BEAM robotics - Definition and Overview

BEAM robotics (acronym for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics) is a type of analog robotics that uses simple analog circuits instead of a microprocessor. The underlying mechanism was invented by Mark W. Tilden. BEAM robotics use a paradigm of minimalist electronics to construct mechanical "lifeforms" that usually parallel a natural counterpart. Tilden's patent is US5325031 _{[1] (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5325031.WKU.&OS=PN/5325031&RS=PN/5325031)}.

BEAM is alternatively said to stand for:

Building Evolution Anarchy Modularity

Biotechnology Ethnology Analogy Morphology

Unlike many other types of robots, which are usually controlled by large processors, BEAM robots are built on the principle that having simple functions along with sensors is sufficient for most tasks. BEAM robots come in many shapes and sizes. BEAM robots are often modelled on insects, and can perform surprisingly complex tasks.

BEAM robots interact with their environment through nervous networks (sometimes referred to as the robot's "brain"), using random patterns with sensors and motor feedback instead of sensors and programmable logic. This approach is sometimes called the neuron approach.

Since the field's inception, BEAM robotics has grown to be a significant branch of robotics (particularly for hobbyists).

See also

Wired intelligence

External links

• Solarbotics.net (http://www.solarbotics.net)'s BEAM robotics community server
• SyDigital's BEAM (http://www.beam-online.com/)
• BEAM-life (http://beam-life.solarbotics.net/)
• Los Alamos National Laboratory's BEAM (http://www.nis.lanl.gov/projects/robot/)