ ↓Hexaminations␈αor␈αoperations␈αremotely.␈αIn␈αaddition,␈αthe␈αsmall␈αsize␈αof␈αthe␈αarm␈αand␈αrelated␈αeye␈αsystem,␈αand␈αthe
␈↓ ↓Huse␈α
of␈α
a␈α
mini-computer␈α
control␈α
unit␈α
makes␈α
this␈α
arm␈α
very␈αattractive␈αto␈αthe␈αgroup␈αwhich␈αdoes␈αnot␈αwant␈αto
␈↓ ↓Hspend␈α∩too␈α∩much␈α∩money␈α⊃getting␈α⊃into␈α⊃artificial␈α⊃intelligence␈α⊃research.␈α⊃The␈α⊃M.I.T.␈α⊃arm␈α⊃is␈α⊃presently␈α⊃being
␈↓ ↓Hmanufactured␈α∞and␈α∞marketed␈α∞solely␈α∞by␈α∞VICARM.␈α∞The␈α∞first␈α∞3␈α∞arms␈α∞(at␈α∞least␈α∞3␈α
but␈α
as␈α
many␈α
as␈α
5␈α
)␈α
will␈α
be
␈↓ ↓Hdelivered␈α∞to␈α∞M.I.T.␈α∞One␈α∞more␈α∞arm␈α∞will␈α∞go␈α
to␈α
SRI,␈α
but␈α
the␈α
company␈α
has␈α
refused␈α
to␈α
accept␈α
any␈α
other␈α
firm
␈↓ ↓Hdelivery␈α⊂commitments␈α⊂for␈α∂these␈α∂small␈α∂arms␈α∂until␈α∂the␈α∂first␈α∂batch␈α∂is␈α∂operating␈α∂properly.␈α∂This␈α∂batch␈α∂does
␈↓ ↓Hinclude␈α⊂the␈α⊂arm␈α⊂to␈α⊂SRI.␈α⊂This␈α∂is␈α∂a␈α∂different␈α∂group␈α∂which␈α∂has␈α∂a␈α∂General␈α∂Data-␈α∂Nova␈α∂computer␈α∂and␈α∂the
␈↓ ↓Happlication␈αwill␈αinvolve␈αuse␈αof␈αthe␈αarm␈αin␈αa␈αman-machine␈αsystem␈αwhere␈αthe␈αhuman␈αoperator␈αmakes␈αdecisions
␈↓ ↓Hand␈αcontrols␈αthe␈αarm␈α
with␈α
the␈α
aid␈α
of␈α
the␈α
computer␈α
which␈α
provides␈α
several␈α
aids,␈α
such␈α
as␈α
interpreting␈α
a␈α
simple
␈↓ ↓Hjoystick␈α∂motion␈α∂or␈α∂providing␈α∂realistic␈α∂touch␈α∂or␈α∂force␈α∂sense␈α∂feedback,␈α∂or␈α∂performing␈α∂macro␈α∞operations␈α∞on
␈↓ ↓Hcommand␈α
(a␈α
typical␈α
macro␈α
is␈α
"screw",␈α
in␈α
which␈α
a␈α
few␈α
parameters␈α
define␈α
the␈α
location␈α
of␈α
the␈α
screw␈αand␈αthe
␈↓ ↓Hdesired␈α
tightening␈α
torque-␈α
the␈α
computer␈α
and␈α
arm␈α
do␈α
the␈α
rest).
␈↓ α_Delivery␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞arms␈α∞to␈α
M.I.T.␈α
will␈α
begin␈α
about␈α
Nov.␈α
15␈α
(by␈α
the␈α
way,␈α
M.I.T.␈α
will␈α
be␈α
running␈α
these
␈↓ ↓Harms␈α∂with␈α∞a␈α∞PDP-11␈α∞mini-computer).␈α∞SRI␈α∞is␈α∞scheduled␈α∞to␈α∞get␈α∞their␈α∞M.I.T.␈α∞model␈α∞arm␈α∞around␈α∞January␈α∞1,
␈↓ ↓H1974.␈αThe␈αinitial␈αprice␈αof␈αthis␈αarm␈αis␈αabout␈α$4,000␈αincluding␈αa␈αhand␈αand␈αdriver␈αelectronics.␈αThis␈αlow␈αprice␈αis
␈↓ ↓Hbased␈αon␈αthe␈αanticipated␈αsale␈αof␈αa␈αlarge␈αnumber␈αof␈αthis␈αmodel␈α
arm,␈α
and␈α
thus␈α
it␈α
will␈α
be␈α
produced␈α
in␈α
quantity.
␈↓ ↓HSales␈α∂of␈α∂about␈α∂25␈α∂arms␈α∂of␈α∂this␈α∂size␈α∂are␈α∞expected␈α∞during␈α∞the␈α∞next␈α∞year.␈α∞No␈α∞doubt,␈α∞as␈α∞the␈α∞availability␈α∞of
␈↓ ↓Hsoftware␈α
increases,␈α
so␈α
will␈α
the␈α
demand␈α
for␈α
arms.␈α
The␈α
tabletop␈α
A-I␈α
lab␈α
is␈α
nearing␈α
reality!
␈↓ α_At␈α∂this␈α∂point␈α∂I␈α∂should␈α∞mention␈α∞the␈α∞role␈α∞SRI␈α∞is␈α∞playing␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞picture.␈α∞They␈α∞have␈α∞an␈α∞ongoing␈α∞A.I.
