Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #10593
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: "Thomas Pilgaard" ascii@hum.auc.dk
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 00:22:01 +0100
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: BEAM: Tendency toward miniaturization
I am a bit pussled by your frequent use of the word "just". I still tend to
be amazed at what a photopopper is capable of doing in regard to its
relative simplicity. In comparison to say a 4 or 5 motor walker it may seem
to be simpler in construction. However, it is placed in a complex
environment, which is reflected in its behaviour thus resulting in very
complex emergent behavioural patterns.
For instance, it is not part of the photopopper to avoid obstacles. However
I have observed that my photopopper tends to avoid obstacles in that the
shadows an object casts on the floor often makes the popper attempt to make
it's way around it (though admittedly the object has to have a certain
height for it to work).
Surely it has it's limitations, but I wouldn't regard it as "just" a light
seeking analog robot.
Cheers,
Thomas
> But I built my first little photovore (freeform Chiu style)
> and I think that's the only such robot I'll ever build. It doesn't
> display any of the characteristics that the microcore walker
> should have. The photovore to me is just an introduction to
> building a solarengine, it is just an analog robot which seeks
> light. But it basically has wheels (heatshrink tubing for very low
> diameter wheels) and therefore it has all the limitations of a wheeled
> vehicle multiplied by it's small size and all you have a robot that's
> great for super smoothe surfaces. That's it, that's all.
>
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