On Robots

[mclane]

here is space enough for hash tables and faster CPU's.

i would say 250-300 EURO would be the right price for a stronger robot.

[Steve B]

Here Thor..

you will like this ..
overclocked Excalibur Platinum GM
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=006
>2000 Elo Regards
Steve

[mclane]

this is strange. i thought the 24 mhz doubling the CPU speed would be the maximum overclocking. but who knows if this 32 mhz machine is working.

it could be that with TOO MUCH overclocking it runs again at 12 mhz.

anyway. the Grandmaster like the Igor have the problem that they do not
show information while they are computing. IMO this is a big lack of features.

[sje]

I'm guessing that if Novag or any other company releasing a robotic chessplayer would include a PC linkage in hardware, then they could find beta testers that would write driver software in exchange for a unit or two.

[Steve B]

I'm guessing that if Novag or any other company releasing a robotic chessplayer would include a PC linkage in hardware, then they could find beta testers that would write driver software in exchange for a unit or two.

interesting..now that you mention it ..none of the eleven chess playing Robots released for sale had a Pc connection even though many of them were released in the dreaded Pc age

come to think of it...very few chess computers in general were released with a PC port
Novag released most of them..Saitek did release a few and Fidelity make a half-hearted attempt to provide a Pc option with some of their high-end wooden boards

PCPA Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

No thread about chess playing robots would be complete without at least a mention of the Excalibur Mirage
outfitted with Ron Nelsons(the FATHER of Commercial Chess Programs) "Grandmaster" program it clocked in at 1800 ELO
not equipped with an arm ..it none the less had an alarmingly high defect rate..even more so then other electromagnetic self movers

continuing this now Epic thread on Chess playing Robots...

While Excalibur released a very defect ridden Robot with the Mirage..it did redeem itself last year with the release of the Excalibur Phantom Force
same program as the Deluxe Talking Chess it plays at about 1600 Elo
this Robot however is very sturdy featuring a rubberized surround housing
defect rates one year afters it release are very low
The Sharper Image also sold the Excalibur Phantom Force under the name ..Phantom Chess

the Mirage(left) along side the Phantom Force:

Feel The Force Regards
Steve

[sje]

I note that the current issue of Chess Life has brief reviews of some dedicated units including the Novag 2Robot.

The blurb about the 2Robot says nothing about its strength, but it does report (if I've read it correctly) that the unit does not set up the pieces to their original squares after a game.

[Steve B]

I note that the current issue of Chess Life has brief reviews of some dedicated units including the Novag 2Robot.

The blurb about the 2Robot says nothing about its strength, but it does report (if I've read it correctly) that the unit does not set up the pieces to their original squares after a game.

havent received my copy of chess life yet this month
does the USCF actually have them in stock for sale?
checking the ICD web site..it now seems they now have them in Stock??
Regards
Steve

[Robert Weck]

Hi Steve,

While Excalibur released a very defect ridden Robot with the Mirage..it did redeem itself last year with the release of the Excalibur Phantom Force
same program as the Deluxe Talking Chess it plays at about 1600 Elo

does the Phantom Force have the same CPU speed as the Deluxe Talking Touch Chess?

Excalibur sometimes released computers with the (nearly) identical program, but different speeds:

Igor and GM share their program with Ivan I (The Terrible), but Ivan is about 2 times slower.

And DTTC has the same program as Touch Chess II, but TC II is around 2,5 times slower

A speedup from 10 MHz (DTTC) to 24 MHz could be possible with H8 CPUs.


best regards,
Robert

[Steve B]

Hi Robert
i dont recall exactly now but i do remember comparing and testing the Phantom and the Dttc together when i received the Phantom last year..
i think they were exactly the same reaching the same plies after 30 seconds after a3 or h3
i would need to check this again ...
interestingly i just bought a Sharper Image Phantom Chess which as you know is exactly the same as the Phantom Force..so when i receive it i can test this again

Robotic Heaven Regards
Steve