␈↓ ↓Hproject␈αfunded␈αby␈αthe␈αsame␈αgood␈αpeople␈αwho␈αfund␈αthe␈αStanford␈αUniversity␈αA.I.␈αproject.␈αMany␈αof␈αtheir␈αstaff
␈↓ ↓Hpeople␈α∂come␈α∂from␈α∂Stanford,␈α∂and␈α∂as␈α∂such␈α∂are␈α∂in␈α∂close␈α∂contact␈α∞with␈α∞progress␈α∞there.␈α∞Thus␈α∞their␈α∞immediate
␈↓ ↓Hinterest␈αis␈αunderstandable.␈αI␈αhave␈αa␈αclose␈αworking␈αarrangement␈αwith␈αa␈αnumber␈αof␈αthe␈αpeople␈αat␈αSRI␈αand␈αso
␈↓ ↓Hthe␈αplacement␈αof␈αthese␈αfirst␈αarms␈αat␈αSRI,␈αnear␈αto␈αVICARM␈αwill␈αbe␈α
of␈α
mutual␈α
benefit.␈α
SRI␈α
will␈α
get␈α
close␈α
and
␈↓ ↓Hprompt␈α
attention␈α
to␈α
arm␈α
problems,␈α
and␈α
VICARM␈α
will␈α
get␈α
easy␈αaccess␈αto␈αthe␈αresults␈αof␈αtheir␈αresearch,␈αand
␈↓ ↓Hlots␈α
of␈α
helpful␈α
feedback.
␈↓ α_VICARM␈αwill␈αnot␈αonly␈αmanufacture␈αarms,␈αin␈αfact,␈αit␈αis␈α
not␈α
anticipated␈α
that␈α
these␈α
two␈α
initial␈α
products
␈↓ ↓Hwill␈αbe␈αthe␈αmain␈αsource␈αof␈αincome␈αor␈αprofit␈αto␈αthe␈αcompany.␈αBeing␈αan␈αengineer␈αand␈α
researcher␈α
rather␈α
than␈α
a
␈↓ ↓Hmanufacturing␈αgenius,␈αor␈αsuper␈αsalesman,␈αI␈αwould␈αrather␈αsell␈αthe␈αbasic␈αarm␈αat␈αan␈αattractive␈αprice␈αand␈αthen
␈↓ ↓Hconcentrate␈αmy␈αtalent␈αon␈αa␈αline␈αof␈αdesirable␈αaccessories.␈αAdaption␈αhas␈αlong␈αbeen␈αa␈αmajor␈αproblem␈αin␈αmassive
␈↓ ↓Huse␈αof␈αgeneral␈αpurpose␈αdevices␈αin␈αindustry.␈αSpecial␈αhands,␈αmounts,␈αsensors,␈αcontrols,␈αall␈αseem␈αto␈αbe␈αrequired
␈↓ ↓Hfor␈αany␈αparticular␈αsituation.␈αThe␈αcost␈αof␈αthese␈αspecials␈αfrequently␈αrules␈αout␈αthe␈α
implementation␈α
of␈α
a␈α
general
␈↓ ↓Hpurpose␈αsystem.␈αVICARM␈αwill␈αconcentrate␈αits␈αefforts␈αon␈αsupplying␈αa␈α
versatile␈α
line␈α
of␈α
accessory␈α
devices,␈α
such
␈↓ ↓Has␈α∞different␈α∞hands,␈α∞force␈α∞sensors,␈α∞tactile␈α∞sensors,␈α∞servoed␈α∞camera␈α∞turrets,␈α∞servoed␈α∞turntables␈α
or␈α
conveyors
␈↓ ↓Hand␈αalso␈αa␈αline␈αof␈α
high␈α
performance␈α
servo␈α
products␈α
such␈α
as␈α
high␈α
performance␈α
motors␈α
and␈α
drivers,␈α
brakes␈α
and
␈↓ ↓Hgearboxes,␈α∞which␈α∞are␈α∞a␈α∞result␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞development␈α∞efforts␈α∞expended␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞manufacture␈α
of␈α
the␈α
basic␈α
arm.
␈↓ ↓HWith␈α∩these␈α∩other␈α∩product␈α∩lines,␈α∩all␈α∩outgrowths␈α∩of␈α∩the␈α∩basic␈α∩arm␈α⊃(and␈α⊃let's␈α⊃not␈α⊃forget␈α⊃that␈α⊃software
␈↓ ↓Hdevelopment␈α∞and␈α∞programs␈α
also␈α
represent␈α
commercial␈α
possibilities)␈α
the␈α
company␈α
has␈α
a␈α
broad␈α
future␈α
ahead,
␈↓ ↓Hbased␈α
on␈α
the␈α
growing␈α
demands␈α
for␈α
computer␈α
controlled␈α
hardware␈α
systems.
␈↓ α_I␈αhope␈αthat␈αthis␈αoutline␈αof␈αsome␈αhistory,␈αthe␈αpresent␈αcompany␈αstatus,␈αand␈αsome␈αfuture␈αcompany␈αgoals
␈↓ ↓Hgives␈α
a␈α
better␈α
picture␈α
of␈α
VICARM␈α
and␈α
the␈α
place␈α
and␈α
function␈α
of␈α
VICARM␈α
in␈α
the␈α
world␈α
scene.
␈↓ ↓H
␈↓ ↓H
␈↓¬␈↓ ¬zVic Scheinman
␈↓ ε≤President