GBC MODULE - COPPERTOP FACTORY

The Coppertop Factory is a rendition of a scene from the first Matrix movie. A simple blurb here can't do it justice. You have to see it for yourself.

Here is a more complete presentation for this creation.

It will have evolved a little bit from some of these pix, but the general idea is conveyed. The current version of the RCX programs incorporate the touch and light sensors in a simple "dispatch mode" operation in the truck program. This is where the truck goes in a programmed ball pod sequence and "flushes" the balls by actuating the lever arm for that particular pod. The other program is a ball agitator truck at the top that insures the balls are getting evenly distributed among the other pods. It's just like when Neo got flushed in the Matrix, remember?! I'm glad Brickfest's theme this year is Hollywood!

GBC MODULE - LEAKY BUCKET

Another module currently in production is what I call the "leaky bucket". All it really does is implement a leaky bucket algorithm with a loop in it. It has a real nifty ball mover device that moves/steps the balls into another module or be integrated into a train layout. Its great for ball-flow regulation to the specification.

GBC MODULE - LONG LIFTER

Completed a while back. All it does is lift the balls along the conveyor belt from one end to the other. Paul made this one as his gbc contribution.

GBC MODULE - EVACUATION COMPLETE- Conveyor Belt Batch Ball Mover

It started out as an implementation of Philo's Shovel design, but I modified it to couple with two other modules to form a new one. This is a high volume batch ball mover (hence the name) that can move balls over two 32 stud baseplates. I'm not sure about ball throughput, but it's high. It is a recreation of the scene from Austin Powers when he was unfrozen.