We present the design of an experimental prototype cable-driven suspended platform for robotic applications, and the feasibility of using this platform in certain industrial applications is considered. In order to study and improve dynamic stability, the point-to-point motion of the platform is observed and analyzed in a laboratory environment. To focus the study, the domain of experiments is restricted to only two-dimensional space. At the starting point, or departure, the platform displays a lag and at the destination, or terminal point, the platform has a significant overshoot which causes a large settling time. Certain methods are suggested and implemented for damping the oscillation and decreasing the settling time. In the three-dimensional domain, two experiments are performed: one experiment is devoted to drilling holes in a piece of wood and another to loosening a nut.

The efficiency of an information storage technique based on binary comparisons is analyzed. Generating functions are applied to finding the mean and variance of the number of comparisons needed to retrieve one item from a store of n items. Surprisingly, the variance approaches 7 - 2/3π 2 for large n .

Since 1956 the academic program in Computer Science at Michigan State University has grown from a single course offering to the stature of a regular academic department offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and serving over 1700 students in a single term. The development of this program from its beginnings through its growth to its present size and stature is traced in this paper. Included are descriptions of the current undergraduate and graduate programs and a compilation of the resource allocations to the department over the several years. Growth of the Computer Laboratory facilities is also indicated along with a listing of courses offered to non-majors and a summary of interactions with other units of the university.