Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #00395
To: beam beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Richard Piotter richfile@rconnect.com
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 18:18:59 -0600
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: question
> And to broaden the availability of BEAM only components that are limited to
> BEAM only applications, and therefore extremely overpriced in the BEAM only
> tradition of whipping together yet another lucrative hobby supply market.
> These things will NEVER be real world robots. They make for extremely
> expensive toys at best, and unique novelties at minimum. REAL robots are
> coming sir, and they are not BEAM.
I'm not going to go into detail, but BEAM has it's uses. I think certain forms
of BEAM may mesh with CPU based controllers. I don't believe BEAM is a "limited"
medium. It's just one part of a whole. TV, personal computers, they all were
novelties and expensive toys in their beginnings. BEAM is a hobby. I'd call
model airplanes novelties and expensive toys, and they have a wide enough user
base for custom parts, and that has spilled into robotics. It probably won't be
long before robotics get's a dedicatied industry for custom parts. They are
slowly but surely getting a user base. BEAM is a nice start, In my opinion. CPU
bots are great, but you need to learn a programming language, and to tell you
the truth, I think BEAM and CPUs will work nicely together. I'm going to be
expirimenting with such a system on Quadrapod, later on after I have the BEAM
circuitry operating. I have 9 walking gaits all with fixed hardware!
> i.e. BEAM costs
> more. The really devious part is you don't realize that until after you've
> spent about 3-400 bucks on kits, motors, and parts to delve into
> scratchbuilts. Then suddenly you realize the best your going to get is very
> expensive toys. It's called bait and switch, and it's not right.
And I don't know what all this bull about BEAM being so expensive is! I can
build a scratch built walker for under $60 with reverser, Under $100 with a
turning mechanism that can seek light. A LOT of people are starting from
scratch. They have no tools, etc. I've heard people complaining that BEAM is
expensive thapent this uch on a multimeter and this much on a soldering station
and this and that. Those costs are all standard to get into anything
electronic!so, don't forget that minor extra required for CPU based robots. A
chip programmer, a COMPUTER!!! I know people who don't have a computer and just
use the school computers. I'm sure they appriciate a Basic Stamp II requiring a
computer. BEAM requires a scketch on paper and basic tools. Some scratch parts
and you have a very basirobot,a nd Like I said, there's more you can do with
$100 than many people let up! I guess it might be the fact that I've got
expirience and know how to find a good deal, or build it right the first time.
Who knows, but the thing is, that I can build a 5 motor walker with PLENTY of
functions for under $200. The motors were the most expensive parts. $17 each.
Still, that's far less than youare proclaiming. And again, beat the devious
extra of adding a whole computer to program a tiny little chip! And don't talk
about building programmers or stuff like that, cause remember, a beginner
probably doesn't want to bother with the hassle, if they even knew how! As for
kits, there simply isn't a wide enough userbase for massive bulk, and therefore,
the things will be a little more expensive. BEAM is new after all!
> Or, I guess I could try to build a BEAM
> walker that CAN turn.
You mean like some of the ones I'm working on??? (:
> Sincerely,
> Jim
> JVernonM@aol.com
> PS. Could someone tell me what happened to the BEAM gospel on feedback, it
> seems to be reversing itself.
> How about the "Principa Robotica" I'm still waiting for those real world robot
> applications.
> What about a bot with more than 25 neurons, seeing how you need at least 400
> or so to get a bot with the brains of an earth worm.
> Never mind, I'll just make another symet, and pay my tythe.
There are diferent forms of feedback, many used on both CPU and BEAM. I wish I
had more info on the more BEAMish ones. I too wish for principa robotica to come
out. I'd love to read the information. I'm working on designs up to 16 or 20
neurons (depends on the final design) One is 6 Nv and 8 Nu neurons. I've got
lots of ideas. And one is to make a giant Neuron bread board. Basicly, i'd have
anray of Nv neurons with breadboard style terminals to interconnect them in
diferent ways. Could be a nice design tool??? I'll probably wait on that one, at
least till I start the larger robots.
Personaly, I think BEAM has little use other than art or toys, at least right
now, but I think BEAM will find it's way into low level parts of robots with
more complex CPU controllers someday. That's my opinion anyway.
--
Richard Piotter
richfile@rconnect.com
The Richfiles Robotics & TI web page:
http://members.xoom.com/richfiles
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