BEAM Robots
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[edit] Definition
In a post (#58250) dated: Sep 4, 2008, made to the BEAM email list; J Wolfgang Goerlich coined a nice definition just what a BEAMbot is:
Strictly speaking, one could say a Beam robot must have either an Nv Net or Photopopper Net. Analog inputs with digital (on or off) outputs. The designs are derived from Mark Tilden's original work. Other work is merely beam-like or beamish. Opinions vary, of course, and designs now considered Beam go well beyond this narrow definition.
[edit] Types
Beam robots can be classified in different types (describing their behaviour) and genera (decribing the construction of the bot)
There are various "-trope" BEAMbots, which attempt to achieve a specific goal. Of the series, the phototropes are the most prevalent, as light-seeking would be the most beneficial behavior for a solar-powered robot.
- Audiotropes react to sound sources.
- Audiophiles go towards sound sources.
- Audiophobes go away from sound sources.
- Phototropes ("light-seekers") react to light sources.
- Photophiles go toward light sources.
- Photophobes go away from light sources.
- Radiotropes react to radio frequency sources.
- Radiophiles go toward RF sources.
- Radiophobes go away from RF sources.
- Thermotropes react to heat sources.
- Thermophiles go toward heat sources.
- Thermophobes go away from heat sources.
[edit] Genera
BEAMbots have a variety of movements and positioning mechanisms. These include:
- Sitters: Unmoving robots that have a physically passive purpose.
- Beacons: Transmit a signal (usually a navigational blip) for other BEAMbots to use.
- Flagwavers: Basically a solar engine, attached to a motor that has a flag, picture or similar decoration mounted to its shaft.
- Ornaments: A catch-all name for sitters that are not beacons or pummers.
- Pummers: Display a "light show".
- Squirmers: Stationary robots that perform an interesting action (usually by moving some sort of limbs or appendages).
- Magbots: Utilize magnetic fields for their mode of animation.
- Flagwavers: Move a display (or "flag") around at a certain frequency.
- Heads: Pivot and follow some detectable phenonomena, such as a light (These are popular in the BEAM community. They can be stand-alone robots, but are more often incorporated into a larger robot.).
- Vibrators (AKA Vibrobots): Use a small pager motor with an offcenter weight to shake themselves about.
- Sliders: Robots that move by sliding body parts smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it.
- Snakes: Move using a horizontal wave motion.
- Earthworms: Move using a longitudinal wave motion.
- Crawlers: This term is actually applied to two distinct types of robots.
- Turbots: Roll their entire bodies using their arm(s) or flagella.
- Inchworms: Move part of their bodies ahead, while the rest of the chassis is on the ground.
- Tracked robots: Use tank-like treads rather than wheels.
- Jumpers: Robots which propel themselves off the ground as a means of locomotion.
- Vibrobots: Produce an irregular shaking motion moving themselves around a surface.
- Springbots: Move forward by bouncing in one particular direction.
- Rollers: Robots that move by rolling all or part of their body.
- Any robot that uses one or more motor driven wheels as its primary form of locomotion.
- Symets: Driven using a single motor with its shaft touching the ground, and moves in different directions depending on which of several symmetric contact points around the shaft are touching the ground.
- Solarrollers: Solar-powered cars that use a single motor driving one or more wheels; often designed to complete a fairly short, straight and level course in the shortest amount of time.
- Poppers: Use two motors with separate solar engines; rely on differential sensors to achieve a goal.
- Miniballs: Shift their center of mass, causing their spherical bodies to roll.
- Walkers: Robots that move using legs with differential ground contact.
- Motor Driven: Use motors to move their legs (typically 3 motors or less).
- Muscle Wire Driven: Utilize Nitinol (nickel - titanium alloy) wires for their leg actuators.
- Swimmers: Robots that move on or below the surface of a liquid (typically water).
- Fliers: Robots that move through the air for sustained periods.
- Helicopters: Use a powered rotor to provide both lift and propulsion.
- Planes: Use fixed or flapping wings to generate lift.
- Blimps: Use a neutrally-buoyant balloon for lift.
- Climbers: Robots that moves up or down a vertical surface, usually on a track such as a rope or wire.
[edit] BEAM Robots on YouTube
There is a video sharing group on YouTube; where BEAMers can post videos of their own BEAM robotss. Be sure to check it out.
[edit] Not Quite BEAM Robots
This section contains a list of robots that although not specifically BEAM in the purest sense, still incorporate concepts and techniques that are similar to, or related to BEAM in some way, and/or that could prove to be useful to designers and builders of BEAM robots and circuits.
