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beam_robotics [2009-01-09 11:14] – davegriffiths | beam_robotics [2009-01-12 10:14] – davegriffiths | ||
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- | ===Biology, Electronics, | + | ======Biology, Electronics, |
See also [[Robot Building]], [[Robot Design]] and [[Category Robotics]]. | See also [[Robot Building]], [[Robot Design]] and [[Category Robotics]]. | ||
- | A design philosophy for robotics, where analogue electronics and reactive sensor control is preferred over digital electronics | + | A design philosophy for robotics, where analogue electronics and reactive sensor control is preferred over digital electronics, microcontrollers or the use of planning AI. BEAM is the invention of robotics physicist [[http:// |
- | ===Freeforming, | + | =====Freeforming, |
A key element of BEAM is the use of ' | A key element of BEAM is the use of ' | ||
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These design restrictions result in some beautifully simple and effective machines. | These design restrictions result in some beautifully simple and effective machines. | ||
- | ===BEAM Nervous Networks=== | + | =====BEAM Nervous Networks===== |
The control mechanism of a BEAM robot is a set of analogue circuits which are broadly biologically inspired, and can be connected together to provide fixed control signals (for tasks such as moving a multi-legged walker) or have sensors integrated into them to provide a link to the outside world. There is a distinctive language developed for the construction of these circuits, which I'll attempt to explain a bit of below. | The control mechanism of a BEAM robot is a set of analogue circuits which are broadly biologically inspired, and can be connected together to provide fixed control signals (for tasks such as moving a multi-legged walker) or have sensors integrated into them to provide a link to the outside world. There is a distinctive language developed for the construction of these circuits, which I'll attempt to explain a bit of below. | ||
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By playing with the values of the components, different oscillation patterns can be made. | By playing with the values of the components, different oscillation patterns can be made. | ||
- | ===Solar Engines=== | + | =====Solar Engines===== |
+ | |||
+ | The power coming from a solar cell is pretty tiny. In order to do anything much, especially drive a motor, you need to employ some method for increasing the current from the solar panel. The commonest method in BEAM robotics is to store the energy in a capacitor and use it in bursts. This circuit is called a solar engine. | ||
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+ | {{http:// | ||
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+ | < | ||
===BEAM types=== | ===BEAM types=== | ||
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===Links=== | ===Links=== | ||
- | Mark Tilden' | + | * Mark Tilden' |
- | Some more example robots: [[http:// | + | |
- | For more detail, go to the BEAM wiki: [[http:// | + | |
- | Solarbotics is the BEAM community server: [[http:// | + | |
- | The BEAM web ring: [[http:// | + | |