Beam News Archive May 99




May 30
I drew up a schematic of what I think MarkT's BEAM Ant 6.X looks like.

Andri, Ian's team mate at WCRG and the BEAM Games in India has posted his Wierdostrich Site.

May 29
Alright guys and gals! It's time to stock up on those hard to find items that only Solarbotics carries. Dave has slashed the prices on many items for the month of June! You can get the solarcell multipack special and while your at it, grab some caps for half price. Check out the Price List for more deals. I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Thanks Dave!".

The prize list for my Most Innovative Form of Motion contest has been finalized. It sure looks impressive don't it?! Get crackin' on your entry...you only have two months of building time to go!

Ian got a summer job at LANL working with Mark Tilden. Some guys just got all the luck!

Jason has finished "Chiuwalka". Go to BEAM Land for some great pictures.

May 28
Ian updated BEAM-Online...again. New content includes a tutorial on how to freeform the h-bridge done by Brian.

The very popular Stiquito nitinol platform has a new homepage. The Official Stiquito Homepage include all the on-line supplements.

Nigel put his bots on-line at Buzz's BEAM page. Nice start! ;).

May 27
Here's a long list of links about insect vision taken from the comp.robotics.misc ng:
http://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/Groups/GAAS/Bugeye/
http://cvs.anu.edu.au/andy/beye/beyehome.html
http://www.cs.curtin.edu.au/~weberk/
http://www.vsv.slu.se/johnb/papers/bb512a.htm
http://www.biocourses.cas.vanderbilt.edu/exp9.b.htm
http://www.hhmi.org/science/neurosci/rubin.htm
http://cs.wlu.edu/SimProj/Models/Crab/crab.htm
http://www.ben-neu.syr.edu/course/neu211/lecture/lec7.html
http://www.flybrain.org/Flybrain/html/atlas/structures/optic.html
http://www.med.nyu.edu/Research/J.Treisman-res.html
http://neurosci.ncl.ac.uk/~nneuro/modules/NEU301/receptors.htm
http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/users/ezequiel/alife-page/alife.html
http://vorlon.ces.cwru.edu/~beer/
http://biorobots.cwru.edu/personnel/gmn/
http://psyche.cs.monash.edu.au/v1/psyche-1-15-dacosta.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~henryarnold/
http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~dt/animat-vision/
The single best summary site is probably:
http://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/Groups/GAAS/Bugeye/visionchips/vision_chips/vision_chips.html
The best general coverage related to robots is:
http://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/Groups/GAAS/Bugeye/publication.html

Here's the new address for the LANL BEAM site.

Debco Electronics Inc is a source for electronics parts in the Cincinnati area.

May 26
Here's an e-mail from Rick about some very nice gearmotors.
Subject:Escaps gearmotors for sale
Date:Wed, 26 May 1999 07:27:42 -0500
From:"Rick Diaz"
To:"BEAM"

Now that I have your attention, if this has not been posted to the list then read, else delete. Specs are supplied from merchant.

>From Nuts & Volts Magazine May 1999, page 51

Tiny precise Portescap Swiss Gearmotors
1219E-012-G-400 has 1044:1 Planetary gearbox - $19.00 US each, 2 for $34.00
12mm D x 44mm L
6v 5ma 68 rpm
12v 5ma 145rpm
-----------------------------------------------------------
M11-210-54-0 has Spur gearbox with approx ratio of 40:1 - $15.00 each, 2 for $27.00
Size 16mm D x 43mm L
6v 8ma 141 rpm
12v 12ma 290 rpm

Resources Un-Ltd.
300 Bedford Street
Manchester, NH 03101

800-810-4070 order
603-668-2499 tech
unltd4u@tiac.net

Later...Rick


Conrad is the source for Panasonic sunceram solar cells in Europe and Asia.

Here's another micro gearmotor assembly from Minimotor. Take a look at the BL1900/PG1900/SC1900 combo.

May 24
After a relaxing weekend in the booneys...I'm back to building!

MicroMo has come out with a new one. Check out the World's Smallest Gearmotor.

Here's a cool link to The University of British Columbia Solar Car Project.

Ian has loaded 10 more images of Mark Tilden's robots to BEAM-Online.

Darrell Johnson made a new BEAM site. BICOREEOS has lots of detailed pictures of his awesome bots.

Jester's BEAM Robotics has a new URL and layout. I like the solar-roller free-form tutorial!

Missed that PBS special "Voyage to the Milky Way" with footage of MarkT and his bots? You can buy it at Shop PBS. Only $19.98

Ian is starting a BEAM FAQ but he needs your help. If you have a question/answer add it to the list.

Here's a good story about carbon nanotubes that will someday be used for artificial muscles.

May 20
I'm going on my traditional May long weekend camping trip. See ya all when I get back.

