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From: mwtilden@math.uwaterloo.ca (Mark W. Tilden)
Subject: Re: SQUIGGLE BALL INTELLIGENCE
Message-ID: <C9sryL.GL0@math.uwaterloo.ca>
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Organization: University of Waterloo
References: <1993Jul4.050159.19322@mixcom.mixcom.com>
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 1993 13:54:20 GMT
Lines: 28

In article <1993Jul4.050159.19322@mixcom.mixcom.com> Clint.Laskowski <Clint.Laskowski@mixcom.mixcom.com> writes:
>
>So, is this thing intelligent? Without considering the internal
>operations, I'd say it was at least as intelligent as some of the
>mobile robots we discuss hear in c.r at times.

It's not "intelligent" but it does satisfy survival rules for simple
environments: it wanders around and, by nature of its form, protects itself.
The problems are: - Can't climb out of a hole, valley or shallow.
                  - Can't control direction or path with any accuracy.
                  - Can't manipulate its environment with any force.
                  - Thus, can't feed itself.

So it's a cool design but not a sufficient one for macroscale application
except maybe as a pet toy.  As for microscale application, well plankton have
proven this sort of survival strategy effective for millions of years.

Sufficient but not efficient.  Neat, but I wouldn't want to mount a micro 
in one.

Is all.


-- 
Mark W. Tilden.  "Gomi no Sensei des"       _    _    ________________________
MFCF, Un. of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.    / \  / \  /________________________)
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