Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics Robotics is a term that refers to a style of robotics that primarily uses simple analogue circuits, such as comparators, instead of a microprocessor in order to produce an unusally simple design that trades flexibility for robustness and efficiency in performing the task for which it was design. BEAM Robots typically consists of a set of aforementioned analog circuits which facilitate the robot's response to its working environment.
The basic BEAM principles focus on a stimulus-response based ability within a machine to simulate biological neuron behaviours. The design use the lowest number possilbe of electronic elements, recycle and reuse technoscrap, and radiant energy such as solar power. BEAM robotics attempts to copy the characteristics and behaviours of natural organisms, with the ultimate goal of domesticating these "wild" robots. BEAM robotics also promotes the value of aesthetics in the design of the device, proving the adage "form follows function".
Because BEAM is very adaptable there have been many different types of BEAM robots built. The most common types are....
The basic BEAM principles focus on a stimulus-response based ability within a machine to simulate biological neuron behaviours. The design use the lowest number possilbe of electronic elements, recycle and reuse technoscrap, and radiant energy such as solar power. BEAM robotics attempts to copy the characteristics and behaviours of natural organisms, with the ultimate goal of domesticating these "wild" robots. BEAM robotics also promotes the value of aesthetics in the design of the device, proving the adage "form follows function".
Because BEAM is very adaptable there have been many different types of BEAM robots built. The most common types are....
- Solaroller - A small wheeled robot that collects energy from a small photovoltaic cell and then bursts forward a few millimeters to a few feet depending on the construction.
- Photovore - The photovore is basically two solarollers stuck together to give it a phototropic (move towards brightest source of light) behavior. You can add sensors so it wont get stuck and like the solaroller it's also solar powered.
- Walker - The walker is the heart of BEAM. The most common type of walker is the 4 legged, 2 motor design (see photo above). They also (at the time of this writing) include 2 legged, star wars like walkers to 6 legged 12 motor designs. Walkers can be built to walk on mars, blow up land mines, scare your secretary and many more useful (and not so useful) applications.
- Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlTFNb-WQXY
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