Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #09153



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Max Inggal tacoman101@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 16:09:10 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [alt-beam] Nihon Motors


What's the item number for the Zoom lens thing that
has 2 Nihon Motors for 30 bucks.
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9154 Thu, 13 Jan 2000 18:08:50 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: Back to the Hextiles, Formerally BEAM LEGO beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Richard Piotter I prefer the 6 pin DIP style idea. It would work great for both
breadboarding and PCBs and with actual pins could be freeformed. It
makes creating pathways more direct and simple. I'm looking forward to
the idea, if it ever happens!


Dennison Bertram wrote:
>
> You know, this is all a really really good idea, but I think if we think
> about it, life would really just be simplified by general purpose Hextiles,
> like Mark T's well designed, and late generation models. His allow for
> extensive experimentation. So, lego blocks is a nice idea, but might get
> bulkier than nessesary. A really well designed hextile would probably serve
> our purposes just fine.
>
> dennison
>
> What about BEAM LEGO?
>
> For example, put the Nv complete with trimpot and LED into a suitable block
> with GND,V+, INPUT, OUTPUT, BIAS POINT contacts in such a way that the
> blocks can be put side by side and interconnections made with a SOLARCELL,
> NiCAD, SUPERCAP, PD SENSOR, DRIVER and MOTOR block. The default contact
> arrangement should allow standard uCore walker to be assembled in BEAM
> PLUG'nPLAY fashion. A JUMPER and PROTOTYPE block can be used to configure
> experimental BEAM LEGO Bots. In this way standard BICORE, PHOTOVORE and
> other BEAM bots can be bundled into standard kits.
>
> So what do you all think?
>
> wilf
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bruce Robinson [SMTP:Bruce_Robinson@telus.net]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 11:46 PM
> > To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
> > Subject: Re: microcore experimentation kit
> >
> > > David Perry wrote:
> > >
> > > What if (as someone suggested) i reate a small circuit board complete
> > > with a single schmitt inverter and either a plug to put in your own
> > > resistor or an adjustable pot built in.
> >
> > So, what exactly are you gaining, David? Just MORE stuff to plug in.
> >
> > Why not include the pot (make sure it isn't one of those 50-turn-life
> > things) AND the capacitor. Provide 4 connection points:
> > - capacitor input (Nv input).
> > - pot input (Nu input).
> > - inverter input (so you can inject or kill pulses.
> > - inverter output (obviously).
> > And power & ground, of course. That's a six-pin board.
> >
> > You may want two or three versions with different size capacitors.
> >
> > But if you're going to do that, why not use a hex surface mount and
> > supply six circuits similar to the above? That gives you 26 pins.
> > Perhaps you could size the board to plug into a 28 pin socket.
> >
> > Hmm ... Is this really getting any easier? :)
> >
> > Bruce

--


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9155 Thu, 13 Jan 2000 18:12:20 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: BEAM LEGO was microcore experimentation kit beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Richard Piotter Uh... You forgot input, and if you want any REAL use of them, you need
to have a bias point, preferably 2 bias points (one on either side of
the resistor so time constants can be biased both above and below the
natural RC constant).

Dane Gardner wrote:
>
> > There's another problem theough. Lego only assembles from bottom to
> > top, so it severely cramps the permutations possible for a successful Nv
> > design. Nv is best when freeformed in 3space, and if you make some
> Nv-lego
> > mockups out of post-its, you'll see what I mean.
>
> What if you were to try a triangular design...instead of a square
> design...You could make any combination of shapes. Check out the attached
> drawing. There are five wire connections...because when you flip the
> circuit to make a straight "bar" of them, the wires would flip...so you have
> a +5, Gnd, Out, Gnd, +5. Or you could just have a left and right handed
> design...Which would only require three. With the solder pads you would be
> able to have jumpers to sensors, and motors drivers, etc.
>
> You might even be able to do a more three dimensional design depending on
> the orientation of the output pins in relation to the board.
>
> > BEAM Lego is a good idea, but alas anything that smells of LEGO gets
> > a legal department up the wazzo. So caution, experimentation only.
>
> No kidding. Lego would have a hayday. But overall, I think this is a great
> idea. I wonder how much something like this would cost to manufacture as an
> end product.
>
> CYA,
>
> Dane
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Name: NV Unit Low Res.JPG
> NV Unit Low Res.JPG Type: JPEG Image (image/jpeg)
> Encoding: base64

--


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9156 Thu, 13 Jan 2000 17:15:05 -0700 [alt-beam] Re: Back to the Hextiles, Formerally BEAM LEGO beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Dave Hrynkiw At 04:27 PM 1/13/00 , Jonathan D Rogers wrote:
>So, what I want to know is, does anyone produce/sell hextiles?
>If not, are the PCB layouts, etc. available?

We're finally gonna do it. We're getting a new tech assistant on, and
that'll be one of his first projects. It'll be good to get him used to the
PCB software we use.

We'll keep you informed...

