FORT SILL, Okla., May 20, 2016 -- I wanted to start building robots the moment I saw the sci-fi classic "Twilight Zone" on TV, with host Rod Serling (the original, mind you, not the remake). My initial attempt shortly thereafter was when I was in the Navy. I cobbled the robot together from nothing more than scrap wire and random electronic instrument parts I scrounged from the local military bone yard. The robot's brain was a basic microcontroller I bought at Radio Shack. The machine was entertaining -- despite getting me into trouble on more than one occasion. My chief informed me those "random" parts were often rather pricey vacuum tubes and transistors.
Still, it was my first robot, and your first robot is one you never forget. Watching your creation do something as simple as scoot around the floor was exhilarating; because I built it from scratch as opposed to a kit.
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
With parts in hand, I started mapping out a basic schematic of what I wanted in the way of functionality based on the parts I had available. My mind was in a fog as I soldered together various parts to form zener diodes, parallel resistor banks and countless other component compilations that were not available for purchase in that era. All told they compared in size to a small flip cell phone today. I was excited as my creation came to life, or it may have just been the fumes from the solder.
Still, I continued working on it every chance I had, even when it meant staying up to the wee hours finishing what would soon become Robby the Robot.
I gathered synchros, servos, gyros and sensors from various equipment with zeal and on more than one occasion it was said that no piece of equipment on board the ship was safe. I suppose this was true, but I had a mission and I would not stop until I had a "go for launch" making Robby just as alive as Frankenstein. But unlike the monster, Robby was made of metal and plastic, with wheels instead of legs. He looked something like R2-D2 from Star Wars, but without the fancy outer shell.
ROBBY COMES TO LIFE
A few months later, I found myself at the make or break point. I charged up the battery, mounted it in Robby and made the final connections. With the flip of a slide switch, he blinked on and started moving. Going through the many lines of software code I had programmed him with, he randomly chose various options from the list and created his own personality.
The first few attempts at moving were just surges in various directions, but when he got his bearings (through photo and heat sensors) he made a beeline for the door, walking and talking. He was alive and I created him. It was a thrill like I had never experienced before.
His vocabulary was limited to the statements and questions that I had previously programmed in, and audibly he could only respond to basic commands such as yes or no. His movement was guided by a simple gyro system aided by sensors, so he often learned the environment by bumping into things. In my eyes he was alive, and I frequently referred to him as a toddler, having similar actions as babies who crawl about exploring their new environment. I could see the comparison as could most of my shipmates, even though he was comprised of nuts, bolts and wires.
Shortly afterwards, the captain of the ship welcomed Robby as an honorary member of the U.S.S. Spartanburg County LST-1192 roster and announced him as the newest member of that ship, giving Robby the rank of seaman. Robby and I served several more years on the ship before finally going back to my hometown in Texas where he was later retired from service.
I often think about pulling the parts out of the closet and rebuilding Robby. Perhaps one day I will.
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