Topo is a

robot A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the control may be embedded within. Robots may ...

designed in the 1980s by Androbot Inc., for the consumer and education markets. It is programmable via Apple II and there is a user made program for the

Windows 9x Windows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced from 1995 to 2000, which were based on the Windows 95 kernel and its underlying foundation of MS-DOS, both of which were updated in su ...

operating systems. The programming language allows the robot to perform a set of geometric movements, to move about a room and perform tasks. It is like a servant robot, although it does not truly meet the requirements of a robot, as it had no sensors to use to receive input and then make decisions accordingly.Picture
''Tom Frisina, president of Androbot Inc., holds a sensor for a Topos model personal robot. The robot is designed to perform everyday tasks around the house.'', March 05, 1983, Credit: Corbis, Getty Images The robots were sold commercially starting in early 1983, and were intended to be inexpensive, lacking a complicated manipulating device. Units are beige molded plastic with two drive wheels as feet and stand about 36 inches tall. Arms on Topo 1 and 2 fold out, but Topo 3 lacks arms altogether. Operation is based on one of two

programming language A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Most programming languages are text-based formal languages, but they may also be graphical. They are a kind of computer language. The description of a programming ...

s, either

Apple BASIC An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, ' ...

, a modified version of the

Logo A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wo ...

language, or a version of

Forth Forth or FORTH may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''forth'' magazine, an Internet magazine * ''Forth'' (album), by The Verve, 2008 * ''Forth'', a 2011 album by Proto-Kaw * Radio Forth, a group of independent local radio stations in Scotla ...

. Communication is via a radio or infrared transmitter attached to a personal computer. Topo 2 and 3 use an infrared transmitter, and can be controlled by a four way pad on the top of their head that also serves as the infrared receiver. In its final versions, Topo abilities include a text-to-speech processor, so that users can program their robots to wander around the house and speak to humans. However, a fourth model was made but it never went into production (a Topo IV sheet was mailed during the final days of Androbot). It is more like the Brains On Board (B.O.B., an unreleased robot that was produced after the Topo series) robot than a Topo.

References

External links

Androbot owners group
Yahoo Groups *{{youtube, e79dzJcSXfM, Topo Androbot

!--Not sure if this is a reliable source or not. Appears to be a self published source, not sure if by an expert on the subject or not.-->

Pieced together by Rick Rowland

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Original Androbot Pre-release Schematics of the TOPO I & TOPO II Robots.Androbot and Axlon
May 9th, 2015, Commodore Z's Mindhouse Educational robots 1983 robots Rolling robots Robots of the United States

See also

References

External links