Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Relays are all you need
Message-ID: <nagleDCrnoz.H9G@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
References: <3ved58$4lg@Owl.nstn.ca> <3vqp9k$c5d@news.scruz.net>
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 1995 03:14:58 GMT
Lines: 33
Sender: nagle@netcom19.netcom.com

rstevew@armory.com (Richard Steven Walz) writes:
>In article <3ved58$4lg@Owl.nstn.ca>,
>Jack/Alex/Mike Godfrey  <jgodfrey@fox.nstn.ns.ca> wrote:
>>I've found that old-fashioned magnetic relays are fairly good for motor 
>>controls, memory, and other functions in a device. Complex behaviors have 
>>been made with this form of simple construction, so it should be safe to 
>>assume that computer gates could be put onto special controller chips as 
>>to control a household android. This is only an idea, but it is 
>>mathematically feasible. The only problem would be cost and coolant for 
>>the complex, skull-sized "brain".

>Just a query, but what YEAR is it wherever you are?
    
     There is that.

     If you're into relays, I suggest reading the collected papers
of Claude Shannon (available as a book).  Lots of fun relay circuits,
such as an adding machine using Roman numerals, and the famous maze
learning mouse.

     A worthwhile project would be to re-implement the original 
"turtle" of W. Grey Walters.  This was the first attempt at
an autonomous robot that actually worked.  It worked quite well,
and was exhibited (running) at the South Kensington Science
Museum in London around 1948.  Two relays, two tubes, two motors,
some other parts.  Yet it moved around, recharged itself, and
exhibited interesting behavior.  Building a duplicate would be
a good project.  If you do, publish an article in one of the
do-it-yourself electronics magazines.

					John Nagle
      
      
