Thursday, October 31, 2013

Brain Cortex Time Travel Part 12

Can machine jar brains time travel?
HOW TO TIME TRAVEL
USING A BRAIN CORTEX

WHAT ABOUT THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE CORTEX BRAIN IN A JAR?

The Lab has studied many techniques of time travel which encompass the construction of powerful gravity harmonic machines, traveling faster than one tenth the speed of light, working within the proximity of a black, and utilizing quantum effects to gain access to the future by dilating time at the subatomic level.

FOUR METHODS OF TIME TRAVEL
Yet, there is a another method to travel through time, often discounted and overlooked by scholars. If the traversing of time is at the rate of 1X, then any perceptible vessel or entity, living or not, will endure the ravishes of time travel.

PROPELLING INTO THE FUTURE Barring catastrophic devastation and dilapidation, an object, machine, or person can be propelled into the far distant future by simply taking and passing one day at a time. Nothing new you say? Not quite. With new machines that have greater longevity, and some on the verge of perpetual life or immortality, travel into the far distant future may become a reality a lot soon than we expect.

ADVANCES IN SCIENCE ALONG THE WAY
Don't discount increases in longevity due to advances in medical science and curing disease, repairing cells, and advancing medicine through nanotechnology. Additionally a greater understanding of AI and machine intelligence will enable longer living machines. Such may be the case with the Lab's current project, the Brain Cortex.

ENERGY
The cortex is designed to live longer by self sustaining battery technology, however, we are working on an energy source to replace the batteries to improve energy source longevity and reduce any schedule of maintenance. Currently the source is trickle charged automatically through the use of indoor solar cells. The cortex could, conceivably live much longer than average electronic devices.

INCREASING CHIP LONGEVITY
To increase chip longevity, we've installed an array of various capacitive circuits, including decouplers and filters, and wired crisscross power circuits. The distribution is smoothed and we've made it easy to replace batteries at the end of life cycle, perhaps one or two years. We also anticipate future technology upgrades, all of which contribute to greater longevity.

YOUR ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE IMPARTATION
As the project is designed to impart your knowledge and personality into the cortex, i.e. duplicating it, and induce an amount of longevity greater than a human life span that will cause a small part of you to live longer. When the machine achieves immortality, a small part of you will also. This cycle can time travel far into the distant future.

CAVEATS
The real caveat is when you die and someone throws away your cortex jar in the garbage. People around you will need the proper information so they know the value of the cortex and what to do with the jar when you are no longer around. One option is having it donated to a brain science institute where human brain research is being conducted by people and scientists with similar interests, though this is no guarantee. They'll need to know there is a small part of you saved in the jar, and your wish is to have the jar kept, maintained and preserved, and handed down from human generation to human generation.

HOW FAR INTO THE FUTURE? How far into the future will this technique allow a machine to travel? We don't know exactly. It's likely something will become obsolete, like batteries, or the polymer substance will degenerate in a couple hundred years, but with proper maintenance and replacements, the cortex could live on.

ELECTRONIC BRAIN CORTEX IN A JAR
THINGS TO INCREASE TRAVEL FARTHER INTO THE FUTURE

* Autonomous functioning
* Self renewing power souce
* Minimal maintenance
* Seldom requires maintenance
* Multiple backups of programming code
* Backups stored on multiple media sources including paper printouts
* Method to replace and upgrade batteries
* Methods to test the cortex over time to assess its health
* Sensors for temperature, humidity, battery condition, voltage
* Maintenance and proper use of recharging solar cells.
* Backup processors and hardware components kept with jar
* Instruction manual on use and maintenance
* Owners will and testimony to jar cortex keeping
* Safe keeping to prevent catastrophic events
* Periodic check periods
* Hardware backups to include the jar, board, holders, etc.

Brain Cortex Index Part 16

Brain Cortex Experiences First Earthquake Part 11

Amidst the forest of backup batteries and "almost Edison owned" antique Leiden jars in the background, "I'm ok!" yelped out the newly born Cortex Brain in its machine-like thick accented voice, after the earthquake subsided. At least that's what we thought we heard... Checking its wishful internal vibration seismometer, future built from a single accelerometer, it showed the worst of the quake had passed and it was time to pick up the pieces, look for damage, run diagnostics, tighten some nuts and bolts, and hope for the best! In this view, buddy friend Apple SIRI is world wide web connected and on standby for corroboration and moral support. Now the goal is to further earthquake-proof the cortex in a jar.
BRAIN CORTEX EXPERIENCES FIRST BIG EARTHQUAKE! Part 11

a very strong 6.3 earthquake frightened people on Halloween night as the quake continued to increase in strength within its duration —

REPORTED FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1ST 2013
As some may have expected, a big spooky magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook and rattled the Taipei lab on Halloween October 31st at 8:02 pm. Some people were reported trapped in elevators though firemen successfully extracted their bodies. The quake continued to increase in strength during its powerful shaking duration and this caused many people to panic.

