P.O. Box 164334
                             Austin, Texas 78716
                                512-794-9105


                                NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:The Robot Group 512-794-9105
        robot-group@cs.utexas.edu


   AUSTIN'S ROBOFEST 5 TO FEATURE ROBOTIC EXHIBITS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
                             AND BACKGROUNDS.
    Interactive Exhibits and Guest Speakers to Highlight the 2-day Event.

AUSTIN TX. (March 26 & 27, 1994) -- If you think all robots look like R2D2 or
act like the Terminator, you need to plan on spending some time at Austin's
Robofest 5, March 26 & 27, at the Austin City Coliseum.  You'll see robotic
exhibits that fly, that crawl along the floor, that play music, that
explore telepresence and more than you ever imagined.  You'll have the
opportunity to listen to guest speakers discuss how these projects are 
developed on shoestring budgets from found parts and how they could affect 
your future.

Robofest 5 is a sponsored project of Austin Circle of Theaters,
The Robot Group, EFF-Austin and the City of Austin Texas.

"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 are expanding the guest speakers list to include speakers from industry, 
university research groups and the growing amateur robotics research
community."

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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 Pitt Bull, another computerized pneumatic sculpture
with a fierce mouth.

If you look, 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.

Heard about the "Information Super Highway"?  Come get some facts about
networking and learn about "Cyberspace" by seeing the EFF-Austin demonstrate 
how to use the Internet world-wide computer network.  

"Serious" robot builders and researchers will want to attend lectures given
by a wide variety of people on topics ranging from using the latest micro-
controllers and software to mechanical considerations for robot builders to
how robots can and will affect our lives in the future.

Robofest 5 will take place Saturday, March 26, from 12 noon to 6PM, an evening
show from 8 P.M. until 11 P.M. and Sunday, March 27 from 12 noon to 5PM at the 
Austin City Coliseum in Austin Texas.

Admission each day is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children.  The evening 
show will have an admission cost of $8.00. Those needing special consideration 
should ask about our open door policy.

The Robot Group is a non-profit group of artists and engineers that have
been building robots and cyberart gizmos for years and sharing these with
the public.  EFF-Austin is a group of computer networking enthusiasts who
enjoy helping people understand the exciting things that can be done with
computer networks including the Internet.  The Austin Circle of Theaters is
a service organization for the performing arts.  This program is funded, in
part, by the City of Austin through the auspices of the Austin Arts
Commission.