Robotics

[FJ and G]

Was pleasantly surprised to see Robotics kits ($300) at Radio Shack. The robot has components that remind one of an erector set, along with gears and microprocessor. The robot can be programmed to do a multitude of tasks and even has a learning curve memory.

If you search their site, you can even find large PDF file downloads that come with schematics and such. Using one of their drawings, you could in fact create one yourself from scratch, although this isn't what the company had in mind, I'm sure (http://www.vexrobotics.com/index.php/gallery_popular).

So, for toy trains, one could design an intelligent gantry crane, a construction project with moveable elevators and cranes, and hundreds of other items that would have a wow factor.

My guess is that there will be even more advanced robotics in the future. One could argue that using command control you can already program a number of features like the train crane, and that we've been ahead of everyone with robotics.

In the distant future, I also see microbiotics making its foray into our hobby. Already, they've been able to train small (single?) celled organisms to executive simultaneous movements. For our purposes, you could have a colony of fleas inside your motor that move a treadmill that powers the train. Just periodically pop a flea food pellet in the smokestack.

[cnw1995]

Wouldn't want those fleas to get off the treadmill...

This reminds me of the American Flyer / Erector set layouts.

[trigtrax]

For our purposes, you could have a colony of fleas inside your motor that move a treadmill that powers the train. Just periodically pop a flea food pellet in the smokestack

Is that a Federation Tunic you're wearing in your picture?[alien]