"Cesium" wrote in message
...
controlling the gate timing to pass it through. I found the article
a
little silly, (in a clever way), maybe I just don't get it.
I just found it very interesting. If you set up an evolutionary
program to
survive based on how well it produces an oscillating signal, you would
expect it to either a: not work because of some error or b: become a
simple
oscillator and produce an oscillating signal. How odd that the program
would instead configure itself into a much more compex radio, using a
row of
transistors as the antennae! It's such a completely unexpected
outcome
that the program would pickup an oscillating signal from a nearby
computer
rather than simply becoming a circuit that produces one. To put it
simply,
as some of my friends might say in an Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator
2
voice: "Radios are made of complex transistors and antennae machinery,
it's
too complex, it doesnt work that way." Anyway, this article has
launched me
into researching evolutionary computing, as I find this field very
interesting.

I think this stuff is too dry (?) to see the evolutionary creativity at
work as you do. Things don't configure themselves to be antennae, but
you can amplify existing RFI in the air (would make an interesting piece
of software). An oscillator is just a frequency generator (usually a
fixed carrier frequency, to derive circuit timing or carry other
signals). A radio extracts RF signals from the air and with it's
carrier, demodulates them. The article didn't mention specifics, but
it's probably an AM signal. As for antena, everything which conducts is
an antenna (ie: piece of wire), tuned to frequencies by it's length, and
it's strength determined by how the ends of the wire are terminated, and
where along its length, you tap the RF wavelength. I don't want to
oversimplify what they are doing. It just loses some 'magic' when your
are aquainted with the mechanics ).

The use of industrial relays for process control is really easy.
snip
With my limited computer science knowledge, I'm starting to actually
understand some of this logic stuff.

Yes, should come easily to you. Like most stuff, it's only complicated
till you do it once, and then you think, "that's all there is to it?". A
SPST relay is an IF/THEN construct, while a SPDT relay is an IF/THEN/ELSE
construct ;o)

What do I do? I actually start a new job this Monday. I will be
managing the tropical fish dept for a large pet shop opening next
month.
I will have a lot to learn and it will be an interesting change from
the
usual engineering stuff I have been doing, but with everything I've
learned from the newsgroups, I should be fine.
Based on advice you've given us in the newgroups, I'm sure the fish
dept
will be very well managed. I think some day I'll have to end up
combining
job with hobby, if only to maintain sanity. I hope the best for you on
Monday.
What area of engineering were you in before this new job?

Thanks for the compliment Cesium. They say if you find a job you love,
you never have to work ;~) My background is electrical engineering,
with some familiarity in environmental & process control, power systems &
mechanical design, and RF systems. I've been told that I know enough
about everything to be dangerous (but not enough about anything to be
good at it ;o).

Just noticed that this is cross-posting to r.a.f.p. *sorry*. If
replying, please take r.a.f.p. off, as this would be off topic and of
little interest.

cheers
NetMax

-Cesium