Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #00758
To: beam@corp.sgi.com, "'Sathe Dilip'" sathe_dilip@bah.com
From: "van Zoelen, Bram SSI-TSEA-352" Bram.A.A.vanZoelen@is.shell.com
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 08:40:36 +0100
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Popular Science
I know this one.
This bug had some bugs in it design. But it looked really
very complicated with so many IC's. It was fun trying to build
it but i never managed to get the thing fully functional.
Greetings,
van Zoelen. A.A,
trainee NT File and printservices
SSI Leidschendam
Room : 0CK8
Tel : +31 70 303 4648
E-Mail : Bram.A.A.vanZoelen@IS.Shell.com
> ----------
> From: Sathe Dilip[SMTP:sathe_dilip@bah.com]
> Reply To: Sathe Dilip
> Sent: Friday, February 12, 1999 8:00 PM
> To: beam@corp.sgi.com
> Subject: 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
>
> --
> Pl. remove *s from the e-mail address to reply
>
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