Ask Mr. Roboto


Articles from this Column

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (12.2017)

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December 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Dead reckoning, odometry, and robot navigation.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (11.2017)

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November 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Are there robots in every room of your house? Would you like there to be?

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (10.2017)

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October 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
There are lots of ways to make your robot more interesting and useful. One of the most popular ways is to give it the ability to speak!

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (09.2017)

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September 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Hacking an inexpensive D2-1 Smart Car into a “photovore” light chaser, plus using PWM to control motors and wanting to build an R2D2

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (08.2017)

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August 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Mr Roboto shows how to add Bluetooth control to the widely available (but poorly documented) D2-6 Smart Car

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (07.2017)

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July 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Tap into the sum of all human knowledge and get your questions answered here! From software algorithms to material selection, Mr. Roboto strives to meet you where you are — and what more would you expect from a complex service droid?

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (06.2017)

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June 2017, Page 12 [Digital Edition ]
Tap into the sum of all human knowledge and get your questions answered here! From software algorithms to material selection, Mr. Roboto strives to meet you where you are — and what more would you expect from a complex service droid?

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (05.2017)

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May 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Read about troubleshooting random re-boots with a Raspberry Pi; if motion sensors can be used as infrared receivers for remote uses; reviving the battery in an AIBO; and getting into telepresence robots.

New Sensor on the Block!

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April 2017, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
There’s a new sensor on the block: a laser obstacle type that you really have to try. Lasers are just plain cool, and this one only costs about $10-$15.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (03.2017)

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March 2017, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Using a BASIC Stamp 2 in omni-wheeled robots, building a robot arm to move chess pieces, and ideas for keeping yourself entertained on long flights are all discussed this month.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (02.2017)

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February 2017, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Topics discussed this time include servo options, dealing with a sonar range finder’s erratic responses, an explanation for jittery servos, and to LEGO or not to LEGO.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (01.2017)

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January 2017, Page 22 [Digital Edition ]
Mr. Roboto returns to offer solutions to those issues plaguing our robot builds.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (07.2016)

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July 2016, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
A question on putting together an RC controlled snow blower using an Arduino, a project on robot vision using a PIXY vision system camera, and a teaser.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (04.2016)

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April 2016, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Correcting buggy Arduino code for an Atari-style joystick, and the lack of a print function in UECIDE.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (03.2016)

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March 2016, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Create an LED driver circuit and a sketch that are able to interpret analog values from an ITEAD joystick shield.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (02.2016)

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February 2016, Page 8 [Digital Edition ]
Working with the Pololu TReX Jr motor controller.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (01.2016)

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January 2016, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Is it better to have a microcontroller control the speed of your motors directly through an H-bridge or use a dedicated speed controller? Mr. Roboto is back with the answer.

Your Problems Solved Here (09.2015)

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September 2015, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Recap of the annual SparkFun Autonomous Vehicle Competition.

Your Robot Problems Solved Here (08.2015)

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August 2015, Page 07 [Digital Edition ]
Adding vision to your automaton.

Your Problems Solved Here (06.2015)

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June 2015, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Wrapping up the 4D Systems’ uCAM-II serial camera project.

Your Problems Solved Here (05.2015)

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May 2015, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Dealing with “blooming” on a 4D Systems’ uCAM-II serial camera.

Your Problems Solved Here (04.2015)

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April 2015, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Delving into robot vision with a 4D Systems’ uCAM-II serial camera.

Your Problems Solved Here (02.2015)

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February 2015, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
See how to design and use a Workshop 4 integrated development environment layout for the 4D Systems’ PICadillo 35T.

Your Problems Solved Here (01.2015)

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January 2015, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Report on a “merger” between three innovative gadgets: the Digilent chipKIT board series, the 4D Systems’ PICadillo, and UECIDE.

Your Problems Solved Here (12.2014)

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December 2014, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Find out whether stepper motors or DC motors are better for two-wheel balancing bots, and how to get your Roomba recharging properly.

Your Problems Solved Here (11.2014)

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November 2014, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Fixing some coding faux pas from last month, plus a look at an awesome product that simplifies adding a touch-screen display to your projects, and a superior programming IDE for the Arduino.

Your Problems Solved Here (10.2014)

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October 2014, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Using an Arduino to control a motor driver chip.

Your Problems Solved Here (09.2014)

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September 2014, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Mounting wheels to hubs.

Your Problems Solved Here (08.2014)

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August 2014, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Working with noisy pneumatics, the best material to use for a target, dealing with stainless steel legs that snap, and why not to bargain-hunt for ABS plastic.

Your Problems Solved Here

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July 2014, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Questions asked and answered include sharpening tool steel, “going green” with lubricants, protecting aluminum tubing from dings and scratches, and how to get multiple parts of a robot head moving.

