Just a quick addition for now - there was a link submitted from the BEAM mailing list regarding Rod Brooks' papers at MIT. Some very worthwhile reading for those long, summer afternoons in the shade... Read More...
I occupy a studio space in a building that is a former movie shooting facility turned into an artist hovel. The building itself is wonderfully old but the hallways are also full of ancient audio and video equipment from the movie days. One of the things that got the attention of our RnD and tech geek was the AMPEX VR1200B Quadruplex videotape recorder from 1966. The machine stands about 5' tall, about the same in width, and weighs 'under 1000 pounds' as the spec sheet puts it. This was one of the first machines to use magnetic tape technology for recording video in the form of 2" quad tape for video, as opposed to film that was used previously.
A couple interesting points about this machine:
- 60PSI Air was needed for air bearings and a Venturi system for holding the 2" tape in alignment;
- These machines were the workhorses in TV Stations throughout the 60's and 70's. Running these machines required a full time technician!
Here's the beast in action:
A photoset of AMPEX VR1200B
An Overview of Ampex History:
Just a quick addition for now - there was a link submitted from the BEAM mailing list regarding Rod Brooks' papers at MIT. Some very worthwhile reading for those long, summer afternoons in the shade... Read More...
Yes, we're approaching the time of the year when it's the darkest and all you want to do is sip tea and huddle around the ... soldering iron! The first of our specials is the "KHSB1 - Learn Robotics Book Special". It includes a copy of our popular "Junkbots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels", plus […]
Hey, today's cool links are so cool that nothing need to be said in their defense (except for that Thursday is new Wednesday now!). At all. Anyone, try to prove me wrong! Here, you can't. I thought so... So enjoy this truly exquisite selection, and next week we're gonna bring you more on our softest […]
First of all, let me apologized for the delay in getting any posts up lately. For those who may not know, Solarbotics Ltd. purchased HVW Technologies just over a year ago. This past year has gone by very quickly, and I've had to put down the soldering iron, and sit in front of a keyboard […]
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Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.