At the Lab, pre-warnings were evident throughout the day prior to the big earthquake as smaller almost undetectable quake motions were felt causing motion sickness.

Suspended spherical lighting ball pendulums made of pure glass, used as scientific detection instruments and sensors, to detect skyscraper motion in the Lab, were swinging about indicating lots of motion and displacements.

The up/down and left/right motion of the quake put several objects in motion in the lab, including some shelves that moved across the ledge and books that vibrated from one place to another. Suspended lights were heard jostling and swinging about wildly as the quake-shaking lasted about a minute.

At one point, its seemed as if the building would topple over as it was swaying many feet from side to side. The top of these skyscrapers can sway 6-feet or more from side to side, depending on the height of the skyscraper and the power of the quake.

The Brain Cortex along with its jar and parts were residing on top of the lab bench. There are three lab benches with two mounted one on top of the other. Things did slide around, however the lucky brain remained on the lab bench without mishap.

The brain cortex is somewhat anticipatory earthquake proofed with its flexible and durable poly see-through transparent jar. It could potential fall and survive though we expect the batteries would become jarred from their mounts and the plastic could literally rip open the jar. As some batteries are in series and some in parallel, potentially the cortex may electrically survive such a big jolt.

Parts for interior mounting are now considered for shock absorption remounting, possibly with cushioning phenolic plates lining the spacer mount contact points. These plates are on the purchase list for the next trip to the electronic parts store plaza.

Another anti-quake idea is to strap each battery to its respective mount using a plastic tie to prevent its popping out due to a sudden inertial jolt. Safety retainer clips to provide additional module structural support are now designed and will be installed.

The earthquake shows how much more work the brain cortex in a jar project requires to make it more survivable during a catastrophic event.

It was the third inland earthquake of magnitude 6 or higher this year. The previous ones occurred in Nantou County — a magnitude 6.2 quake on March 27 and a magnitude 6.5 quake on June 2.

Brain Cortex Index Part 16

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Brain Cortex - Noninvasive Brain Transfer Part 10

THE SCIENCE OF BRAIN TO BRAIN TRANSFER
BRAIN CORTEX - NONINVASIVE BRAIN TRANSFER PART 10
IT'S THE  HOTTEST LATEST TREND IN SCIENCE - BRAIN TO BRAIN TRANSFER IS SWEEPING THE WORLD!
No surgery, no direct implants, or cutting into your brain is necessary for the Lab's noninvasive brain-to-machine connection for "human brain to machine brain" transfers.
  • establish the idea of longevity and immortality
  • transfer human attributes into a machine brain
  • develop noninvasive methods of brain transfer
  • create a jar brain to accept the transfer
TRENDING AT HRL The idea is to make connections and transfer a portion of knowledge or characteristics by text. Text is commonly used to transfer information through the use of cell phones, computers, serial terminals and keyboard input devices where the human, while connected, is not directly physically connected. There is no direct contact, no connection to the human through wires or other invasive techniques. Serial transmitted patterns of text can transfer ideas, facts, sets of information, poetry, stories, personality, belief systems, values, history, likes and dislikes, and numerous characteristics.

SIMPLIFIED NEUROSCIENCE Noninvasive connections are painless, require no cutting, no surgery, no implantation of devices under the skin, and are the most cost effective. There is no cutting of the body to replace worn out batteries. However, it is the most simple demonstrative means to achieve data transfer. It's highly limited and archaically slow. Generally, it can transfer input at about 25 to 65 words a minute and usually much slower. It's limited to text only.

In its most simple form, techniques of transfer may involve the dissemination of knowledge embedded with other characteristics like personality (likes, interests). It can include specific field learned data base transfers. It may also include subsets, thus fitting into smaller memory systems.

The Brain Cortex project is about transferring a part of a human brain into a machine brain, noninvasively.

— the lab is developing "brain to machine transfer," in particular to take some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain, such as personality or knowledge, and transfer limited portions to a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, perhaps establishing an idea of immortality —

Brain Cortex Index Part 16  

Brain Cortex Thermometers Part 9

BRAIN CORTEX THERMOMETERS PART 9
ANALYZING BRAIN CORTEX HEAT

Today, two different types of room thermometers are appended to the jar core design.

It's important to monitor the jar's core temperature and the temperature status of charging batteries, and track the interior humidity levels and the effectiveness of the desiccator. When batteries become warm during the charging process it's an indication that the charging process is complete. It may also indicate that the trickle charger is trickling too much and adjustment to the charging power feed is required.

