Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #13712
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 00:27:42 EDT
Subject: Re: Solarizing
In a message dated 4/19/00 11:59:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
TurtleTek@aol.com writes:
> Does anyone know if the Ucoba* can be solarized using the Chloroplast SE**?
>
> I know of the PM1, the D1, and the 1381 DLSE for solarizing. Are these as
> effective as the Chloroplast? Which do you prefer/recommend?
>
> What can and can't the Chloroplast solarize? And if you don't mind, why?
If
> these are too many questions, don't feel pressured to answer them all. Any
> answer whatsoever is appreciated.
>
OK, I'll give it a shot.
Yes, the Chloroplast should work fine for the Ucoba circuit. Use two of the
large solar cells and a 4700uF cap for starters and experiment from there.
I think the Chloroplast will solarize just about anything. But, I could be
wrong. The PM1 should work too. But, I've had real performance problems with
less efficient motors. The D1 will work easy with rechargeable batteries, but
I recommend Wilf's SIMD1 for your application. This will give you a nocturnal
bot, but this could be interesting as well. The 1381 won't work at all
because it needs an inductive load to pull the circuit into activation. A
Bicore or BEAMant circuit doesn't provide this. I'm about to tackle this
problem myself right now. I have a BEAMant circuit on a good aluminum
platform that will be my Zenbot prototype. I'm using Portescaps so I'm going
to try the PM1 first. But, I plan to compare performance with a Chloroplast
just for giggles.
On another topic. The old D1 would be the perfect circuit for the avoidance
behavior recently discussed on the list. It's mushy start would lend it's
self well to detecting even slight shadows. The charge in a super cap could
be dumped into the motors and give a good zip of speed away from danger very
similar to what Bob Shannon did with Vore-n-more. I'm not sure about enough
speed to avoid a foot fall, but definite avoidance behavior or a flight no
fight response could be hooked up in a matter of minutes this way. Bob used a
limiting resistor to get the bot to pop very rapidly but retain a determined
direction. This sounds like a valid first step to a working prototype.
See ya,
Jim
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/8281/beamart.html
ICQ# 55657870
13713 Thu, 20 Apr 2000 00:35:19 EDT Re: efficient launcher? beam@sgiblab.sgi.com JVernonM@aol.com In a message dated 4/20/00 12:24:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
cage@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
> but it maybe could be used as an emergency escape mechanism
> or weapon by a bot. Sort of along the same lines as insects employ
> chemical defense weapons.
"You'll shoot your eye out!" :) You know, this topic is really popular. It
may make yet another good contest for future BEAM games. Could replace the
rope climbing event that seems to have been dropped. Sounds like a blast to
watch anyway :). How about a bot that has to approach a wall two feet high,
surmount it and cross a finish line on the other side. Maybe a timed event?
See ya,
Jim
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/8281/beamart.html
ICQ# 55657870
13714 Thu, 20 Apr 2000 00:51:38 EDT Re: Solarizing beam@sgiblab.sgi.com turtletek@aol.com Thanks for the help, Jim.
By the way, what circuit does your "Scarlet Scarab" bot use? For control,
that is. Oh, and if you can, point me to a web page with the schematic.
Many thanks once again,
-Brien the Turtletek
www.extremesc.com/turtletek/beam
13715 Thu, 20 Apr 2000 00:58:52 EDT Re: Solarizing beam@sgiblab.sgi.com JVernonM@aol.com In a message dated 4/20/00 12:52:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
TurtleTek@aol.com writes:
> By the way, what circuit does your "Scarlet Scarab" bot use? For control,
> that is. Oh, and if you can, point me to a web page with the schematic.
It uses a PCB that I got from Justin. It's your basic BEAMant with Justin's
mix of resistors. I think it's the same values as used in Ucoba. I've heard
that the values that Ian used work well too. The resistor values are where
you get to play and personalize.
See ya,
Jim
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/8281/beamart.html
ICQ# 55657870
13716 Wed, 19 Apr 2000 22:18:21 -0700 Re: efficient launcher? beam@corp.sgi.com Ken Hill Cool idea! My thoughts are to keep it simple. You'd already have a gear
motor for the winch, so use it also to tension the launch spring after it's
fully retracted.
Trip switches could decide if you needed to stop the winch from pulling
anymore and start the drive motor(s) to continue on over the
obstacle. Once the bot drove over the grapple, it would free it just as a
boat does an anchor. Tension switch releases and gearmotor starts winding
again to "pull back the trigger" and cock the gun (etc.) :)
Oh, oh, ... Maybe use a 3dof head for the winch launcher aimer based on
distance/angle you want to shoot....Opps, I said simple....I digress...
My 2 bits - Ken
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