Until recently, robots only existed in the fevered imagination of science fiction writers. The very word "robotics" was coined not by a researcher but by famed science fiction author Isaac Asimov, way back in the 1940's. Chris Brosinsky, an Aeromechanical Design Technologist who heads a research group working for the Canadian military, is now helping to make those robot dreams a reality.		Chris, 34, has been working for the Defence Research Establishment, Suffield (DRES) since he graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in 1984. Chris and his colleagues at DRES, run by the Department of National Defence, research and develop military technologies for the Canadian Forces. If the Forces indicate interest in a particular project, DRES seeks out Canadian manufacturers to build the final product. "In our organization," says Chris, "a success is a concept attractive enough that the military says 'yes.' Then we find a Canadian company to actually perform the work." Chris works in the Vehicle Concepts Group doing research on unmanned, robotic vehicles. Chris finds the world of robotics very exciting, particularly the way machines are starting to perform the hazardous or mundane tasks humans were once obliged to do. "We research and develop all forms of robotic-vehicle controls," continues Chris. "These control everything, from the vehicle itself to the data-links that communicate back and forth to the vehicle, to the payloads that go on it." While working out the mechanical requirements of a particular project, Chris's primary concern is the mobility of the prototype. Based on his research, Chris makes recommendations that range from the type of oil used in the engine, to the mechanical embodiment of the system - its size, power, and speed. Involved in all levels of a project's development, Chris often dons the hat of both project manager and technologist engineer. His responsibilities include everything from conceptualization, design, development, prototyping, testing, and even drafting the contracts with manufacturers. At the early stages, Chris consults with a group of four to ten people, to examine a concept and begin research. A prototype is then designed and developed using both traditional models made of plastic and metal as well as computer simulations. If the military responds positively to the prototype, a manufacturer is located, Military Specifications ("Mil Spec") are drafted, and a new contract begins. The development of a robotics project depends on a wide range of technologies including electronics, computing, and mechanical engineering.