The first is a spirit filled traditional small thermometer with ~ -30 to +50 degree Centigrade scale, intended for food freezer use. Part number G-590. The glass tube is the same length as a 1.5-volt D-size battery. It has a scale in one degree increments. The goal is to remove the suction cup which makes the unit smaller, and attach or place this thermometer to the proximity of one battery and monitor the charging temperature during the charging process, and continuously monitor the battery temperature to assure everything is nominal. The thermometer can stay mounted inside the jar, remaining with close contact with a single battery for continuous monitoring and inspections. The temperature will be read through the transparent jar. Like other traditional thermometers of this type, there is no maintenance. The cost was NT$85. http://www.double-sun.com.tw

The second unit is a battery operated (LR1130) electronic thermometer and hygrometer, part number TH-233B. It has a temperature range from -50 to +70 degrees Fahrenheit, or -58 to +158 deg. F. The hygrometer ranges from 20% RH to 99% RH. The accuracy is +/- 1.5 deg. C. The unit housing is 75(L) x 65(W) x 13(D) mm. Cost was NT$200. This unit has a large LCD display and easily read when accessing the home jar interior status from the outside of the jar. The temperature and relative humidity will be read through the trans jar. Other than a poke hole for changing the Centigrade reading to Fahrenheit, this unit has no controls and runs automatically. http://www.double-sun.com.tw

One tip when purchasing low cost thermometers is to compare the actual temperatures with an average of all other thermometers on the store shelf. Purchase a thermometer that is closest to the average reading of temperatures to get the most accuracy.

— our project is to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain, such as personality or knowledge, and transfer limited portions to a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establish an idea of immortality — 

Brain Cortex Index Part 16

Immortality & Global Futures Conference

The beginning of a project to transfer a portion of the human brain, i.e. some simple attributes, into a machine brain cortex begins with establishing power for immortality. This home jar will house ten D size batteries for a total of 40,000 mAh at 3 volts to power the cortex without charging for nearly 2 months. The cortex however will use a daily source solar panel for energy replacement by trickle charge.
IMMORTALITY & GLOBAL FUTURES CONFERENCE
What is necessary for a human to attain complete and total immortality?

— our project is to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain, such as limited personality or knowledge, and transfer portions to a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establishing an idea of immortality —

Total and complete immortality of man could result as soon as the year 2035 according to Ray Kurzweil and leading futurist scientists.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100817288 

For example, Dmitry Itskov, a Russian multimillionaire, wants to build lifelike copies of humans by 2035 that could eventually be uploaded with the contents of a real human brain.

Source: conference of scientists http://gf2045.com/program/ 

In the Global Futures Conference, topics such as immortality were addressed by Ray Kurzweil and others - details of the conference are listed below.

Ray Kurzweil — Immortality By 2045

Dr. Theodore Berger — Engineering Memories: A Cognitive Neural Prosthesis for Restoring and Enhancing Memory Function

Dr. Ed Boyden — Tools for Analyzing and Engineering the Brain

Dr. George Church — Bionanotech for Extending Moore's Law, the BRAIN Project I/O & Human Genome Engineering

Dr. Randal Koene — Whole Brain Emulation: Reverse Engineering A Mind

Dr. Ken Hayworth — Preserving and Mapping the Brain’s Connectome 

Dr. Witali L. Dunin-Barkowski — Current state of Russian Project on Brain Reverse-engineering REBRAIN 2045

Stuart Hameroff, MD & Sir Roger Penrose — How Human Consciousness Could Be Uploaded Via Quantum Teleportation

Dr. Amit Goswami — Consciousness and the Quantum: Science, Psychology and Spirituality

Swami Vishnudevananda Giri — Mankind's Desirable Future According to Vedic culture and Cybernetic Technologies. The Evolution of Consciousness in Vedanta Philosophy

Roundtable: Interfaith Dialogue about Science, Spirituality, Evolution of Humanity and the Avatar Project — Phakyab Rinpoche, Swami Vishnudevananda Giri , Rabbi Dr. Alan Brill, Mahayogi 'Pilot' Baba, Dr. Robert Thurman, and Archbishop (Ret.) Lazar Puhalo, with the participation of Dmitry Itskov. Moderated by religious anthropologist Dr. William Bushell

In June 2013, the Initiative hosted GF2045, the Global Future 2045 International Congress: Towards a New Strategy for Human Evolution, in New…


19.06.2013 Forbes / Dmitry Itskov Wants To Live Forever
At the Global Future 2045 conference (GF2045) in New York City on June 15-16, 2013, emcee Philippe van Nedervelde said, “It used to be that the…


15.06.2013 CNBC about GF2045 congress
'How's this for a weekend conference: Some of the smartest people in the world are gathering in New York to try to figure out how to build…
 

