Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #00351
To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: "Sathe Dilip" sathe_dilip@bah.com
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:00:24 -0500
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Popular Science
jim cardona wrote:
>
> I agree. It doesn't take much of a circuit to get a creature to chase a
> light. What piqued my interest was the implication of a memory. For
> example the article mentions "recognizing a smell and remembering where it
> was last encountered." I would love to see the circuit for that.
>
Well, here is something to look for:
Sometime in 1977-78 the Elektor magazine published a special issue on
cybernetics. It also included a construction article on a cybernetic
bug. It had a funny name I can't remember now. It was an oval shaped
PCB about 10"x6", used regular motors and batteries. It had a bunch
(about 10 -15) of 74 series TTL chips for brain (no up).
The overall behavior of the bug was something like this:
Roam around for sometime - when tired, look for a dark spot and
hide/rest there. After a few minutes of rest start roaming again. It
was able to avoid obstacles.
This bug also had a microphone on board. If you clapped at the same
time that it bumped into something, it would associate this into its
memory. The next time even if you clapped when it was in the clear, it
would stop, change course and go away. This association/memory was lost
after its next rest cycle (which the article claimed was a common
pattern with the kind of brain power real bugs have).
With today's CMOS chips, surface mount technology, etc. it should be
possible to get the same behavior on a solar powered bug. Elektor is
still in publication. They have a web site & may be able to supply a
reprint.
http://www.elektor-electronics.co.uk/
Let me have a copy when you get it. Will you ? :-)
Dilip
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