Difference between revisions of "Caterloopillar"

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{{Spaceship
{{Spaceship
|name=Caterloopillar|pname=caterloopillar
|name         = Caterloopillar
|bx=734|by=514927
|pname       = caterloopillar
|dir=Orthogonal|p=2000|s=c/8|c=232815
|family      = Caterloopillar
|discoverer=Michael Simkin|discoveryear=2016
|c            = 232815
|rulemin=B3/S23|rulemax=B3/S23|rulespecial=[[Conway's Game of Life|Conway Life]]
|bx           = 734
|nofile=true
|by           = 514927
|dir         = Orthogonal
|p           = 2000
|s           = c/8
|discoverer   = Michael Simkin
|discoveryear = 2016
|rulemin     = B3/S23
|rulemax     = B3/S23
|rulespecial = [[Conway's Game of Life|Conway Life]]
|nofile       = true
}}
}}
'''Caterloopillar''' is the name given to a family of [[spaceship]]s containing two major parts - the front and the back. In Caterloopillar each part has the properties of [[universal construction]], and thus each part is constructing the building blocks of the other part, while also reading and moving a construction tape. As the name suggests, this creates somewhat paradoxical design, similar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_loop Strange loop] concept.  
'''Caterloopillar''' is the name given to a family of [[spaceship]]s containing two major parts - the front and the back. In Caterloopillar each part has the properties of a [[universal constructor]], and thus each part is constructing the building blocks of the other part, while also reading and moving a construction tape. As the name suggests, this creates somewhat paradoxical design, similar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_loop Strange loop] concept.  


The first Caterloopillar was constructed by [[:Category:Patterns found by Michael Simkin|Michael Simkin]] and completed on April 9, [[:Category:Patterns found in 2016|2016]]. This Caterloopillar has a speed of [[c/8 orthogonal|c/8]].  
==History==
The general idea of adjustable speed spaceship was proposed by [[David Bell]] in October [[:Category:Patterns found in 2006|2006]] on the [[LifeCA]] mailing list<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=13217#p13217|title=Idea for various speed Caterpillars based on standard spaceships|author=David Bell|date=October 8, 2006|accessdate=April 11, 2016}}</ref>, and possibly earlier and independently by [[Jason Summers]]. [[Hartmut Holzwart]] revived discussion about the idea in September 2014 on the ConwayLife.com forums.  


Caterloopillars with many other speeds can be constructed using a slightly modified design. The major limitation of this design is upper bound of speed c/4, as the signal transferring is done by converting a [[still life]] into a [[glider]] and back, thus limiting the moving speed of the tape to c/4 (the speed of the glider).
During those discussions, [[:Category:Patterns found by Alexey Nigin|Alexey Nigin]] in 2014 proposed a a novel way of construction that would avoid helices, instead it would use two streams upward and downward, that create each other using [[slow salvo]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=14268#p14268|title=A novel way of construction |author=Alexey Nigin|date=November 12th, 2014}}</ref> Surprisingly enough the final design of the first Caterloopillar was very close to his description.
 
Although [[Alexey Nigin]] proposed the Caterloopillar design, the idea was purely theoretical. The first example that showed the idea can be efficiently utilized was found by [[Michael Simkin]] few days after the initial suggestion<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=14297#p14297|title=Caterloopillar first reading head examples |author=Michael Simkin|date=November 14th, 2014}}</ref>.
 
The name was also extensively discussed, with suggestions including ''strange loop'', ''strange-caterloopillar'', ''pushmi-pullyou'' and ''caterloop'', finally arriving to '''Caterloopillar'''.
 
==Implementation==
The first Caterloopillar was constructed by [[Michael Simkin]] and completed on April 9, [[:Category:Patterns found in 2016|2016]]; this Caterloopillar has a speed of [[c/8 orthogonal|c/8]]. Caterloopillars with many other speeds can be constructed using a slightly modified design. The major limitation of this implementation is upper bound of speed c/4, as the signal transferring is done by converting a [[still life]] into a [[glider]] and back, thus limiting the moving speed of the tape to c/4 (the speed of the glider).
 
