Subject:
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Re: Working around the 3 output limitation
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Wed, 6 Jan 1999 20:25:36 GMT
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Viewed:
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1339 times
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This is a little ramble on the subject.
The ideas in the later posts of this thread are in my opinion what Lego
**is**. It is innovation in the face of "limited" options. It is creativity
and problem solving. When I bought my Mindstorms it said right on the
Box... three in and three out. The collective effort of this group has
exceeded that limitation in the first week of tinkering. We have now have
new software, firmware, sensors, ect. Gems keep popping up on this group
every week!
It is sometimes frustrating to come up against the limitations of Lego (I
have been there) and it is easy to wish for a part to address a particular
problem (I have been there too), but I feel the most rewarding aspect of
Lego play is addressing the problem with your own ingenuity. A Lego Purist
would be at the far end of the spectrum in his or her desire for challenge.
I think we all want more ports, and more sensors, and more capabilities, but
I think Lego enthusiasts would regret being handed them without having the
chance to produce the ingenious work-around's that permeate this list.
If your goal is to make an agent having function X, and aren't concerned
with it being design challenge (1) then there (as mentioned in this thread)
other robotic options. I feel that some of the frustration is rooted in the
feeling that "... if TLG had just done just this _little_ thing (small
change) then the RIS would be so much more versatile". This is true, but if
you carry on this line, you have a rug warrior... if you want a rug warrior
they already sell them.
Is there a limit to what the RIS can do? We will see... (2)
1. _all_ robotic endeavors have their challenge... I mean the increased (or
for the PC police... different) challenge that comes with Lego
2. please don't reply with the obvious limitations... I know there are, but
it is not my point.
NB. This is _not_ to single out the original poster... he only verbalized
what we all have thought at one time or another. My point was to bring up
the idea that Lego is was Lego is, and because of this, innovation is in the
hands of the enthusiast. This is _not_ a suggestion to stop "griping", it
is always nice to have company in misery. And, innovation springs from "I
wish that... " statements.
LINC
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | Re: Working around the 3 output limitation
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| Linc Smith writes: > The ideas in the later posts of this thread are in my opinion what Lego > **is**. It is innovation in the face of "limited" options. Any device will have limitations. The beauty of Mindstorms is that anything I build with mine, (...) (26 years ago, 6-Jan-99, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | So why build robots out of LEGO in the first place?
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| I have made the following personal observations about LEGO, and why it is my medium of choice for robot building. LEGO is very easy to assemble. You can figure out what you want beforehand, without really needing to worry too much about (...) (26 years ago, 7-Jan-99, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | Re: Working around the 3 output limitation
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| (...) I think this is right. After all, we could all start with an asortmaent of bits of metal and plastic and a hobby engineering shop, and build arbitrary robot designs; and *probably*, it wouldn't cost a huge amount more than the mindstorms kit (...) (26 years ago, 16-Jan-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Working around the 3 output limitation
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| (...) Another option is to use "half motors" -- ie, if you are using 360 degree 4-wheel steering and driving all four wheels, those drive wheels never need to go in reverse. You can use a differential and two ratchets to separate the forward motion (...) (26 years ago, 6-Jan-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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