Hi Everyone...I am new to this forum and fairly new to robot building. I have always had a great interest in it, and when I was younger I always wanted to build Tod Loofbourrow's Mike ("How to Build a Computer Controlled Robot"). I am older now, and in a place money wise to maybe give it a try.
Before I can even consider trying this, I have some questions about the KIM-1 that is used. Anymore, getting a vintage KIM-1 can be costly (in working condition they seem to run anywhere from $400 - $1,500, which seem expensive for such an old computer). Briel Computers makes a mini-KIM-1 for about $100 (kit, $160 assembled and tested), but would that work in place of the original KIM-1? It has 4 fewer expansion pins, but Briel claims that none of the CPU pins are missing. I have not been able to find a pin scheme for the original KIM-1 to verify this.
I have also had no luck contacting Briel Computers. I have requested to join their forums several times, and sent several emails (over the past six months). Part of me thinks I should just buy their mini-KIM-1 and see how it goes, but I would hate to start this project with a problem already.
Also, I think I would need to modify the power supply for Mike; Tod shows that the KIM-1 needs 5 volts. The Briel version needs between 7 and 9...
Any thoughts would be appreciated!