I have heard from a few unrelated sources that someone has created a
purely mechanical device (I think made only with wires and springs)
that can somehow find its' way through a maze, but even more
amazingly(!) the device will REMEMBER the path through the maze so
that on a later attempt it will not need to re-learn its' way through.

I know this seems to defy logic (or physics, perhaps, or WHATEVER) and
I suspect this might be a hoax or an urban legend, but the people who
have told me this are beleivable and reliable.

Can you help me determine the veracity of this claim and point me in a
direction to learn more?

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Request for Question Clarification by feilong-ga on 05 Mar 2004 21:40 PST

Please take a look at this: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2002/Projects/S1201.pdf

Are you sure the device doesn't have the slightest trace of electronics?

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Clarification of Question by cosmiccowboy-ga on 05 Mar 2004 21:50 PST

Yes, I'm positive that there are no electronics whatsoever involved in the device.

Thanks.

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Clarification of Question by cosmiccowboy-ga on 07 Mar 2004 22:25 PST

I have further been informed that the device has been referred to as
an "analogical device", and that it uses "wave motion" to accomplish
its' goal.

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Clarification of Question by cosmiccowboy-ga on 07 Mar 2004 22:27 PST

further clarification:  I believe that rubber bands, or some such
similar mechanism may be used in adition to wires, springs, and
whatever else...

Electronics is not necessary to build computers.

Older computers were mechanical (see Babbage analytical engine)
and before digital, people used 'analog computers' - these were either
electronic (often using vaccum tubes)  or purely mechanical.
Electromechanical computers and calculators use relays (electromagnets) and
small motors. Memory is using position of wheels and/or punched cards or tape.

There are many robot olympics, and this one may be of interst:


For the AUTONOMOUS ROBOT MACHINE you may/may not use sensors &
microprocessors - the decision is yours. (Some teams built PURELY
MECHANICAL AUTONOMOUS units for Yantriki 97 and also in Yantriki 99 )
http://www.me.iitb.ac.in/yantriki/commonrules.htm


Here is a search term, which lists many more:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-2&q=purely+mechanical+robot+maze

So answer is: Yes. No physics law prevents us to build mechanical
devices which learn.
We switched to electronics and photonics because of size and speed,
bur nanotechnolgy can chagnge some of those limitations.


Here are search terms for Analog Computers  (which are special case of
analog devices)
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-2&q=analog+computers

Here are links on: fluidic gates computer
://www.google.com/search?&q=fluidic+gates+computer
hedgie

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Request for Answer Clarification by cosmiccowboy-ga on 10 Mar 2004 23:22 PST

Hedgie,

thanks for the info and the effort, but these links really do not
answer my question. I had something rather more particular in mind.
Any further thoughts?

thanks, CC

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Clarification of Answer by hedgie-ga on 12 Mar 2004 05:27 PST

Let's see if I got all your questions

  "analogical device",  

 This  looks like corruption of  'analog device'  , these are devices
used for computations
                                     which are not digital,  they can
be electronic such as 'operational amplifiers'
                                     or mechanical. 

   it uses "wave motion"    

   This is very general term. Any mechanical device with springs and
weights would exhibit
    some wave motions.   


   seems to defy logic (or physics, ) --
                               answer is: No, it is possible.  Some
mechanical robots have been built.

    We are told:   
Some teams built PURELY
MECHANICAL AUTONOMOUS units for Yantriki 97 and also in Yantriki 99 )
http://www.me.iitb.ac.in/yantriki/commonrules.htm    

Here  are some photos: http://www.me.iitb.ac.in/yantriki/gallery1.htm 
Same, we are told are purely mechanical, this one 

     http://www.me.iitb.ac.in/yantriki/images/robo/8.jpg  

look like that. You can see   wheels and gears.

A contraption like that can learn mazes.

 I would suggest you     explore link given there
            http://www.me.iitb.ac.in/yantriki/links.htm
perhaps join some of these clubs to learn more.

 To find a specific machine, which may be an urban legend,
 from description given, that may be impossible.

  If you have a specific question, please post another RFC.

hedgie

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Clarification of Answer by hedgie-ga on 12 Mar 2004 06:32 PST

CC
    I also made a search specifically on 'robots and urban legends'.

 If we exclude sci-fi, I found only one. It does not fit, as 
 these critters were not eletronics free (at least we are not told that). 

  So, I would say, what you heard was not an urban legend.

 The story I found is amusing though, and so here is the URL
 http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/06/20/1023864460978.html

I am also remined that 'purely mechanical' may mean different things
to different people.
For some, anything non-biological is a machine, and so 'mechanical'.

For other, biological system have no electronics, and so, "a white mouse"
 is an autonomous system, which can learn maze without an electronics.

I do not think you are looking for philosophical meanings of words
 living, autonoumous, mechanical, inteligent ...

are you?

not really what I was looking for, but a good effort