Mark mentioned this to me in a recent e-mail but I couldn't find it in my TV guide...
Subject:Tildenspotting
Date:Wed, 19 May 1999 22:03:18 -0700
From:Michael Kennan
To:chiumanfu@home.com

Chiu,
I'm no longer on the list, so I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but I didn't see it on your page and thought you might be interested. I just saw Tilden on a show called "Voyage to the Milky Way" on PBS. Great shots of Roswell and Snake, some minor discussion of what they are all about. In my area, the next showing is Sunday at 1pm.

Anyone who caught it on tape willing to send me a copy?

Here's a link to some of the research being done ito the Mars In-Situ Propellant Production Precursor (MIP) program. Follow the links for more cool info.
Solar Cell Selection For Mars.

May 19
Here's an update on the BG Micro motors...
Subject:Nihon Micro Motors from Herbach and Rademan
Date:Wed, 19 May 1999 19:07:38 -0500
From:Steve Anderson
To:chiumanfu@home.com

Chiu,

An upate on the "Auto Zoom/Auto Focus Lens" assembly, part number TM98OPT3202, from Herbach and Rademan. I just received my order today :^) included in the shipment was their new catalog. The same assembly is now $39.95, $10 more !!!! I guess they wised up :^( You may want to include an update in the news tidbits.

Steve

Those greedy little...

Interested in the current thread on ant vision? Here's a long list of papers from The Bug-EYE Group, Alelaide University.

The BEAM Heretics Board has a few new updates. Snoop around in the BEAM people section for new stuff on Lurch by Zoz and Gold Board Photovore 1.2 by Andrew Miller. Hopefully the Mark Tilden page will start to get filled up soon.

May 18
BotDoc has posted his Page O' RoboMadness. I really like SAL's head, nice work!

Check out Jakub Pietracha's first walker, GUCIO. It was built using Bram's walker tutorial.

Mark Tilden has joined the BEAM Robotics Club. I'll try to get him into the chatroom one of these days!

May 16
Here's a clip from an e-mail sent to me from Steve Anderson.
By the way, last week I remembered the newsgroup msg from Jonathan Wolter regarding the BG MicroMo's. He said that Herbach and Rademan had them as "Mignty-Might Gearhead Motors" part number TM97MTR3083 for $19.95 each. Well I dug out my trusty catalog and lo and behold, not only did they have them, but upon a more thorough examination of the catalog I also found that they had an "Auto Zoom/Auto Focus Lens" assembly, part number TM98OPT3202, which looked promising. Gave them a call and inquired if the assembly still had the motors attached. BINGO, two Nihon motors, one lens assembly for $29.95. $5 cheaper a piece than the Mighty-Mights and with some free optics thrown in for good luck. Approximately 300 left when I ordered mine last friday. Only approximately 100 Mighty-Mights left.
Call 1-800-848-8001 to request their catalog.

Finally Steven has got his Suneater circuit down to just one chip. Suneater V is the latest and greaest in this family of very capable photovores.

May 15
James Taylor is trying to find stiquito kits. He's willing to trade BG Micro motors for them. Contact him at edgar_the_hate_bug1@yahoo.com for more details.

Steven has added a user discussion section to his Robot "Easter Egg Hunt" page where egg hunters can decide on rules and regulations.

For details on how the Western Canadian Robot Games turned out, check the website at http://www.robotgames.com/1999.htm and http://www.robotgames.com/19991.htm

Dave dropped some hints of a Millenium BEAM games (B2K) to be held in Calgary, Canada. I'll keep you posted.

Here is an excellent Sumo Tournament Guide.

May 13
Dennison has thought of a great idea (why didn't I think of that). As most of you don't have video capture equipment, I'll be accepting VHS tapes of your entries to my contest. I'll post clips of the video on-line for you. Try to keep them under a couple minutes long. E-mail me if this is the best solution for you.

Check out Nik's experimental Dual Bi-core Ray design.

Here's two links that apply to a current project of mine...
http://home.golden.net/~kpwillia/
http://www.milinst.demon.co.uk/bigfoot.htm.

May 12
I received the Hextile prizes from Mr. Tilden today. These things are quite impressive!!! Each includes 2 page description, 9 bicore hextiles and a couple odds and ends. Two people will win one these awesome boards in my Most Innovative Form of Motion contest. Special thanks to Mark Tilden for such a generous donation.

May 11
Steve put together a small SMD 1382 solarengine tutorial for those of your with sharp vision and steady hands.

Sony unleashes Cyber Canine Aibo, their long awaited pet robot.

