On Fri, Aug 31, 2001 at 01:10:47PM -0500, Lawrence Lile wrote:
> Phooey on all that complex programming.  I want my mowbot to be as stupid as
> a cochroach.  Did you know, a cochroach is so stupid, it cannot even
> individually address it's own legs?  They have about four modes - go slow
> with six legs, go fast with six legs, go with the right legs only, go with
> the left legs only.  Robot scientists puzzle over how they clamber over tall
> obstacles with no finesse, they just scrabble until they get over it.  No
> finesse at all.
>
> Now, who would argue that cochroaches are not wildly successful?
>
> My mower is going to stumble aimlessly across the yard until it bumps into
> the barrier at the edge, back up, turn a random number of degrees, and
> wander aimlessly until it bumps into something again.  You get good coverage
> by randomness.  Stupid as a cochroach!

It still has an asthetic inelegance that I just can't shake. Between power
inefficiency, spot poor coverage, and the inability to navigate obsticles
or do planning the concept bothers me.

>
> Also, I don't want any complex rocket science edge sensing.  A line of big
> dumb bricks is what I'm considering.  I'd rather not find my Bot mowing the
> nieghbor's flowers when the house-of-cards edge sensing scheme fails.  As
> long as the edge is a barrier the bot cannot climb over, then bumpers are
> all that I need.

Sorry wrong edge. Not the edge of the property, the edge of the cut grass.
It could be a navigational tool (follow the cut grass edge) and even with
random wandering it can save power by only engaging the cutting motor if the
high grass sensors indicate that there's grass to cut.

I agree on the physical boundaries. I plan some type of low fencing along
with bumbers.

>
> Besides, I've got to finish this project by next summer.

I understand. Mine is two revisions and several years in the making.

BAJ

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