The latest and original version of this FAQ can always be found at http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/robotics-faq If you have suggestions and comments please send email to Kevin Dowling, nivek@cmu.edu Thank you.
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[0.1] Where to find this FAQ and comp.robotics archives
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[1] What is Robotics?
[1.1] What is the definition of a 'robot'?
[1.2] Where did the word 'robot' come from?
[2] Where can I find robotics resources on the net?
[3] Organizations
[3.1] Robotics Related Organizations
[3.2] Robotics Associations of Many Countries
[3.3] Robotics Clubs
[4] What Periodicals and Publications are there?
[4.1] Magazines, Journals, Newsletters
[4.1.1] Robotics Publications
[4.1.2] Trade magazines
[4.2] Books, Online Information and Videos
[4.2.1] Books
[4.2.2] CDROMS
[4.2.3] Magazine Articles
[4.2.4] Online Technical Reports
[4.2.5] Videos
[5] Conferences and Competitions
[5.1] Conferences
[5.2] Competitions
[6] What University Programs are there?
[6.1] Graduate Programs in Robotics
[6.2] Student Who's Who
[7] What is the State of the Robot Industry?
[8] What companies sell or build robots?
[8.1] Mobile robot companies
[8.1.1] AGV Companies
[8.1.2] Underwater robots
[8.2] Manipulator companies
[8.3] Integrators and resellers
[8.4] Other Organizations doing robotics
[8.5] Small
Inexpensive Robots
[8.6] Entertainment Robots
[9] What is a Robot Architecture?
[10] What Robotics related products are there?
[10.1] Sensors
[10.1.1] Cameras
[10.1.2] Inertial, acceleration and heading sensors
[10.1.3] Rangefinding devices
[10.1.4] Force/torque, accelerometers, tactile
[10.1.5] Sonar sensors
[10.1.6] Pan/tilt mechanisms
[10.1.7] Measuring robot position
[10.1.8] Measuring linear motion
[10.1.9] Interfacing sensors
[10.2] Actuators
[10.2.1] RC-Servos
[10.2.2] Shape Memory Materials
[10.2.3] Other Actuators
[10.2.4] Stepper Motors
[10.2.5] Controllers
[10.3] Imaging for Robotics
[10.4] Wireless Communication
[10.4.1] RF Modems
[10.4.2] RF Video
[10.4.3] RF Ethernet
[10.5] Robot Parts: Suppliers and Sources
[11] Whatever happened to Heathkit Hero Robots?
[12] What's available for Puma Manipulators?
[13] What kinds of Robotics Simulators are there?
[13.1] Commercial Simulators
[13.2] Shareware and Freeware Simulators
[14] What Real-Time Operating System should I use?
[15] What is NuTank?
[16] Survey of Mobile Robot Development Environments
[17] Robot Controllers
[17.1] What is the Miniboard?
[17.2] What is the F1 Board?
[17.3] What is the Bot Board?
[17.4] What is the Handy Board?
[17.5] Other Robot Controllers
[18] What is the XXX Microcontroller?
[18.1] Motorola 68XX
[18.2] Motorola 683xx
[18.3] Intel 80C186
[18.4] Intel 8051
[18.5] Intel 8096
[18.6] Microchip PIC16/17
[18.7] Parallax BASIC Stamp
[18.8] National Semiconductor LM628/629
[18.9] Hewlett-Packard HCTL 1000, 2000
[18.10] Motor Drivers
[19] Acknowledgements