                               ROBOFEST 5

                              March 26-27
                          Austin City Coliseum

"Robofest gives the public a chance to get some personal experience with
the latest in high-technology, art and cyberspace." explains Glenn Currie
of The Robot Group.  "Every year we add a few new exhibits that help people
see how wonderfully art and technology can be combined to produce projects
that are both entertaining and educational.  At Robofest you get to
interact with all kinds of gizmos and gadgets that are real works of art.
This year we continue to expand the technical side of Robofest with guest
speakers discussing the details of high-technology that breaths life into
the robots and how robots fit into our lives both now and in the future."

THEY FLY, THEY CRAWL, THEY PLAY MUSIC

What can you expect to find at Robofest 5? "Serious" robot research
demonstrations and lectures?  Yes! The latest in high-tech art? Yes!

You'll find Varmint, a four-legged computerized walking sculpture that is
powered by compressed air and controlled by a computer.   And then there's
his pal, the Mechanical Pit Bull, another computerized pneumatic sculpture
with a fierce mouth.

If you look up, you'll see the Bipedal Ornithopter, a 12-foot long airship
with running legs for take-off and insect like wings for propulsion.  Also
the Mark IV Blimp may be relaying your video image to remote monitors via
it's on-board video camera.  Look down, and you're apt to see Dweebvision,
an inexpensive telepresence demonstrator, scooting around on the floor,
usually with a child or two chasing right behind it.

You can spend time examining the huge Space Shuttle Simulator developed
by The Robot Group for Junior High School students.  The shuttle has a
large robotic arm that is used to retrieve valuable objects during simulated
Shuttle missions.  Or listen to The Shrinking Robot Heads a robot band that
has been known to "jam" with the organic members of The Robot Group.

"Serious" robot builders and researchers will want to attend lectures given
by a wide variety of university researchers, industry leaders and grass roots
robot enthusiast.  Topics ranging from using the latest microcontrollers,
software and mechanical considerations for robot builders to how robots can and
will affect our lives in the future will be presented.

EFF-AUSTIN'S PARTICIPATION

(1) Volunteers to run and organize the convention during those two days.
If EFF-Austin volunteers handle the tickets, concessions, information
booth, i.e., the "behind-the-scenes" activities, this frees up the
members of the Robot Group to concentrate on their exhibits, musical
performances, and demonstrations.  We have promised a minimum of thirty
(30) volunteers, of which we have about ten already confirmed.

(2) Internet Demo --  Last year's exhibit had several terminals
available for people to sit down and be taken through a guided tour of
cyberspace.  We are looking at ways to make this year's be more
"graphically appealing" to people passing by, as well as providing
information about accessing the Internet.  Jamie Thompson is working to
secure a donated T1 line, which will open up several other options as
well.  Jon Lebkowsky is working with Jon Witham of the Robot Group in
setting up a telepresence link with the Russian lunar science academy.

(3) Graphics and computer animations --  This looks like it is going to
be a simple large projection screen with videos being played on it.  We
will attempt to focus on local and regional artists, if at all possible.

You do not need to be a member of either EFF-Austin or the Robot Group
to volunteer, simply someone willing to help out.  Contact : David Smith
(bladex@bga.com : VMB : 465-7871) if you are interested.

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