Topo (robot) facts for kids
| Developer | William H.T. La |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Androbot Inc. |
| Type | robot |
| Release date | 1983 |
| Introductory price | US$495 (equivalent to $1,454 in 2022) |
| Discontinued | TOPO I - April 1984 |
| Units sold | 120 |
| Units shipped | 650 |
| Successor | TOPO II, TOPO III, BOB, BOB/XA, FRED, ANDROMAN |
Topo is a robot designed in the 1980s by Androbot Inc., for the consumer and education markets. It is programmable via Apple II and there is a user made program for the Windows 9x operating systems. The programming language allows the robot to perform a set of geometric movements, to move about a room and perform tasks. It is like a servant robot, although it does not truly meet the requirements of a robot, as it had no sensors to use to receive input and then make decisions accordingly.
The robots were sold commercially starting in early 1983, and were intended to be inexpensive, lacking a complicated manipulating device. Units are beige molded plastic with two drive wheels as feet and stand about 36 inches tall. Arms on Topo 1 and 2 fold out, but Topo 3 lacks arms altogether. Operation is based on one of two programming languages, either Apple BASIC, a modified version of the Logo language, or a version of Forth.
Communication is via a radio or infrared transmitter attached to a personal computer. Topo 2 and 3 use an infrared transmitter, and can be controlled by a four way pad on the top of their head that also serves as the infrared receiver.
In its final versions, Topo abilities include a text-to-speech processor, so that users can program their robots to wander around the house and speak to humans. However, a fourth model was made but it never went into production (a Topo IV sheet was mailed during the final days of Androbot). It is more like the Brains On Board (B.O.B., an unreleased robot that was produced after the Topo series) robot than a Topo.
