Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #02421
To: Dave Hrynkiw dave@solarbotics.com
From: Steven Bolt sbolt@xs4all.nl
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 1999 11:04:06 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Structured approach / genome, was: Clarification
On Fri, 16 Apr 1999, Dave Hrynkiw wrote:
[ structured approach ]
> Personally, all I see that is lacking for the BEAM community is a
> clearly defined BEAM nomenclature/legend (or symbology) that Mark
> currently uses to illustrate mechanical & electronic linkages. I
> know Richard Weait has already posted it on here ages ago, but I
> imagine it could use further clarification.
While that would be nice, it also tends to make BEAM more heavily
depend on Mark's library of circuits and mechanical concepts. I'm
strongly in favour of the "no programmable devices" rule for the
mailing list and the accent on solar power in general. They are
required to maintain focus. But putting all weight on Nervous Nets,
Bicores and so on has imho the same disadvantage as the recently
proposed structure of standard brains and body parts. What you get is
a structure without purpose, which will be perceived as a hollow
facade.
Imho BEAM is most in need of some clear yard sticks.
The standard solaroller contest obviously served to improve the
solaroller species, to the point where Andrew Miller had to run to
catch his final designs. It seems to me that a richer set of standard
tasks and arenas is likely to result in a greater variety of more
interesting BEAM species. Why bother defining anything else?
In these arena's, excluding programmables would be considered weak,
and I don't think it's necessary. The arena should merely restrict the
size of the `bots and provide them with an environment where cheap and
simple sensors are sufficient. A fairly complex task like gathering
all alu foil balls in an arena with plenty of obstacles may actually
get more difficult if you try clever programming :)
[ `genome' ]
> Again, this isn't meant as any sort of personal attack, I'm just
> trying to figure out what purpose the genome can fulfill that
> isn't already addressed currently online.
The last time something like the `genome' was tried, it resulted in
acrimony and little else. We all have our vanities...
Best,
Steve
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# sbolt@xs4all.nl # Steven Bolt # popular science monthly KIJK #
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