I also used to page through the Heathkit catalogs, and the hero robots were the best of two worlds. A home computer and a home robot.
I seem to remember them having a small arm on them with a grabber. Was that only on the bigger model?
Also, I didn't see any mention of what CPU this model had. I think the bigger one used a Zilog Z-80, but as this one is newer and I am just guessing. It could be a 6502 or a Moto 6800 by the time this was built.
One last thing, it says it has the RS-232 that allows use of BASIC... Did you get the basic cart?
-Cecil
Well, the Jr is from the same time period, so '83 or '84 at the latest. The processor is the 6808. The Jr is definitely scaled down from the bigger models that could support things like the arm attachment (it can't), but it's considerably cheaper to acquire on the auction sites today (about half to 2x less). I don't think the seller mentioned the BASIC cart in the description (I included it in that quoted section), but there is a modern multi-cart apparently available for it with every cartridge released in one. I'm trying to acquire that. I absolutely want to program the thing and would love nothing more than to go the next step and hook it up to one of my classic systems for programming purposes. One thing at a time though I guess and that's to get it and see what I can do as-is and what needs fixing/replacing/adding.
======================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
======================================
*************************** Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
I also used to page through the Heathkit catalogs, and the hero robots were the best of two worlds. A home computer and a home robot.
I seem to remember them having a small arm on them with a grabber. Was that only on the bigger model?
Also, I didn't see any mention of what CPU this model had. I think the bigger one used a Zilog Z-80, but as this one is newer and I am just guessing. It could be a 6502 or a Moto 6800 by the time this was built.
One last thing, it says it has the RS-232 that allows use of BASIC... Did you get the basic cart?
-Cecil
Well, the Jr is from the same time period, so '83 or '84 at the latest. The processor is the 6808. The Jr is definitely scaled down from the bigger models that could support things like the arm attachment (it can't), but it's considerably cheaper to acquire on the auction sites today (about half to 2x less). I don't think the seller mentioned the BASIC cart in the description (I included it in that quoted section), but there is a modern multi-cart apparently available for it with every cartridge released in one. I'm trying to acquire that. I absolutely want to program the thing and would love nothing more than to go the next step and hook it up to one of my classic systems for programming purposes. One thing at a time though I guess and that's to get it and see what I can do as-is and what needs fixing/replacing/adding.
======================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
======================================
***************************
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.