Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #05123



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Peter Low peterlow@fletcherspaght.com
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 15:28:43 -0400
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Task for walker?


I have seen a pool cleaning bot (I forget the name and maker) that looks
like a little tank with roller brushes mounted underneath. The maker
claims that it will clean the entire pool. Just thought I'd mention this
as a possible source of information while you look for solutions.

At 10:04 AM 7/8/99 -0600, you wrote:
>On Thu, 8 Jul 1999, Steven Bolt wrote:
>
>> Might perhaps be used to make the bots keep a certain distance
>> between them. The work would be done during the night. In daytime,
>> the `bots would recharge at a solar powered feeding station.
>> The really difficult part is keeping them on the grass; I dislike
>> the idea of a perimeter wire. Access restrictions may be required
>> to keep human predators at bay. Systematically giving all of the
>> lawn equal nibble attention is another tough one.
>> The case for legs as opposed to wheels is of course not very
>> strong. Any better ideas?
>
> This reminds me of a current project of mine - a common push-style
>floor/rug cleaner (the wheels on the bottom power a spinning desbris
>collector that dumps debris into a pocket for removal) is given two servo
>motors, some LEDS, and some touch sensors and is allowed to roam the
>apartment. A challenge which I anticipate will require much tinkering is
>an effective way to cover the whole home (corners will go untended in this
>version) effectively.
>
> I plan to start with a simple "seek brightest spot" that toggles
>with "seek darkest spot" mixed with obstacle avoiding and see where that
>takes me. Possibly the shifting of light due to the rising and setting sun
>may affect the pattern enough to get good coverage. We'll see.
>
>| Donald Papp
>| don@oa.net
>


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