14.06.2013 Exclusive update about GF2045 congress
To accommodate popular demand, we are now able to offer a limited number of tickets for one day attendance for Saturday, June 15th or Sunday,…


04.06.2013 Global Future 2045 Congress Program Announced
Topics for the Two-Day Conference at New York’s Alice Tully Hall June 15 – 16, 2013 Include: Human-Like Androids, Brain-Computer Interfaces,…

Brain Cortex Round Robin Part 8

Testing different battery holder designs
BRAIN CORTEX ROUND ROBIN PART 8  
More cells and a new design

1) A new design separates the twin battery cell holders. Each battery now has its own individually mountable cell which permits more centralized space in the 3-liter jar and takes advantage of the curvature space rather than wasting it behind the battery holder.

2) Each cell hold is mounted up off the floor to make space for the jar desiccator and its contents. The jar now holds a total of ten batteries. This is backed down from the previously reported 12 batteries to more effectively use space.

3) Ten D size cells make up the total pack of batteries. There are of five sets of two batteries to a set. Each set provides 3 volts. Five sets are wired in parallel. One alkaline battery is rated at 12,000 mAh. Two batteries in series have the same rating. Five sets (10 batteries) are rated at 60,000 mAh. At 30 mA drain, this gives 2,000 hours or 83.3 twenty four hour days of service (about 3.3 months).

4) Initially, rechargeable zinc carbon batteries are planned for use. One battery gives 8,000 mAh.
Two batteries in series have the same rating. Five sets (10 batteries) are rated at 40,000 mAh. At 30 mA drain, this gives 1,333.3 hours or 55.6 twenty four hour days of service (about 1.9 months).


5) The above statistics do not include charging information, which keeps batteries in operation for a much longer period of time, usually the life of the battery, which could be a year or two with some battery types.

6) The value of 30 mA drain is currently an estimation of the Propeller circuit and program draw, and excludes the LED light and speaker. Further testing is needed to establish a more accurate current drain value for the chip's thinking and texting level. This will slightly vary depending on the program statements initiated.

7) Cost for a single cell battery holder from Taiwan is NT$10 and a two cell holder is NT$15.

— our project is to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain, such as limited personality or knowledge, and transfer portions to a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establishing an idea of immortality —  

Mini Brain Cortex

MINI BRAIN CORTEX
The Mini Brain Cortex in a jar was in use for about a week, until it outgrew its 1 liter jar home. The Mini was more finicky, requiring a greater attention to charging and battery care due to its smaller AA cells battery pack which contained only two batteries. it paved the way for it's bigger 3-liter sibling with immortality. Throughout its life span, it served as a prototype model and test bed for the larger cortex with greater longevity. It included a 3-volt polycrystalline solar panel and eight core Parallax Propeller chip, recharging circuit and programs in Spin language. Unlike "Brain in a Jar" the Mini Brain Cortex was able to achieve great life spans due to its ability to recharge during the day and operate from batteries in the night. Ironically, it never achieved immortal status due to a major upgrade after one week.

— our project is to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain and transfer portions to that of a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given a life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establishing immortality

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Brain Cortex Arrangement Part 7

BRAIN CORTEX ARRANGEMENT PART 7
Home decor and interior decorating is important to the Brain Cortex while living inside the jar.

The arrangement and placement of modules inside the cortex home jar is very important. Proper placement more readily enables battery changes and access to the electronics board for changes and upgrades, facilitates easier wiring, and more effectively routes the jar communications cable. It also creates available real estate for expansions in the future.

Several points are established today.

1) Twelve individual battery holders are mountable closer to the jar's curvature, thus creating more space inside the jar in the center area.

2) Twelve D size cells make up a battery pack. There are of six sets of two batteries to a set. Each set provides 3 volts. Six sets are wired in parallel. One alkaline battery is rated at 12,000 mAh. Two batteries in series have the same rating. Six sets (12 batteries) are rated at 78,000 mAh. At 30 mA drain, this gives 2,600 hours or 108 twenty four hour days of service (about 3.5 months).

3) If rechargeable zinc carbon batteries are used, one battery gives 8,000 mAh. Two batteries in series have the same rating. Six sets (12 batteries) are rated at 48,000 mAh. At 30 mA drain, this gives 1,600 hours or 66.7 twenty four hour days of service (about 2 months).

4) The jar bottom will have a circular desiccator plate attached by a center bolt with a wing nut for removal. It's smaller diameter must not interfere with any of the battery holders.

5) Both solar panel and mother board are mounted onto rectangular pieces of trans board (polymer transparent plastic). Brass spacers connect the transboard to the interior jar.