May 10
Study BEAM and get a high school credit! What more can you ask for?!?!?
Subject:class for Los Angeles students
Date:Mon, 10 May 1999 20:33:37 -0500
From:newbots@public-enemy.com
To:beam@corp.sgi.com

Newbridge High School (private non-sectarian) is offering a beginning electronics and BEAM robotics class for three weeks in June. The class will count towards physical science credit for high school. The class is open to 8th-12th graders and will teach soldering and fabrication, reading schematics, basic electricity and circuits, etc... I have been teaching this class during the fourth quarter and so far we have built solar-rollers (they cover almost 10M in a few seconds!), flashers, trouble-shot solar engines and VCRs. We pull our motors from pagers, CDs etc., and have a lot of fun with walkers. Newbridge School is in west LA - Culver City area.
Email Rick Gard at Newbots@public-enemy.com


BEAM Heretics is back on-line. I especially like the "A View From Gary Larson's Far Side" page.

Here's a very cool little java applet. Langton's Ant is a cellular automaton that has baffled mathematicians.

May 8
As a prequel to the BEAM genome project, Bruce has organized a BEAM Web Index with a very nice interface and lots of listings already...but there's many more out there. Take 5 minutes to add your bots to the list.

May 7
You can find Jim's BEAM Art at a new address. Be sure to change your bookmarks.

Here's an excellent MicroMouse primer.

May 6
I've updated the ATpV Ver1.0 page with a new schematic and some performance characteristics.

May 5
Want to know more about The Life of Ian? Find out everything about BEAM-Online's dedicated webmaster.

Check out "Chiuwalka" and a 2dof head at Jason's BEAMland. BTW...I absolutely love that walkers name!

Zoz posted notes from a talk given by Mark Tilden. It's a pretty good read.

May 4
A new section has been added to my BEAM site. Wilf Rigter recently joined the BEAM community and has since demonstrated his impressive skill at dreaming up pretty little BEAM style circuits. Rigter's NuPages is a collection of his postings.

Yet another prize list addition. Rick Diaz is going to donate a pair of 64:1 Escap 22 gearmotors for my Most Innovative Form of Motion Contest. I wish I could enter one of my bots but I guess that isn't going to work...me being a judge and all!!! ;-)

Here's an e-mail from Craig about WCRG.
Subject:Western Canadian Robot Games
Date:Tue, 04 May 1999 16:00:57 -0600
From:Craig Maynard
Organization:JCM Electronic Services
To:BEAM

Just a note to remind you that the 9th annual WCRG is ready to Activate this Saturday ( May 8 ) at 10am in Calgary. It's shaping up to be a great show with...

Beam
Atomic Hockey
Sumo Wrestling
Beam
Martian Rover ( Sojourner )
Solar Roller ( Watch Dave tan by the light of 2000 Watts of Halogen sunshine! )
Beam
Fire Fighting robot ( We like to call it the "wellhead blowout" )
Beam
Hexapod walker informal workshop
Line following robot ( Pipeline inspector )
and Beam

Hope to see you... Please visit http://www.robotgames.com for more information concerning times, places, and prices.

Craig Maynard
WCRG

ps... For any flamethrowers out there, this in not an "official" Beam games, but there is going to be lot's of beam stuff to see, and I know you folks like that!


BEAM-Online has a new interface, a whole new look and Wouter Brok's Bi-core article. Looking very professional Ian!

DrDroid would like to hold a chat for for 5pm central time on Wednesday May 5th. If your not busy, please attend.

May 3
Updates to the contest prize list:
Mark Dalton has donated 3 MiniMotors with a 100.5:1 gearhead and 2 MicroMo motors with a 60:1 gearhead.
James Wilson is going to donate two gear motors into the prize pool as well as two tiny solenoids.
If you even enter the contest, your chances of winning a prize are EXCELLENT!

May 2
Richie has some brand new pager motors for sale.

Namiki like motors(RNM):
Rated 1.3VDC, 110mA max, 6000RPM.
Metal bracket with mounting tabs
L: .75" Dia: .312"
$8 each

Smaller Namiki like motors(SNM):
Rated 1.2-1.5VDC, 100mA max, 6000 RPM.
L: .5" Dia: .312"
$5 each

Mini pager Motor(MPM):
Rated .35-3VDC
7,800 RPM at 1.5V
16,000 RPM at 3V
78 ma at 1.5V no load
L: 1.25" Dia: .47"
$6 each

Micro Pager Motor(MCPM):
Rated .35 to 2.5 VDC
7,300 RPM at 1V
18,200 RPM at 2V
11 ma at 1V no load
15 ma at 2V no load
L:.6" Dia: .235"
$8 each

If you are going to order send him an E-mail with your order list and he will calculate your bill total(which includes S&H and every thing).

Solarbotics has the 24x22 (small) solarcells back in stock.

May 1
Here are some pics and a AVI of Jesse's "Shuggy The Head":
head.jpg
head2.jpg
head2.avi (559kB)
Pretty good for a first attempt!

Steven has revised his Easter Egg Hunt contest page.

Skyhooks & Rigging distributes WES Technik stuff and other micro-electronics in Canada.


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