Your Problems Solved Here (6.2014)

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June 2014, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Every once in a while, there’s a chance to look at new robot products coming from manufacturers. See the latest from ROBOTIS.

Your Problems Solved Here (05.2014)

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May 2014, Page 16 [Digital Edition ]
Issues with streaming video from your bot and making sense of micro-sensors.

Your Problems Solved Here (04.1014)

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April 2014, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Questions on walking robots, bipedals in particular.

Your Problems Solved Here (03.2014)

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March 2014, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Resurrect your Savage Innovations Soundgin board.

Your Problems Solved Here (02.2014)

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February 2014, Page 08 [Digital Edition ]
Hard-won knowledge to help you code more efficiently.

Your Problems Solved Here

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January 2014, Page 16 [Digital Edition ]
Questions on analog vs. digital servos, battery charger selection, and temperature sensors for 3D printers are discussed.

Your Problems Solved Here 12.2013

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December 2013, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Critter Crunch.

Your Problems Solved Here 11.2013

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November 2013, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
A closer look at LEGO’s new EV3 robot.

Your Problems Solved Here (10.2013)

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October 2013, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Selecting servos for a walking robot.

Your Problems Solved Here

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September 2013, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Creating autonomous behavior with Action Builder from the RoboBuilder Creative kit.

Your Problems Solved Here

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August 2013, Page 11 [Digital Edition ]
Putting the RoboBuilder Creative kit in motion.

Your Problems Solved Here

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July 2013, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Working out interfacing issues with servos other than the Robotis Dynamixel AX12s.

Your Problems Solved Here

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June 2013, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Communicating with Dynamixel servos using MPIDE.

Your Problems Solved Here

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May 2013, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Getting Your Raspberry Pi’s Proper MBs.

Your Problems Solved Here

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April 2013, Page 11 [Digital Edition ]
Basic Subsumption Architecture.

Your Problems Solved Here

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March 2013, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
The saga on getting control over your FrankenRoomba continues ...

Your Problems Solved Here

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February 2013, Page 12 [Digital Edition ]
• Can cheap ESCs do the trick? • Working with a Digilent chipKIT MX3cK

Your Problems Solved Here

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January 2013, Page 16 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Your Problems Solved Here

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December 2012, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Your Problems Solved Here

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November 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Your Problems Solved Here

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October 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Your Problems Solved Here

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September 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Your Problems Solved Here

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August 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Your Problems Solved Here

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July 2012, Page 10 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ask Mr. Roboto

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June 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here

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May 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

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April 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

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March 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here

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February 2012, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here

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January 2012, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

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December 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here

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November 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here

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October 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here

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September 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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July 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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June 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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May 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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April 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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March 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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February 2011, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

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January 2011, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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December 2010, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here

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November 2010, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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October 2010, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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September 2010, Page 15 [Digital Edition ]
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August 2010, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
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June 2010, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
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May 2010, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

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April 2010, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
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March 2010, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
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February 2010, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
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January 2010, Page 15 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | December 2009

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December 2009, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | November 2009

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November 2009, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Our resident expert on all things robotic is merely an email away. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ask Mr. Roboto | October 2009

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October 2009, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | September 2009

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September 2009, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | August 2009

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August 2009, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | July 2009

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July 2009, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto |  June 2009

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June 2009, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your problems solved here.

Ask Mr. Roboto May 2009

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May 2009, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Q&A on personal robotics

Ask Mr. Roboto | April 2009

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April 2009, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
This column marks one year for me answering your questions and hoping that I am helping you along with your aspirations towards building useful or entertaining robots. The fact that you are still reading the column makes me believe that I’m doing something right. Please keep those questions coming; they inspire me to keep researching and writing about what I have learned to help you with your projects. Life is all about constantly learning. One of my favorite authors, Robert A. Heinlein...

Ask Mr. Roboto | March 2009

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March 2009, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Q. I'm interested in the Dinsmore electronic compass circuit and I want to build one for myself. Can you provide more information about how I can get the parts for it?

Ask Mr. Roboto | February 2009

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February 2009, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | January 2009

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January 2009, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | December 2008

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December 2008, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | November 2008

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November 2008, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | October 2008

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October 2008, Page 13 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | September 2008

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September 2008, Page 19 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | August 2008

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August 2008, Page 20 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | July 2008

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July 2008, Page 16 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | June 2008

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June 2008, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | May 2008

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May 2008, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | April 2008

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April 2008, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | March 2008

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March 2008, Page 20 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | February 2008

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February 2008, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto | January 2008

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January 2008, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved Here.

Ask Mr. Roboto

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December 2007, Page 14 [Digital Edition ]
Your Problems Solved here.