''Real Robots'' was a fortnightly

partwork A partwork is a written publication released as a series of planned magazine-like issues over a period of time. Issues are typically released on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, and often a completed set is designed to form a reference wo ...

magazine by Eaglemoss Publications, established in May 2001. Developed in partnership with

Reading University The University of Reading is a public university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as University College, Reading, a University of Oxford extension college. The institution received the power to grant its own degrees in 192 ...

, it allowed the reader to build 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 ...

, "Cybot", and later a companion robot, "Tom". This series, which was released in eight countries, is now discontinued.

Construction phases

There were 96 issues of the magazine, divided into 5 phases: * Phase 1 - Issues 1 to 17 - Cybot is built, and is able to follow lines on the floor, and sense light and objects. * Phase 2 - Issues 18 to 40 - A remote control is built, along with a docking station, allowing Cybot to be programmed. Some issues also contain alternate body pieces, transforming Cybot into a 'Team Cybot', a formula-1 styled robot. * Phase 3 - Issues 41 to 55 - Cybot becomes voice controlled with the addition of a headset to wear and some additional components for the remote control. * Phase 4 - Issues 56 to 70 - Cybot learns to play 'football'.

Infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

location sensors are added to Cybot, as well as Infrared beacons in the form of a ball and a goal. * Phase 5 - Issues 71 to 96 - TOM (Tracking Orbital Module) is built. TOM is a smaller robot than Cybot, with a similar look. Its features include scanning sonar, a higher speed, full programmability, 'emotions', and interaction with Cybot.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Eaglemoss Publications

Archive of Realcybot.com

Archive of Cybotbuilder.com
Biweekly magazines published in the United Kingdom Robotics magazines Partworks Magazines established in 2001 Magazines disestablished in 2005 Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom

Construction phases

See also

References

External links