About BEAM
From BEAM Robotics Wiki
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[edit] About BEAM Robotics
While traditional approaches essentially start with a "brain," and attempt to build robots "downward" from that, BEAM robotics starts from simple reflexes, in a "bottoms-up" approach. The majority of BEAM robots are non-computerized (although simple CPUs can be used to drive them, in a "horse and rider" fashion).
Unlike many traditional processor-based robots, BEAM robots can be cheap, simple, and easily built by a hobbyist with basic skills in a matter of hours. Because of this, BEAM is an excellent way of getting started in robotics, and of learning about electronics.
| Traditional robotics | BEAM robotics | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Relatively expensive | Cheap (often < $10 US) |
| Complexity | Processor-based, potentially very complex | Simple, discrete components, no processors |
| Time to build | Fairly long | Hours |
| Required skills | Electronics, programming, controls theory | Soldering, simple math |
| Required tools | CPU programming equipment (PC, cross-compiler, etc.) | Soldering iron, solder, epoxy |
BEAM is the brainchild of Mark W. Tilden, formerly working as a researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He now works at WowWee Toys as a consultant inventing biomorphic robot-based toys. All the work described on (or linked to by) these pages is based on a patent under his name ('though it's since expired), so make sure you read up about the legalities.
Brosl Hasslacher and Mark W. Tilden at Los Alamos National Laboratory have devised [185] a robotics design space for the creation of machines whose functions are intended to “guarantee an autonomous machine’s survival,” based on the following set of “biomorphic survival laws”:
- A machine must protect its existence;
- A machine must acquire more energy than it exerts; and
- A machine must exhibit (directed) motion.
[edit] The Meaning of BEAM
BEAM is an acronym standing for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, Mechanics; let's break this down:
- Biology -- It's tough to beat 4 billion years of evolution; the world around us is a wonderful source of inspiration and education. Bear in mind, of course, that unlike Mother Nature, you also have the advantage of gears, motors, bearings, and good glues!
- Electronics -- It kind of goes without saying, but this is what we'll use to drive our creations. BEAM robotics, though, strives for rich behaviors from simple circuits. Here's the key: simple and understandable circuits, surprisingly complex in behavior.
- Aesthetics -- This just means your creations should look good. I'm an engineer, but even I appreciate a good-looking design. Besides, if a design looks "clean," it's more likely to work (and easier to test / debug) than a design that's tangled and unruly.
- Mechanics -- This is the less-than-obvious secret of many successful BEAMbots -- with a clever mechanical design, you can reduce the complexity of the rest of your robot (reducing the number of motors and sensors, for example).
[edit] BEAM Philosophy
Just what is the philosophy behind BEAM robotics?
[edit] According to Mark W. Tilden
(The founder of BEAM Robotics)
...The science behind the idea stems from current concepts in artificial intelligence (AI), artificial life (ALife), evolutionary biology, and genetic algorithms. It seems that building large complex robots hasn't worked well, so why not try to evolve them from a lesser to a greater ability as mother nature has done with biologics? The problem is that such a concept requires self-reproducing robots which won't be possible to build (if at all) for years to come. A solution, however, is to view a human being as a [[robot]'s way of making another robot, to have an annual venue where experimenters can let their creations interact in real situations, and then watch as machine evolution occurs. In other words, robogenetics through robobiologics.
[edit] According to Dave Hrynkiw
(The founder of Solarbotics)
The BEAM Philosophy of Robotics
In it's shortest form is:
Use minimalist electronics
Recycle & Reuse components out of technoscrap
Solar power if it possible
Why build a robot around these guidelines? Well, because it's inexpensive, robust, effective, and solar power means no batteries. And since an average BEAM robot costs under $20, it's an excellent way of getting involved with robotics.
Don't think that just because BEAM robots are electronically simpler than your average wristwatch that they aren't capable - they ARE. Robots as complicated as 8-jointed, 4-legged walking spiders have been built using the principles of BEAM. The simplest of BEAM robots can be constructed around a two transistor circuit called the Solarengine, which ingests light and turns it into bursts of movement at the frequency of anywhere from 4 bursts a second to a burst a day, depending how you configure it.
BEAM is a acronym standing for: Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, Mechanics
Why? Well, lets break it down.
BIOLOGY
We look to Mother nature for inspiration, keeping in mind that she didn't have some of the techniques we have available, like wheels, bearings and some really killer glues.
ELECTRONICS
This is kind of on the obvious side, as what else is available to us other than microsurgery on living organisms to get them to do what we want? And since nobody likes to have the SPCA on their case, electronics fits the bill just fine!
AESTHETICS
Aesthetics means looks cool. Sure, something crappy may work, but it's worth the extra effort to get it as nice as can be. You never see a forest critter roaming around with a leg duct-taped on, do you?
MECHANICS
This is the secret of many successful BEAMbots. With a clever design, you don't require additional sensors. That's exactly how SYMET robots get around without optical or touch switches
[edit] According to Andrew Miller
(The creator of the Miller Solar Engine and writer of the possibly the best tutorial on the microcore)
BEAM robotics is the only Science/Discipline that I know
of in which creative cheating is encouraged.
To Me this is enough to make it interesting, but there are more reasons for involving yourself in the flexible dynamic world of Biomorphic Robotics. In a world that is continues to become more and more processor dominated many robotically inclined folks have dismissed the simple solutions of body instead to favour the solutions of brain. This often leads to Really smart things that can't walk, this is where BEAM comes in.
BEAM means several things......
The most important is that Nothing is too simple to accomplish the job". Smaller, dumber, cheaper is just as valid as bigger, smarter, costlier.
I've been building what my mother refers to as kakamaimies for 20 years
and in pretty much every case I've done it just to prove I could. This is an
attitude that is Strongly encouraged in BEAM.
I live by two rules.
Rip everything you own completely apart.
NEVER put them back together in the same fashion.
Combine these with Tilden's Laws of robotics....
Protect Thy Ass
Feed Thy Ass
Look For Better Real Estate
And BOOM successful devices, Robotic or otherwise.....
[edit] In Conclusion
So we can boil it all down to this...
The strength and popularity of BEAM robotics is due to three basic philosophical tenets:
- Use minimalist electronics -- This keeps complexity from "snowballing", and keeps costs down
- Recycle & reuse components out of technoscrap -- This keeps things cheap, and avoids a lot of trips to parts stores; virtually all the parts required to make a BEAM robot can be found in broken electronics (ovens, walkman's, CD players, VCRs, pagers...). More on salvaging parts here .
- Solar power your critter if possible -- While less powerful than even a small battery (and, up-front, more expensive), solar cells last for years; solar-powered BEAMbots don't require constant battery replacements or down-time for battery recharging.
And with all due respct to Issac Asimov's Three laws, the survivability of BEAM robots is based on Mark Tilden's own Three Laws of Robotic Survival...
- A machine must protect its existence.
- A machine must acquire more energy than it exerts.
- A machine must exhibit (directed) motion.
Or as Mark originally put it, and as Andrew reiterated...
- Protect my Ass
- Feed my Ass
- Move my Ass to a better piece of Real Estate
