Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #12542



To: BEAM beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Zulu zulu35@singnet.com.sg
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 14:44:55 +0800
Subject: [alt-beam] co-operative bots


hi again,


another idea i had for a group of bots working together to achieve a
common goal is a group of bots the works together to clear an obstacle
course...let me describe

1) the course

it would be some sort of an RJP, with ramps placed all over... they
would have to be of this config. thou..


(steep slope)/--------\(gentle slope)
bot goes down here bot goes up here

goal: for the bots to reach a light source/ IR beacon at the other end
of the RJP.

2) the bots. they would be standard photopoppers, or even herbies
modified to seek light/IR. they would also have these characherstics

* a magnet on both the front and rear of the bot
* touch sensors that extend very little from the front,
* a mercury switch activated beacon on each bot.
* motors that are able to produce a fairly large amount of torque

now heres the "fun" part...

* the bots are released in the RJP
* they would seek the light/IR source at the opposite end of the RJP
* in the course of doing so, some would have to go over the ramps in
the RJP
* if the slope is too steep, the bot would be stuck, however, the
mercury switch would then activate the beacon onboard the bots
* all other bots in the vicinity would then seek this new source,
since its signal would be stronger.
* when the bots are close enough, the magnets would bind them together
(aka tilden's turbots)
* HOPEFULLY, the combined efforts of the bots will push the first
bot over the slope. the magnetic contact will then break off when
the front bot goes down the next ramp.
* the bots go off seeking the main beacon once again

how's that? i've managed to make a couple of these bots, and the
magnets do work as i've planned... now if only i could get sufficient
space to build a RJP :PP

well.. just my 2 cent's worth..

rdgs
zulu

Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often
times we call a man cold when he is only sad.



12543 Sat, 25 Mar 2000 23:38:15 -0800 [alt-beam] Re: 2 new bots beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Bruce Robinson SG wrote:
>
> NEXT STEP:
> it follows light BUT WHY?? this would be useful to the bot if
> light was it's energy source...
>
> ... so what i'm saying is the next step of the evolution needs
> to be SOLAR POWERING these phototophic walkers...

That's ONE next step. There are lots more.

Given a walker that turns where its head happens to be pointed, think
about all the other possible ways to make a head turn. A variation of
Richard Caudle's sound-seeking circuits, for example. How about a
heat-seeking (or heat-avoiding) head. In each case, you need only modify
the head ... the robot will follow.

How about an Nu-based brain that takes ALL these inputs and combines
them into an intelligent action?

Bruce



12544 Sat, 25 Mar 2000 23:38:25 -0800 [alt-beam] Re: Dumb newbie Q. beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Bruce Robinson Daniel Grace wrote:
>
> Hmmm, I haven't even seen a 'multi' meter without
> current. I've seen meters that only measure one thing
> (Volts, Ohms, Amps) but none that measure more than
> one, and leave out current!

True, but I HAVE purchased a multimeter that had current scales so low
as to be useless. That was before I knew what to look for :)

Bruce



12545 Sat, 25 Mar 2000 23:42:48 -0800 [alt-beam] 2nd post - Anyone please? - Reverser circuit drawn wrong?? beam@corp.sgi.com Ken Hill Regarding the 240 reverser circuit from the beam online site, If appears
that from the data sheet of the chip that the number 2 inputs and outputs
should actually be reversed on the drawing? Those two bottom buffers run
the other direction across the chip don't they? Or does it matter? Or
should they just be moved up one pin on the chip?

I assume that the IN's are enable + and - from the core or whatever brain
circuit, and the OUT's go to + and - motor bridge IN's. When it reverses,
these switch polarities at the reversers output? Using 2 opposite facing
LEDs across each of the outputs, I can't get it to work that way on the
breadboard. (either as drawn, or reversed). I can verify that the buffers
are turning on with a low to the enables, but no reverse. (And they said
this was a "very easy" circuit..... :)

Also, I found the circuit for the 245 H bridge and the 139 reverser / H
bridge circuit. If I use the 139 I can eliminate both the 240 reverser and
the 245 H bridge, correct? (I understand the current limits and the need to
stack them).

Thanks, Ken

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