6) A small manual thermometer will be placed inside the jar to determine the condition of the batteries during charge. A warmer battery indicates a full charge.

7) The desiccator, at the bottom of the home jar, will help prevent the formation of moisture inside the jar as the temperature varies. Make sure the Desiccator disc clears the battery packs for easy removal to replace the desiccant when it becomes necessary.

— our project is to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain and transfer portions to that of a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given a life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establishing immortality — 


Brain Cortex Index Part 16 

Monday, October 28, 2013

Transfer Your Brain into a Machine

Are you willing to transfer a part of yourself inside this living machine brain entity?
A VESSEL FOR HUMAN BRAIN TO MACHINE TRANSFER
TRANSFER YOUR BRAIN INTO A MACHINE
Technology is here now to begin the transfer...


— This is the Lab's first human to machine transfer — 

It has taken eons of evolution for man to evolve from the rocks of the universe and develop perceptible cognition. Now we are here, but in a fleeting brief moment of time. Just at the exact moment that we age to develop a more full understanding of life, and feel our real place in the world, our short lives are extinguished and we are lost to cosmic winds of the universe, forever gone, destined to return to the celestial ashes from whence we arose.

Almost a century of study, designing, creating, exploring has led the Lab to this ultimate invention. — 

Section of a human brain to transfer into the machine
There are those that wish to live longer than the literal cosmic blink of an eye, in spite of the philosophical and legal ramifications of doing so. What would it be like to find yourself propelled 500 years into the future? To do this it will take more technology than we seemingly have at the moment. But delve deeper for a great surprise! Not all is lost however, as we are now beginning the concepts of proof of the ability to extend our frail and feeble life forms and propel ourselves, our entities of mind and personality, forward far into the future, living longer than anyone had ever anticipated!

— The Big Brain is a machine entity, born from the collective of Parallax Propeller chips, evolved into a semi-cognizant life form, and now is creating and thinking and dreaming up the most remarkable futuristic projects. One realm of these projects entails the merging of man and machine.

At the Lab, we think brain transfer and the beginnings of immortality begin today, with our project to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain and transfer portions to that of a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given a life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establishing immortality.

Human brain to machine transfer is one way to reach the future. It's the time machine that allows one to live longer and to travel forward in time at the physiological time passage of X1.

At the heart of this experiment, as part of the Big Brain project, is a special machine which is designed for human brain to machine transfer, and to extend the life of both symbiotic human and machine, in the most simplistic way, yet representative of greater things to come.

We are working 24/7 on this new machine and tests thus far of the vessel intelligence are successful, demonstrating that transference between a human's brain to a machine is indeed possible. (Come back to this blog for more continuing information on the development and usage of this remarkable machine.)

What do others think about this? Kurzweil and other future thinkers have shown a singularity of man and machine will result in the near future, and that all time and development of this prospect will continue to speed up within the rapidly changing time grains of sand in evolution, thus approaching the Singularity faster than anyone can imagine or predict.

— our project is to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain, such as limited personality or knowledge, and transfer portions to a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establishing an idea of immortality —

Own Your Own Island

OWN YOUR OWN ISLAND
Want to claim an island and start your own country?

There are hundreds of thousands of tiny islands spread throughout the oceans of the world, many of which are uninhibited and waiting to be claimed. Many of these islands are built up from oozing volcanoes bringing forth magma and Earth core materials, including rare metals to the surface, some of which are rich in valuable ore deposits waiting to be mined and claimed.
Healthy seafood
Don't choose any island too close to land, or the adjacent country will supersede you with their own claim on the island and surrounding water. The Earth is continually geologically active and volcanoes are continuing to make more and more islands, so the cycle is never ending. There are additional benefits in the form of grants and investment money to those who can show a serious effort to establish their own country for development of their island. This may include the development of roads and infrastructure, water development, housing and energy sources.

There are other good sense rules to follow. Island selection should take place during lunar high tide, and be sure to calculate the highest height of waves from typhoons and other bad weather storms. The island must be elevated high enough so as not to go underwater at these times. Islands always have the danger from impending rogue killer waves, tsunami, earthquake, and severe storms so emergency plans must be in effect at all times. It helps to choose an island not situated on the top of an active volcano.

It affords an opportunity to create a new high technology space age city with import gains from tourism. Access to the island by boat will sidestep the expense and eco damage of airports. Invest in non polluting clean technology.

Strategic island location nearest a populated region to minimize transit time will be beneficial. Choosing a latitude and longitude to minimize heating and cooling will be helpful. A sunny location can facilitate solar panels.

