Well, move over high-cost high-tech. The bomb squad will have noting on you after you appropriate the Legos from your kid's toy box.

That's right. NY TImes 5/25/00 "Circuits" section p.G3 reports on Lego's Mindstorm line of programable robots. The core of the system is their Robotic Inventions System. The $99 Vision Comman web camera can be mounted on the core system. The pictured unit is a small tracked vehicle. The cam links by USB cable to your PC.

Russ had mentioned the web cam idea in an earlier thread. The robot just makes it cooler. Maybe even a way to write off your kid's toys.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on May 25, 2000 at 13:21:20:

So who will be the first to post a complete set of instructions for building a tree-climbing Lego robot to inspect cavities.

And how about just using it connected to Apple's AirPort wireless network system?

Self Contained Wireless Inspection Remote Link- SCWIRL for short.

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on May 25, 2000 at 13:21:20:

The "climbing" part's a bit of a challenge. I'd guess the ability to cling to vertical surfaces or even under an overhangs would incur a real power to weight penalty. And Legos don't do well under tension (you push the pieces together, pull them apart), the camera might fall of under its own weight if it inverts.

Maybe the better technology is MEMDs (I think that's the acronym for micro electro mechanical devices). They can be made to perform like a fly or butterfy or crawl through an artery and send back video wirelessly. I'll post a lit.cite if I find it again.