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 is claimed to be invented by Mark W. Tilden but the identical concept and circuit was published by Ed Rietman in 'Experiments In Artificial Neural Networks, ISBN 0-8306-0237-2 (1988), and predates Tilden's claim. The cicuit resembles an analog sequence generator. BEAM robotics use a paradigm of minimalist electronics to construct mechanical "lifeforms" that usually parallel a natural counterpart. Tilden's patent is US5325031 [1].
BEAM is alternatively said to stand for:
- Biology Electronics Aesthetics Mechanics
- 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 proved to have no practical applications other than toys and hobby robots. Because of the random nature of the 'nervous network' there is no way to control or sequence the robots actions. Although these robots exhibit the illusion of intelligence because of the design of the body and movement of the legs, they have no way to learn from past behaviour or to be programmed to perform a useful task.
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