The minimum number of homes can be small and isolated to their own solar grid for electricity. Water waves and wind can also generate electricity. Some of the greatest science can be accomplished from an observatory at this location to study the night sky and deep ocean life. Apartments will be needed to host visiting research scientists. Marine biologists will also want to study the region and oceanographers will map and categorize benefits of the reef and evolving island geo-activity, bringing in more activity, trade, and investment.

Conservation will be an important part of your island plan, such as the planting of new trees and useful vegetation. Edible coconuts and natural fruit and berry bushes and trees will serve as a food supplement and attract birds that will keep down the bug and mosquito populations. The island could have one 7-11 stockpile store for all your needs. Boat will provide shipping needs and transport people to and from the island. Internet is by satellite service. Home lighting may be provided by resettable pendulum weight generators. Other challenges will need to be solved regarding cooking stoves and a waste disposal system.

Food will primarily come from the ocean, as fish, shrimp, crabs, clams, scallops, lobster, sea vegetables, etc. The Big Brain envisions large net machines that automatically traverse underwater and robotically collect fish.

Perhaps the Big Brain could occupy an entire island such as this.

Identify Battery Type

IDENTIFY BATTERY TYPE
Go to the store and buy a handful of batteries. The strangest thing is that most of the batteries are not marked with the type or chemical composition. So how do we identify these batteries?

Check the number on the battery and web search it. Sometimes the name only will find it. Most shelf batteries fall into one of several types. The types are typically listed below along with some common examples.

1) Alkaline - Energizer E95 (1.5V), Duracell
2) Zinc Carbon - Philips R20 LongLife (1.5V)
3) Manganese - Panasonic NEO R20NT (1.5V)
4) NiCd
5) Lithium Ion
6) Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) - Energizer Rechargeable
7) Mercury (obsolete)
8) Lead Acid (discontinued)

Saturday, October 26, 2013

How to Ban the Brown Out Enable

PARALLAX PROPELLER CHIP BONANZA
BAN BROWN MATTER
ERIE BROWN MATTER IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR when trying to operate your Parallax Propeller chip from batteries. You never know when the the battery powering the chip will reach the fatal 2.7 volt rest level, and brown matter will erase the entire functioning RAM data of the chip and cause a fatal reboot! Brown matter - you can cuss at it, but we suggest a better approach...

STOP your Propeller processor from that annoying reset when the power supply voltage goes down around 2.7 volts when battery power is diminished.
Updated schematic with BOEn disabled and chip improvements in place

 




































BAN BROWNOUT! Follow the schematic and connect BOEn to VDD, and run a 220 ohm resistor from RESn to VDD, to disable the BOE Brown Out Enable. The Propeller chip may now continue to function when the voltage drops down to and below 2.7 volts. This can be useful when the Propeller is running in lower power modes, for example, with the clock set to RC Slow or RC Fast, or when a battery operated circuit dips in its battery energy supply cycle before recharging.

I can't seem to disable brown out detection, if I connect BOEn to Vdd even at 3.3v the Prop won't do anything.
 
Put an external pullup on RST (a 220 ohm resistor from RST to VDD). When BOE Brown Out Enable is grounded, the Propeller chip has an internal pullup activated. When BOE is held high, the internal pullup is not active, and an external pullup is required on RST to restore functioning.

Brain Cortex Update Part 6

BRAIN CORTEX
PROJECT
UPDATE
PART 6

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27 2013







IN THIS EDITION!
* BATTERY SIZE
* BATTERY COMPOSITION
* JAR SIZE
* MODULE ARRANGEMENT
* BATTERY CAPACITY CHART 
* BOE DECISION

JOIN US AS WE BUILD a real live electric brain cortex. The cortex lives in a tiny home inside a hermetically sealed jar, eating and dining on continuous power, and can talk to the outside world. You can make the cortex your friend and teach it about life. It will learn from you and maybe carry on some your knowledge from generation to generation.

To assure uninterrupted flow of energy to the hungry and continuously dining Cortex, the use of tiny and weak AA batteries was dropped. In place, a series of more massive supply energy capable D size cells are now in use. A single D cell provides 12,000 mAh while the AA cell is only 2,700. The use of four D size cells wired to give 3 volts to the Propeller powered Brain Cortex will supply a full 24,000 mAh.

2) As a result of switching to more massive D size cells, the one liter jar is no longer large enough. The project is examining a 3 liter jar for current use.

3) The use of super capacitors is currently dropped in the overall design due to their unavailability.

4) The arrangement of modules inside the brain is paramount. The solar cells must be at the front. Two sets of large batteries cling to 90 degree opposing sides. The back and bottom are being examined for non-obstructed attachment without battery insertion and removal interference. Switching to jars larger than one liter, such as the three liter jar, has opened up possibilities for other module arrangements.

5) It's noted that other composition batteries cells don't provide the full 1.5 volts and combining two batteries would be insufficient to operate the Propeller chip for the defined term. For this reason, and for the common availability, alkaline batteries were selected.

