Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #12567
To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Justin JAF60@student.canterbury.ac.nz
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:21:35 +1200
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: 2 new bots
>it looks like following light with a HEAD-BODY attachment has been tried
>and proven. (if only twice by beamers)
>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...
Having it follow light is more than proof of concept of lightseeking, it
shows that the bot can choose its direction from _sensor_ input - not
just light sensors. So solar walkers need not be the next step -
inductive power theives that live on megawatt AC powerlines are also a
possibility. Admisttedly the circuit I'm currently developing is a solar
walker, but it doesn't have to be - honest! :-)
Regarding solarising the things. This is my six-step plan: (patent
pending)**
1. Efficient motors
2. Few motors
3. Efficient circuitry
4. Efficient solar cells
5. Shitloads of those solar cells
6. Big cap (1 - 2.5 F)
Seeya,
Justin
** Ok, so _technically_ a patent requires that the innovation be
original, be non-obvious to others in the field, and stuff like that
which some small-minded people might argue would exclude my 6-step plan.
However, strong legal preceedents have been set that allow you to also
patent something if it is a) someone else's idea, or b) has been kicking
around for decades but no-body has claimed ownership via a patent yet,
or c) entirely obvious and widespread in use, but for which a patent
would allow profitable lawsuits.
Since my six-step plan firmly meets at least two of these additional
catagories, I can patent it if I damn well want to. So there!
What? You meant patents cost money...?
12568 Sun, 26 Mar 2000 14:59:49 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: Solarize your walker, if you dare.2 new bots beam@sgiblab.sgi.com SG At 06:07 PM 3/26/00 GMT, you wrote:
>This would require efficient motors, and
>a large solar panel - one that would cover the entire bot, or even more. The
>walker would essentially look like a flat table.
i would be willing to buy enuff large panels to do this,
and even shell out $$ for the motors if the idea was do-able.
-sparky
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