Brief paper concerning basic entropy of information and fundamental limits for encoding binary data. See PDF below.
The human brain is an extremely complex system. This paper is an off-topic overview of memory and enhancement techniques. Click below for the PDF.
First:
The entry for the Independent Game Developers Festival has been completed, Bubble Blow. You can read more about it at http://beauhinks.com/bubbleblow
Very basic game, but given the time constraints turned out relatively well. Physics work reasonably realistically. I was able to add in dynamic collision geometry generated by the textures before submission to the contest… kinda cool!
Second:
The St. Mary’s project using genetic algorithms for autonomous navigation is slow going–mostly in part because of time spent on Bubble Blow. However, I have a working robotics platform running a Pic18f2550 which allows us plenty of control. My partner and I are now working on condensing the code and fitting it on the microprocessor so we don’t have to do any sort of tethered control. We have wireless modules, which I would have to write a bit of code to interface between USB and serial to get to work properly, but the original idea was to have fully autonomous robots capable of seeking goals and avoiding predators.
We’ll get there. Maybe some pictures will go up soon.
Third:
The site has been neglected for a few months. My schedule this semester was a bit more hectic than anticipated due to taking on an aid position for a math class. Hopefully, I’ll be able to stay on top o Beauhinks more in the next month and year as new opportunities present themselves. Physics is good. Programming is good. I should have a bit of research up soon on the (well understood) application of Statistical Mechanics to Information Theory. Is there a fundamental limit on knowledge?
That is all.
~Steven
Didn’t win in the Darwin Race of Languages… that wasn’t a big shock! Ah well congratulations to the individuals that did, some of the submissions were really well done and significantly easier to install than mine. Check out the entries!
Good prizes as well.
Dream Build Play
St. Mary’s College is fielding two teams for Microsoft’s Dream Build Play contest. I’m part of one, we’re working on ideas now. Hopefully we get started soon, we only have approximately two months left. Should be a blast if we can dedicate some time and effort to a good game building on experience from last year.
Thesis
I’ve a final thesis to do. I want to build robots. This is not entirely physics as my adviser will probably point out, but I am a joint major. So, at the suggestion of a partner, we’re going to play with genetic algorithms and robots.
First Stages:
We need a robot platform, and we’re strapped for cash. I’m going to be in charge of building something cost effective that will allow us to run simulations from a host. Let’s look at some candidates for parts for a platform to test the feasibility of our idea:
- (1) PICAXE-08M Microcontroller - the brains of the little guys. 128 bytes to work with. 8 pins. This could get hairy!
- (1) L293D Driver. Used for controlling motors. Actually, we might be going with a project board for the picaxe which would give us 4 digital on/offs and 2 reversible power outputs without much headache. Enough to turn two servos and collect a little input from the environment.
- (1) 5V Voltage Regulator. We don’t want any blue smoke.
- (2) Microswitches to collect input.
- (1) 9V Battery.
- (2) GM10 Motor Kits. They have to move somehow.
All of these parts thrown together should make a fairly basic robot. If we add a wireless serial controller, then we’ve a mobile platform which we can control from a host.
Where’s my credit card? I’ll be using it at Octopart, that’s for sure!
Steve