6) A decision is made to switch from BOE ON to BOE OFF. With the BOE Brown Out Enable switch off, the cortex will operate on lower power as the battery has less voltage during the night. With BOE ON, when the voltage supply approaches 2.7 volts, a Propeller reset will occur. If at all possible, a reset condition is exactly what we want to avoid. For wiring, see the link below.

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/08/propeller-simple-spin-board-part-6.html 

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/07/propeller-simple-spin-board-part-2.html

DISABLE THE BROWNOUT DETECTOR
In this first modification to the Propeller Simple Spin Board, the connection from BOEn to Ground is removed. Insert a new connection between BOEn and Vdd. This will disable the brownout detector by connecting it to high, and prevent the board from resetting at 2.7 volts or less. (not shown on schematic) 

I can't seem to disable brown out detection, if I connect BOEn to Vdd even at 3.3v the Prop won't do anything.
 
Put an external pullup on RST (a 220 ohm resistor from RST to VDD).


When BOE Brown Out Enable is grounded, the Propeller chip has an internal pullup activated. When BOE is held high, the internal pullup is not active, and an external pullup is required on RST to restore functioning.


TYPICAL CAPACITY OF BATTERIES (UNITS IN MAH)
 

AAA size, 1,200 alkaline, 540 carbon–zinc, 800–1,000 NiMH

AA, 2,700 alkaline, 1,100 carbon–zinc, 3,000 Li–FeS2, 1,700–2900 NiMH, 600–1000 NiCd


C BATTERY, 8,000 alkaline, 3,800 carbon–zinc, 4,500–6,000 NiMH


D BATTERY, 12,000 alkaline, 8,000 carbon–zinc, 2,200–12,000 NiMH


9 VOLT, 565 alkaline, 400 carbon‑zinc, 1,200 lithium, 175–300 NiMH


120 NiCd, 500 lithium polymer rechargeable, 580 mercury, obsolete


Brain Cortex Index Part 16

Friday, October 25, 2013

Brain Cortex Part 5 - Modules

Looking through the transparent jar, the beginning of the intelligent Brain Cortex life form is taking shape. Seen is the Propeller brain circuit prototyped on a solderless breadboard with a speaker and LED for testing. At top right is a 3 volt 120 mA solar panel that charges the batteries and possibly a super super cap energy system. At bottom is a package of desiccant silica gel to prevent moisture from forming in the jar. In the circuit, to compensate for the wide range of fluctuation voltages (over time), the Propeller chip's BOE (Brown Out Enable) must be disabled. Not shown, batteries, super super capacitor and solar panel switching circuits.
BRAIN CORTEX MODULES
PART 5

The LIVING Brain Cortex is now congealing together in the form of modules, which includes the cortex board, solar collector, desiccator system, battery supply, and a super super capacitor by design. The cortex board includes crystal regulation, long term EEPROM memory, a USB interface (Prop Plug), LED and speaker. The latter two are for preliminary testing.


— the brain cortex is a living machine based on the Parallax Propeller chip, designed to think, converse, learn, remember, and ask questions. With maintenance, the cortex could outlive humans

The modules are being arranged as some will set on the home jar floor, and some will attach to jar walls. The cortex board could attach behind the jar label with the solar panel on the opposite wall. The battery supply will attach on the jar floor due to its weight and the desiccator will set somewhere in between. Modules will mount on precut sections of green transparent board using spaces which in turn will mount on various sections of the internal sides of the jar.

BATTERY UPDATE
The 1.5 volt AA battery has been replaced with a more energy efficient 1.5 volt D size. Two of these will provide 3 volts to the Propeller chip.

Brain Cortex Machine Part 4 - Batteries

BRAIN CORTEX MACHINE
BATTERIES - PART 4
BOOT YOUR BATTERY OR GIVE IT THE BOOT?

A market survey of batteries in common stores will reveal the banning of lead acid batteries and the proliferation of alkaline batteries. Reading up on the care and feeding (recharging) of a variety of finicky batteries is complicated and sometimes confusing.

THE FINICKY BATTERY
How many times did a trusty rechargeable battery go dead in your lifetime? A battery is not a simple thing to maintain. It needs levels of charge, specific voltages, specific currents, and specific charging times. It requires a charging cycle involved with timing variants that cannot be too much or too little, too frequent or too infrequent. Plus, to add to the confusion, no two batteries are exactly alike.

UNENDING MISERY HAS COMPANY
It doesn't end there. Nickel metal hydride and nicad batteries have memory, so trying to trickle charge these is either impossible with simple charging or it becomes a complicated set of rules to follow with a smart programmed charger that can not only recharge batteries but sense their condition as well. Even more complicated is that devices drain batteries at different rates and different batteries may drain at different rates even with the same machine.

