Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #00779
To: JVernonM@aol.com
From: "George Rix" rix.g@bmts.com
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 11:58:16 -0500
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Co-op reincarnation
>From: JVernonM@aol.com
>To: rix.g@bmts.com
>Subject: Re: Co-op reincarnation
>Date: Mon, Feb 22, 1999, 11:12 AM
>
> Hello Rob,
> This idea is almost exactly the same as a colony idea that I had. The only
> difference is I plan to use the Cybug circuit. It's a higher functioning bot
> than most beam bots now, and it's available in a very reasonable kit form. It
> is a power hog but if you think about it, most living things are. My idea was
> to make a solar powered feeding station and have the Cybugs feed, switch to
> another IR frequency, and then trundle over to a queen and dump a charge from
> a piggy back cap into the queen, therefore, charging her. She could be a large
> processor based walker, I was thinking a hexapod platform. The queen could in
> turn send out other frequencies inciting different behaviors in the Cybug
> drones. The Cybug already can switch polarity at different voltage levels in
> order to charge themselves. This is a detriment for solar applications since
> the charging cycle is based on switching between phototropism and photophobia.
> However, if you replace the light based system with an IR based system it
> would work quite easily. I had considered charging the queen a function of the
> Cybugs themselves, but your idea of the hive, or queen, giving the call
> command for a charge might be even better. The main thing is the kits are
> available, and would work with minor modification. I had considered trying to
> freeform the circuit if I find the time which would dramatically reduce the
> 50.00 per kit price. I would also love to conduct an experiment like this
> outdoors. So a weatherproof version would need to be made. Just my thoughts on
> the topic, take it for what it's worth.
> Sincerely,
> Jim
Very, VERY cool. I still like my idea with the BEAM robots running out and
reporting back to the central core. Hey! Maybe the core could be mobile? I
think I'd like to do this also because I couldn't afford to do nearly as
many drones if they cost me $50 a piece. $5 is more than my dad likes.
Eventually I would like to learn to program the CPU myself and try to get
the BEAM drones (I'll call 'em wasps from now on) to collaborate on
something. I thought about giving the wasps little claws so that two or
three might be able to move a small stick and make a pile of debris round
about the territory that would make a nice wall. Maybe they could even
repair things, or build LEGO stuff. Hey! If I leave little bot bits about,
they might be able to assemble new wasps! Or maybe fix the hive after a
major offensive from the hive next door! This is turning out great!
See, this is the kind of thing we need to really expand. Something that
utilizes the tech and philosophy, but has more than one use, BESIDES being
cool and making neat patterns if you sprinkle sand on their RJP!
So, any more comments? I'm seriously (and this is for you TurtleTek) going
to do this, even if I have to tear apart some old 486 and use its innards
for the hive (and I can't say I'd mind doing that, since I am a noted Mac
user and addict, and I get really obnoxious about it when provoked)!
Signing off,
Rob Rix
'If anything can possibly go wrong, it probably already has'-Murphy's law
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