Multi chip vs. single chip

[amakusa]

has anyone ever built a multi processer robot before? Ever book, paper, or design seems to only allow for a single chip use. Wouldn't it make a robot quicker to use multiple chips like in a super computer?

[scienceguy8]

Multiprocessor designs are indeed faster, but are only worth it if you have a multitude of actuators to drive or sensors to watch. I could see someone using a single cheap microprocessor on each leg of a Lynxmotion-like legged robot, then connecting them all together with a serial network to a single master microprocessor, but your gains will probably not be that spectacular.

[D0n]

power....power...power....
more juice to run those processoers....equalls more weight....requiring heavier duty motors to move the weght, requires stronger/heavier materials for construction...requiring more power........

[MarkS]

Consider using Parallax' Propeller. Its an 8-core 32-bit microcontroller. Not quite the same as multiple single-core processors, but pretty darn close and very low power consumption.