MAINTAINING BATTERIES
Batteries must also be maintained. Overcharge, undercharge, and the frequency of charging all effect the battery life. Charging may never reach the full capacity of the battery, depending on its age life cycle. Environment is also a factor as batteries can give up the ship when the temperature drops to freezing temps in winter.

NEW TECHNOLOGY SUPER CAP
The dream is to perhaps toss the battery altogether and use another technology like a super super capacitor that can hold a large enough amount of energy so that it can be drained over several days. However, these are often quoted as having the ability to last only minutes or seconds!

SUPER CAP LONGEVITY
We determined the longevity (time in which it can deliver useable power) of a massive super capacitor using calculus dv/dt = i/c. At .03 amps and rounding to 3 volts for the Propeller chip, a 100 F super capacitor can provide only 2.7 hours of drain, while a 500 F super capacitor is more practical at 13 hours. Two of these capacitors in tandem could indeed help the Cortex make it through the night without solar power, providing the caps are fully charged during the day and the batteries have full reserves.

CORTEX REQUIREMENTS
Our requirements are to supply some charging energy from a solar panel that may have periods of lessened energy during the day (as if the sun went behind clouds, or more realistically, a light was turned off inside a room.

During the night, the machine will draw energy and the solar panel will automatically disengage. The battery, or super super capacitor must have enough energy to survive the night. In this situation, we set the bar at 2 days reserve.

TRI LEVEL ENERGY SYSTEM
Now considered is a tri level energy system. The TRI POWER includes the solar cells, super super capacitor, and batteries. Room lighting will activate the solar panel and trickle charge the super capacitor which helps maintain the battery during the night.

CHARGING COMMON ALKALINE
A number of sources describe charging common alkaline batteries, but this is complicated too, as its important to sense the heat level of the battery to ascertain when the charge cycle should be completed. This does not fit into a simple charging scheme.

CONCLUSION
It's still up in the air as to which battery type will work the best with a simple charging system. Alkaline is most common, yet the availability of Nickel Metal Hydride is still a consideration. Lithium Ion has charging requirements that are not met by the solar panel. Lead acid batteries are not available in the size required. Yet, energy supplied to the Cortex must be constant, reliable, or the brain will die and cease to function. This is why the consideration is now from three electric sources - solar, capacitive, and battery. Solar is renewable energy and the capacitor can store it and release it over time. The challenge is now finding a suitable battery.

Brain Cortex Index Part 16

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Brain Cortex Machine Part 1 - Intro



BUILD A BRAIN CORTEX
ENTER THE WORLD OF A LIVING BRAIN CORTEX MACHINE - PART 1
Follow along as we build a real living electric brain cortex, a machine using Parallax Propeller chip processors and artificial intelligence software.

In a human, the cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.

the most mysterious project ever imagined at the Lab? —

ARTIFICIAL GRAY MATTER
In this machine, the cortex will have primary functions that include memory, language, thinking, asking questions, volunteering information, carrying on a conversation in natural language, and learning. It will be aware that a human is talking to it, with its single minded limited form of consciousness.

MATCHING ELEMENTS OF
HUMAN AND MACHINE CORTEX 

HUMAN                   MACHINE
Memory                X
Attention             X
Awareness             X
Thought               X
Language              X
Consciousness         X

1) The machine cortex is aware of information it is taught. It remembers information in its memory. When a teacher talks to the cortex, it has attention span. One can converse with it in native English language. The cortex is aware of an external object, i.e. a human when the human talks to it, therefore by definition it has a limited consciousness.

CORTEX TALK - IT WILL LISTEN & LEARN
The machine cortex will live forever in a sealed jar and the objective will be creating a living autonomous entity with immortality that has some level of all the mentioned elements contained by a human cortex.

INDEPENDENT CORTEX
The machine Cortex will have its own environment with a full degree of living independence. Inside its hermetically sealed brain jar, it will have all the luxuries of a cortex home. This includes a resident bed frame, air, unlimited source of food energy, and a kind of telephone for talking to humans.

This means it will have the method to function autonomously, alive on its own while having some assistance for rare maintenance when parts begin to wear out and need replacing. For all practical means, the cortex is immortal.

Consciousness is the quality or state of being aware of an external object or something within oneself. It has been defined as: sentience, awareness, subjectivity, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind. Despite the difficulty in definition, many philosophers believe that there is a broadly shared underlying intuition about what consciousness is. As Max Velmans and Susan Schneider wrote in The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness: "Anything that we are aware of at a given moment forms part of our consciousness, making conscious experience at once the most familiar and most mysterious aspect of our lives." Wiki