Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #08515



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Senior kyled@cruzers.com
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 18:36:47 -0700
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Keeping things simple...


Hehe, that's a good question! What are we arguing for?! :)

jester96beam@iname.com wrote:
>
> BTW, WHY exactly do the bots need to know how far away an obstacle is? Am I missing something?
>
> Chris
>
> ---- you wrote:
> > I like the ideas about painting them white, and painting them half and half etc. It would prove to be quite interesting, I'm sure.
> >
> > Since a lot (I think most) photovores use IR detectors (like Dave's photopoppers blah blah blah...
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Get free personalized email at http://www.iname.com



8516 Mon, 20 Dec 1999 18:35:51 -0700 [alt-beam] Re: Lets Hypothesise... beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Senior True, but, there two dimentions include distance in front of them. IE,
there eyes aren't looking at a flat surface perpendicular to their line
of sight, but rather, a plane that is parallel to their eyes.

jester96beam@iname.com wrote:
>
> We do live in a 3D world. But to me it seems that our little bots DON'T. They live in a 2D world. They don't really have to worry about up or down.
>
> Chris
>
> ---- you wrote:
> > I'm not educated in this subject, but I have to say, I fully disagree
> > with you! :)
> > We need to know where the cup is, right? Well, we live in a 3D world! To
> > know where something is, we need THREE coordinates! From the image your
> > eyes see, we get two co-ords, and the third is the distance away from
> > you!
> >
> > Now, let me give you an example: If you had no idea how far the cup is
> > away from you, you'd have to reach out very slowly, otherwise, you would
> > knock the glass over! Maybe I'm odd, but I can reach out and grab that
> > glass real quickly if I need, without knocking it over. Your mind NEEDS
> > to know the distance to be able to do this. NOTE: Notice, also, that I
> > didn't first think "Okay it's three feet away" and then think "I'll move
> > my hand three feet out."
> >
> > Another example: If we are not constantly measuring distance in whatever
> > units our mind uses, then how does my mind subconciously know I can walk
> > down a never before seen hallway without bumping into the wall at the
> > end?!! If I didn't know the end was much farther than where I am, I
> > would think I couldn't go any further!
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Get free personalized email at http://www.iname.com



8517 Mon, 20 Dec 1999 18:42:30 -0700 [alt-beam] Re: New Bot power + other thoughts beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Senior Very nicely written!
Anwyways, about spam-powered buts... You could mount a bot on your
monitor and have the solar cell right on the monitor, facing it so it
gets the light from it. Of course, it might be better just to have it
face out and use sunlight... :)

Jacob Booth wrote:
>
> Has anyone figured out how to make a spam powered bot? I have plenty of it
> to supply. Very ecologically sound.
>
> Just a thought about 'poor old Dave _SMITH_' - I can imagine the reaction
> would have been similar (but opposite?:) if he announced a new product
> using the Miller engine but didn't mention the license... I can imagine
> everyone jumping over Dave saying how he shouldn't commercially use
> someones idea without permission etc etc. I really think he only said it a)
> to cover his butt and b) he paid for the privilege to do so, so why can't
> he mention it?
>
> I know it is very easy to feel like we OWN all the Beamish tek, but there
> could be many others out there who are doing the same kind of stuff without
> having a clue what beam is. I sure was for years. I see similar technology
> all the time. Flag wavers, magbots and others are used by Mobile phone
> companies as shelf top promotional items (wagging a sign or wobbling a
> cardboard phone). And were they using the good old D-Cell battery? Oh no,
> there is an amorphous solar panel attached. Same size as a sunceram... Did
> they steal the Beam idea, and heaven forbid commercialise it? I doubt it
> very much.
>
> It certainly humbled me very much. Many people also know the secrets we
> think we hold to ourselves in the Beam community. Our difference is in the
> application, and the philosophy, and most likely the budget. There is a
> whole other aspect to beam that isn't one of the b, e, a, or m in the
> acronym. And that is the community. How many scientific endevours allow
> such freedom of exchange between researchers? Most work in the real world
> is commercial, and the only publishing of information is a press release
> announcing the completed product. We are lucky as we get to see everything
> grow on this list, as 'godparents' to every new creation that finally gets
> off the building board and into the 'real world' (and onto a web page...
> ever notice all the pictures and descriptions? Seems very much like a proud
> parents' photo album:)
>
> Oh and by the way, I am not dismissing all the work that folks have put
> into original designs saying that they are not new... of course they are. I
> love the idea that we push components in the wrong ways and get great
> results. Using a 1381 as a voltage trigger certainly isn't our idea, but
> using it to reset a CPU and using it to make an efficient solar powered bot
> are certainly different and original ideas. I like the fact that we use the
> analog regions of digital devices and many other tweaks and 'hidden
> functions' of many other devices and components. This is the knowledge that
> makes us unique, and you probably wouldn't learn about it anywhere else...
>
> Keep up the work, and keep pushing those envelopes..
>
> Jacob
>
> Phew.. I shoulda called this my BEAM manifesto of 1999
>
> New years resolution? To make all the crap I have been THINKING about. I
> need that space in my head back...
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Jacob Booth BIS, MCP Web http://www.its.mary.acu.edu.au/
> IT Services Email j.booth@mary.acu.edu.au
> Phone (02) 97392235 Fax (02) 97392924
> Australian Catholic University - MSM Campus Strathfield NSW
> "Your lack of planning does not make it an emergency on my part"



8518 Mon, 20 Dec 1999 21:03:44 -0500 [alt-beam] Re: Keeping things simple... "Richard Caudle"
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=

> I think that whoever is taking charge here (was it richard?) should pu=
t up a web page with the main concept and ideas. Then we can have visuals a=
nd he can update it with the newer better ideas.
> =



Yeah, It's me and I'm working on that one tonight. I have a link from my s=
ite to an advanced projects page, but the HPV link isn't active yet.

Richard Caudle
www.geocities.com/frankendaddy/BEAM.html
Home ICQ - Frankendaddy

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-----

Guardians of the sacred words: Nee, Ptang, and NeeWhon! =



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>



 
>    I think that whoever is taking charge here=
(was =

it richard?) should put up a web page with the main concept and ideas. Then=
we =

can have visuals and he can update it with the newer better ideas.
> =



 

Yeah, It's me and I'm working on that one tonight.  I have a link=
from =

my site to an advanced projects page, but the HPV link isn't active =

yet.

 

Richard Caudle

href=3D"www.geocities.com/frankendad=">http://www.geocities.com/frankendaddy">www.geocities.com/frankendad=
dy/BEAM.html
Home =

ICQ - Frankendaddy




Guardians of the sacred words: N=
ee, =

Ptang, and NeeWhon!         =





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