Freelance Traveller

by Ewan Quibell

This article appeared in its present form in the November/December 2012 issue of Freelance Traveller magazine. It is a revised version of an article that originally appeared in the January 2011 issue.

NHR Multifunction 1000 Robot Chassis

The NHR multifunctional robot chassis is a standard human replacement chassis appropriate for tasks using human designed tools in human designed work environments requiring standard dexterity. The robot chassis stands 1.75m tall to the top of its head, and the torso, legs and appendages are contoured to approximate standard human dimensions without any possibility of being mistaken for a human. The weight of the robot is at the high end of the normal human range without being overly heavy. The basic sensor package is placed in the head in the same positions as humans, as is the voder, and the touch sensors are positioned across the chassis to enable the sensors to receive the same data as humans.

The cargo space is in fact space for a robot brain up to 16 litre capacity flexible to the needs of the user. The interfaces present allow the users choice of brain to be reprogrammed with their programs of choice, and allow for the sensors to feed back directly to a computer via direct cable connection or via the radio. The power interface allows the robot to draw power from an external source to remove the need for refuelling or increase the duration of the internal fuel load as may be necessary.

The power to weight ratio takes into account the needs of running the brain and all other equipment before applying the remaining power to the transmission. This configuration allows all equipment to be fully functioning while the robot is moving at its top speed.

Stated unloaded and loaded weights are exclusive of the weight of any brain or control points, as is the cost.

The CP requirement is normally provided by the Brain, however 8 Slave CPs can be installed as well.

NHR Low-Function Robot Brains

There are two low-function brains manufactured for the NHR Multifunction 1000 Robot Chassis: The NHR Low-Function 100 and NHR Low-Function 200 Robot Brains. These brains both provide INT 0 and EDU 2, allowing for two skills (of size 4 for the NHR 100, or of size 8 for the NHR 200) to be run and stored.

NHR Low-Function 100 Robot Brain

The NHR Low Function 200 Robot Brain

For both brains, Power, Loco, Commo, Sensors, Offense, Defense, and Appendages are provided by the chassis.

Available programs for these brains are a combination of any two skills from the table below; any single available skill may be upgraded to Level 2 for the NHR 100, and in some cases, both skills may be so upgraded in the NHR 200.

The NHR 100 and NHR 200 are standard designs usable with any manner of robot chassis or vehicles to provide relatively good skills at a very reasonable price. The NHR 100 is based on the design for the NHR Agro 4200 Robot that was successfully redeployed into the Kaast Container Carrier to create the Kaast-A Class Robot Container Carrier. The NHR 200 is based on the design for the NHR 5200 Heavy Agrobot using the NHR Low Function 100 as a starting point. Both designs have been adapted to be able to take any manner of programs and standard fittings have been designed to make integration into robot or vehicle chassis a simple procedure.

The price of the software is not included in the price of the brain.

NHR Low-Function 100 and 200 Robot Brain Software Availability