Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #01944
To: "BEAM Mail" beam@corp.sgi.com
From: "Nigel Joyce" nigel.joyce@qr.com.au
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 14:38:17 +1000
Subject: [alt-beam] Fw: The VoreBall
> I was thinking of winding my own solenoids, dunno yet, still in the
> brainstorming stage, any suggestions? also the solenoids would only need a
> very short burst of power.
> With the cybug, according to the schematic, the zener has the stripe end
> connected to pin 2 & 6 and the other end connected to pin 7, sound right?
>
> Blue Skies
> ---Buzz---
>
> I didn't just kiss death, I slipped it the tongue!
>
> nigel.joyce@usa.net
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Chiu-Yuan Fang
> To: Nigel Joyce
> Cc: BEAM Mail
> Sent: Thursday, 1 April 1999 13:10
> Subject: Re: The VoreBall
>
>
> > Low power solenoids are few and far between. They're harder to find
than
> those
> > pesky gear motors! ;-)
> >
> > As for the cybug circuit. Check that the "zener", which is actually
just
> a
> > regular diode, is in the right way. The stripe on the diode must face
> towards
> > the 555.
> >
> > Chiu
> >
> > Nigel Joyce wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello Beamers,
> > > I have just started with BEAM (about 6 days ago), I have buggerall
> > > electronics knowledge but I am picking it up fast.
> > > I have a design in mind and thought I would run it past everyone out
> there
> > > and see what the response is like.
> > > Anyone is welcome to build this, as long as you help me build it as
well
> > > with ideas, tips and problems that you experience. Basically the idea
> is
> > > this:
> > >
> > > An array of 12 or 20 solar roller or photo popper circuits arranged
into
> a
> > > ball. OK this is how it will work, Each circuit when it fires, would
> fire a
> > > solenoid out the opposite side of the ball to the solar collectors
> > > (photovoltaic cells). The solenoid would push against the ground
pushing
> the
> > > ball over onto the next side. That way, it would roll towards the
> light.
> > > To build a sphere out of components (The VOREBALL), we would need
> either a
> > > triangular "side" for a 20 sided sphere (bit of an oxymoron) and a
> > > pentagonal side for a 12 sided sphere. I will talk about a 12 sided
to
> > > start off with. We have 5 photov cells in series, arranged around a
> > > photoresistor for lightsource detection. Also with a sphere there
would
> be
> > > about 30 photov cells receiving light at 1 time, coincidentally the
20
> > > sided 1 made up of 3 photov cells per side would have 30 cells in
light
> as
> > > well. Anyway each photovoltaic cell produces about 0.4v i think, that
> would
> > > make about 2v total - 0.6v drop over the diode = 1.4v per side.
Enough?
> > > Are there higher tolerance diodes available with lower voltage drops?
I
> > > have three thoughts here. 1. Use a photopopper circuit per side with a
> > > central supercap. (heaps of electronics) 2. Or don't use a supercap,
> and
> > > allow the current to flow directly to the solenoid opposite the
circuit
> > > which is receiving the most light (if this worked (I recon) it would
be
> a
> > > smoother movement, more like a spherical centipede then the delayed
> popping
> > > of a photopopper) 3. Or just use 12 solarroller circuits, allowing
> for a
> > > haphazard firing of the solenoids, but a photovore movement because
the
> side
> > > receiving more light would fire more often, remembering the solenoids
> would
> > > be mounted opposite the photov cells in the same circuit.
> > > Now, for aesthetics, I see that the ball would be very tight with the
> only
> > > visible parts being the photovoltaic cells and the photoresistors, and
> to
> > > make it even more asthetic, have the photoresistor mounted on the top
of
> the
> > > solenoid from the circuit from the opposite side.
> > > I think the 20 side concept would work better because there would be
> less
> > > drive required for the solenoids.
> > > you may also require rubber pads on each side to prevent it smashing
> itself
> > > to bits.
> > > This VoreBall Concept, is probably complicated, expensive and way out
of
> my
> > > league, but if anyone wants to build it, put in the time and the
> > > maths/electronic knowledge be my guest, just acknowledge my input and
> help
> > > me build 1.
> > > It has also been suggested (by Ben Hitchcock, thanks for your help
Ben,)
> > > that I build a 4 sided tetrahedron design for simplicity but (I think)
> the
> > > mechanics would not allow the ball to roll over onto the side firing
the
> > > solenoid, the angles are all wrong.
> > >
> > > Please, any feedback would be greatly appreciated, even if it is
> something
> > > like "that is bloody impossible, wake up to yourself"
> > >
> > > Remember I have been into beam for about 6 days and I am trying to
> remember
> > > high school electronics from 11 years ago.
> > >
> > > Oh, BTW, I bought a cybug kit yesterday, wired it up on a bread board
> last
> > > night and the bloody thing won't work, some problem in the 555 timer
> area, a
> > > led lights up when I short across the zeiner (did I spell that right?)
> diode
> > > with my finger, any ideas?
> > >
> > > Blue Skies
> > > ---Buzz---
> > > I didn't just kiss death, I slipped it the tongue!
> > > nigel.joyce@usa.net
> >
> > --
> > Chiu-Yuan Fang
> > chiumanfu@home.com
> > ICQ=5614919
> > http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/6897/beam2.html
>
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