Regards,
Dave
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Um, no - that's H,R,Y,N,K,I,W. No, not K,I,U,U, K,I,_W_. Yes,
that's right. Yes, I know it looks like "HOCKYRINK." Yup, only
2 vowels. Pronounciation? _SMITH_".
http://www.solarbotics.com



9157 Thu, 13 Jan 2000 18:39:48 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: BEAM LEGO was microcore experimentation kit beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Richard Piotter Nv/Nu configurable module with dual bias points

_________________
| ,---. |
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| | o |
| `--/ \----. |
| /___\ | |
| | | |
| ,-----' | |
| | Z | |
| *----->Z | |
| | Z | |
Bias o|--* | ,-+--|o Polarity
| | / | | |
| === / | | |
| | / | | |
| | / | | |
| | | / | |
| | o-. o-' o | |
| \ '---. | | |
| | ,---+-' | |
In o|-. o-' o `-o `--|o (-)
| '------' |
|_________________|







Bruce Robinson wrote:
>
> Wilf Rigter wrote:
> >
> > What about BEAM LEGO?
>
> Don't even hint at that word. The patents will have expired long ago,
> but you can bet the word (or anything resembling it) will be protected
> by trademark.
>
> > For example, put the Nv complete with trimpot and LED into a
> > suitable block with GND,V+, INPUT, OUTPUT, BIAS POINT contacts
> > in such a way that the blocks can be put side by side ...
>
> To be truly versatile, you need two inputs (Nu & Nv). Or one input and a
> DIP type switch. Or two different style blocks.
>
> I have in front of me an LED with the following package size, width =
> 0.063", length = 0.075", diameter of the yellow lense = 0.040". Needless
> to say, it is a surface mount device. For drawing attention or
> signalling over a long distance, it is useless. For inconspicuous
> trouble shooting, it's great. Current draw = 0.5 mA with a 4.7 k
> resistor.
>
> Don't forget the cap(s) either. I imagine 3 sizes would be reasonable.
>
> Diodes for shorting the bias points? Two? how many connections are these
> things going to have?
>
> You may want to colour code the blocks. Choose colours that won't get
> you into trouble (orange, cyan, magenta ...).
>
> Unlike that un-named plastic building material, you will not get away
> with two many different sizes.
>
> > ... and interconnections made with a SOLARCELL, NiCAD, SUPERCAP, PD
> > SENSOR, DRIVER and MOTOR block.
>
> Also a couple of different contact switch options.
>
> > The default contact arrangement should allow standard uCore walker to
> > be assembled in BEAM PLUG'nPLAY fashion. A JUMPER and PROTOTYPE block
> > can be used to configure experimental BEAM LEGO Bots.
>
> Don't forget Richard Piotter's fascination with branching nervous nets
> (which is also the design described in Mark's original patent). At least
> TWO outputs required.
>
> To keep these small enough, the prototype block might have to be just a
> connector block. You could have an associated prototype board, and a
> related multi-conductor jumper cable. Heck, have jumper cables in
> different lengths ... more things to market :)
>
> The geometry would be crucial. Much experimentation required. It would
> have to be flexible, but you would need to ensure that newbies couldn't
> accidentally arrange the blocks in a way that would fry the contents.
> Come to think of it, a few of us oldbies need that kind of protection,
> too.
>
> Mark is quite right about being able to move into 3 dimensions. Perhaps
> your design would allow blocks to be assembled in planes; special
> connectors would transfer signals between planes. Of course you would
> then have to take into account the placement of trimpots.
>
> > In this way standard BICORE, PHOTOVORE and other BEAM bots can be
> > bundled into standard kits.
> >
> > So what do you all think?
>
> It is worth following up on. Best to start with Mark's suggestion of
> mockups made on Post-It (tm) notes. You also have plenty of volunteers
> just dying to get some made up.
>
> Bruce

--


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9158 Thu, 13 Jan 2000 18:58:58 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: Back to the Hextiles, Formerally BEAM LEGO beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Richard Piotter That was Extreme Machines, and it was The Learning Channel. It'll play
again this week most likely, incase there are some people who havn't
seen it.

Jonathan D Rogers wrote:
>
> Hey, that reminds me.
> I just watched a show on Discovery last night that had Mark in it, and
> lots of hextiles.
> So, what I want to know is, does anyone produce/sell hextiles?
> If not, are the PCB layouts, etc. available?
> Because they sure look like fun to make robots with!
>
> Jonathan

--


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9159 Thu, 13 Jan 2000 19:00:42 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: BEAM LEGO was microcore experimentation kit beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Richard Piotter You just split off the outputs, and for DIP boards soldered, freeformed
or soldered to a backplane with the pathways on it, you just solder 2
wires to the output. For the "brick" type modules... I never said LEG...
ER... Anyway (: for those, it'd be dificult, maybe. I'm realy wanting 6
pin DIP style NV/Nv modules.

I also made a moronic oversight after making a new schematic/layout.

all you have to do to switch between Nv and Nu is switch the Polarity
connection and In connections around. A fully functional configurable
Nv/Nu module in 6 pins, no modifications other than the interconnect wiri=
ng!!!



George Rix wrote:
>=20
> > Don't forget Richard Piotter's fascination with branching nervous net=
s
> > (which is also the design described in Mark's original patent). At le=
ast
> > TWO outputs required.
> Why not tetrahedral blocks with four outputs and four inputs?
> Complexity, here we come... =3D)
> But seriously, folks, I'd make that at least three.
>=20
> Peace out!
>=20
> Rob Rix
>=20
> No doubt it will all make sense when we're older =D0 Calvin and Hobbes

--=20


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9160 Thursday, 13 January 2000 6:31 Re: microcore experimentation kit beam@sgiblab.sgi.com George Rix


> What if (as someone suggested) i reate a small circuit board complete w=
ith
a
single schmitt inverter and either a plug to put in your own resistor or =
an
adjustable pot built in. Plus a plug to add your own hysteris. A SMD LED =
is
on board. It would connect to a breadboard (or protoboard) with some PCB
pins, a little like the BASIC STAMP. With this you could easily grab a fe=
w,
plug them in, connect them in your own pattern an you have a microcore.
Would people be intrested in such a thing? I could start a production of
them. Keep in mind though they may be rather expensive compared to buying=
a
17HC14 and individual parts. This is just because the parts themselves ar=
e
rather expensive. (A single schmit inverter is 68 cents).
>
>David

I would certainly be interested...
Can I have fourteen trillion? To go? =3D)

Peace out!

Rob Rix

No doubt it will all make sense when we're older =8B Calvin and Hobbes




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