Simkin went on to construct Caterloopillars of other various speeds<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=30046&sid=46944a815f9cccd548ef224d6b3da339#p30046|author=Michael Simkin|title=Re: Caterloopillar WIP (all speeds < c/4)|date=April 15, 2016|accessdate=April 15, 2016}}</ref>, the first three being c/9, c/11 and c/12 orthogonal, respectively. One of the most notable caterloopillars is [[Centipede caterloopillar|a 31c/240 one]] smaller than the [[centipede]], the previous record holder which was not based on caterloopillar technology.
 
Faster caterloopillars appear to require more cells.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Caterpillar]]
*[[Caterpillar]]
*[[List of spaceships]]
==References==
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2151|title=Caterloopillar WIP (all speeds < c/4)|author=Michael Simkin|date=April 9, 2016}}
{{LinkForumThread|f=2|t=2151|title=Caterloopillar WIP (all speeds < c/4)}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1448|title=David Bell's engineless caterpillar idea revisited|author=Hartmut Holzwart|date=September 11, 2014}}
{{LinkForumThread|f=2|t=1448|title=David Bell's engineless caterpillar idea revisited}}
* [https://github.com/simsim314/Caterloopilar/ Caterloopillar GitHub repository]
* [https://github.com/simsim314/Caterloopilar/ Caterloopillar GitHub repository]
* [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/simsim314/Caterloopilar/master/Caterloopillar_c8.rle Caterloopillar c/8 RLE file]
* [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/simsim314/Caterloopilar/master/Caterloopillar_c8.rle Caterloopillar c/8 RLE file]


[[Category:Non-monotonic spaceships]]
[[Category:Non-monotonic spaceships]]
[[Category:Engineerable spaceships]]
[[Category:Universal constructors]]

Revision as of 18:44, 20 July 2017

Caterloopillar
Caterloopillar image
Pattern type Spaceship
Family Caterloopillar
Number of cells 232815
Bounding box 734 × 514927
Direction Orthogonal
Period 2000
Mod Unknown
Speed c/8 | Unknown
Heat Unknown
Discovered by Michael Simkin
Year of discovery 2016

Caterloopillar is the name given to a family of spaceships containing two major parts - the front and the back. In Caterloopillar each part has the properties of a universal constructor, and thus each part is constructing the building blocks of the other part, while also reading and moving a construction tape. As the name suggests, this creates somewhat paradoxical design, similar to the Strange loop concept.

History

The general idea of adjustable speed spaceship was proposed by David Bell in October 2006 on the LifeCA mailing list[1], and possibly earlier and independently by Jason Summers. Hartmut Holzwart revived discussion about the idea in September 2014 on the ConwayLife.com forums.

During those discussions, Alexey Nigin in 2014 proposed a a novel way of construction that would avoid helices, instead it would use two streams upward and downward, that create each other using slow salvos.[2] Surprisingly enough the final design of the first Caterloopillar was very close to his description.

Although Alexey Nigin proposed the Caterloopillar design, the idea was purely theoretical. The first example that showed the idea can be efficiently utilized was found by Michael Simkin few days after the initial suggestion[3].

The name was also extensively discussed, with suggestions including strange loop, strange-caterloopillar, pushmi-pullyou and caterloop, finally arriving to Caterloopillar.

Implementation

The first Caterloopillar was constructed by Michael Simkin and completed on April 9, 2016; this Caterloopillar has a speed of c/8. Caterloopillars with many other speeds can be constructed using a slightly modified design. The major limitation of this implementation is upper bound of speed c/4, as the signal transferring is done by converting a still life into a glider and back, thus limiting the moving speed of the tape to c/4 (the speed of the glider).

Simkin went on to construct Caterloopillars of other various speeds[4], the first three being c/9, c/11 and c/12 orthogonal, respectively. One of the most notable caterloopillars is a 31c/240 one smaller than the centipede, the previous record holder which was not based on caterloopillar technology.

Faster caterloopillars appear to require more cells.

See also

References

  1. David Bell (October 8, 2006). "Idea for various speed Caterpillars based on standard spaceships". Retrieved on April 11, 2016.
  2. Alexey Nigin (November 12th, 2014). "A novel way of construction".
  3. Michael Simkin (November 14th, 2014). "Caterloopillar first reading head examples".
  4. Michael Simkin (April 15, 2016). "Re: Caterloopillar WIP (all speeds < c/4)". Retrieved on April 15, 2016.

External links