Highway robber challenge

[calcyman]

Can anyone find a way to reroute the southern Herschel output to replace the half-blockade? I recall that in the late 90s someone (Dean Hickerson? Dieter Leithner?) built a stable reflector which restored a half-blockade.

Code: Select all

x = 93, y = 84, rule = LifeHistory
45.A$46.A$44.3AB$45.4B$24.2A20.4B$23.A.A21.4B$23.A5.A18.4B$14.2A6.2A
5.3A17.4B$13.B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$14.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$13.4B.4B2AB6.7B
14.4B$13.12B6.8B14.4B$4.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$5.A5.35B8.5B$5.A.AB3.
39B.8B$6.2AB.51B$8.24B3D27B$8.26BD28B$8.24B3D24B.4B$9.50B2.4B$11.55B$
15.9B.42B$16.7B2.42B$13.11B3.39B$12.12B5.34BC4B$12.12B5.33BCBC4B$3.A
8.11B7.31BC2BC4B$2.A.A2.2A3.B3D4B.4B6.B.29B2C6B$.A.A2.A.A3.2BD4B4.2E
9.6B.30B$.A2.2A.B4.2B3D2B4.E11.36B$2.A.A2.2B3.6B6.3E8.13B.11B.10B$.2A
.A.BA2B.7B8.E9.B2.6B5.4B.4B2.10B$4.A.A.A9B22.4B7.2B2.4B2.9B$.4A2.A.8B
24.4B7.2B2.8B.4B$.A3.2A4.6B25.4B5.B2AB2.6B3.5B$3.A.B6.6B25.4B5.2A4.4B
7.2A$2.2AB2AB3.7B26.4B9.6B6.A$5.2AB.8B28.4B7.8B6.3A$2.2A3.10B29.4B5.
4B2.4B7.A$2.A4.6B2A3B29.4B3.4B4.4B$3.A3.6B2A2B5.2A24.4B.4B6.4B$2.2A3.
10B5.A26.7B8.4B$6.11B2.BA.A27.5B10.3B$6.12B.B2A28.5B12.B2A$5.15B29.7B
11.BA.A$4.16B28.4B.4B13.A$.2B.16B27.4B3.4B12.2A$2A18B26.4B5.4B$2AB.
17B24.4B7.4B$.B.4B.8B2.4B22.4B9.4B14.B.2A$8.7B4.4B20.4B11.4B14.B2A2B
3.2A$9.6B5.4B18.4B13.4B14.4B2.B2AB$11.4B6.4B16.4B3.2A10.4B9.B.6B3.2B$
13.3BA5.4B14.4B5.A11.4B6.10B2.2B$14.BA.A5.4B12.4B5.A13.4B5.11B2A2B$
15.A.A6.4B10.4B6.2A13.4B3.12B2A3B.B$16.A8.4B8.4B8.B14.4B2.18B2A$17.3A
6.4B6.4B9.3B13.4B2.15B.B2A$19.A7.4B4.4B9.6B12.19B3.B$28.4B2.5B.B3.B2.
10B10.18B$29.29B3.2B2.19B$30.17BD3B2A15BD15B$30.17B2D2B2A15BDBD4B.7B$
30.18B2D18B3D4B2.6B$30.6B2C10BD21BD5B.7B$30.2B2C2B2C9BD29B.6B$32.2C5B
2.3B4.14B.4B7.9B$32.8B3.3B3.7B.B5.3B9.8B$32.2B.4B5.2A15.4B11.8B$32.2B
4.2B4.A16.2A14.7B$37.BA2B4.3A14.A15.6B$37.A.A7.A11.3A16.7B$38.A20.A
18.7B$78.8B.3B$78.13B$78.14B$78.15B$79.14B$79.13B$78.14B$79.12B$81.3B
2A3B$81.2BA2BAB$83.B2A!

There's a remarkably Heroic Glider which saves the yellow eater from being destroyed by an Evil Glider.

EDIT: alternatively, it might be easier to syringe the (currently eaten) FNG of the red Herschel to restore the half-blockade. Or some more complicated staged recovery mechanism, I guess...?

EDIT 2: completing this challenge would reduce the minimum recovery time for a highway robber from 878 ticks to 668 ticks.

[calcyman]

Here's the 1997 reflector. Unfortunately the eater2 removes an important glider:

Code: Select all

#C Stable glider reflector
#C The device uses the following Herschel stages by David Buckingham
#C (B) and Paul Callahan (C): 64 (B), 190 (B), 153 (C), 153, 64, 64
#C and 117 (B) steps.
#C Dieter Leithner, 27 Apr 1997
x = 159, y = 62
23b2o$16b2o5b2o50bo$16b2o56bobo$52b2o20bobo6b2o$52bo20b2ob3o4b2o$18b2o
33bo25bo$18b2o32b2o19b2ob3o$12b2o59b2obo$12b2o$97b2o$97bo17b2o$68bo26b
obo17bo$49b2o18bo25b2o19bo11bo$49b2o16b3o45b2o9b3o$125bo$64b2o59b2o10b
2o$64b2o2b2o67bo$68b2o65bobo$135b2o13b2o$56b2o54b2o36b2o$39b2o16bo12b
2o40b2o$39bo14b3o6bo6b2o$40b3o11bo7bobo91b2o$5b2o35bo20bo92b2o$6bo76b
2o67b2o$6bobo70b2o2b2o67b2o$4b2ob2o69bobo$3bobo72bo23b2o$3bobo71b2o23b
o18b2o$b3ob2o20b2o74b3o16bo34b2o$o26bo77bo13b3o35b2o$b3ob2o18bobo91bo$
3bob2o18b2o4$25b2o$25bobo$27bo15bo9bo53b2o14bo$27b3o13b3o5b3o28b2o24bo
14b3o$30bo15bo3bo13b2o17bo13b2o6b3o18bo$29b2o14b2o3b2o13bo17bobo11b2o
6bo19b2o$64bo19b2o$64b2o5$19b2o94b2o$19b2o46b2o46b2o$67b2o$10b2o$11bo$
8b3o141b2o$8bo143b2o$16b2o94b2o32b2o$16bo19b2o74bo33b2o$17bo17bobo11b
2o6bo35b2o3b2o13bo$16b2o17bo13b2o6b3o34bo3bo13b2o$34b2o24bo30b3o5b3o
46b2o$59b2o30bo9bo39b2o5b2o$141b2o!

EDIT: Can Bellman provide a replacement for the white block here?

Code: Select all

x = 93, y = 84, rule = LifeHistory
45.B$44.3B$44.4B$45.4B$24.2A20.4B$23.A.A21.4B$23.A5.A18.4B$14.2A6.2A
5.3A17.4B$13.B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$14.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$13.4B.4B2AB6.7B
14.4B$13.12B6.8B14.4B$4.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$5.A5.35B8.5B$5.A.AB3.
39B.8B$6.2AB.51B$8.24B3D27B$8.26BD28B$8.24B3D24B.4B$9.50B2.4B$11.55B$
15.9B.42B$16.7B2.42B$13.11B3.39B$12.12B5.34BC4B$12.12B5.33BCBC4B$3.A
8.11B7.31BC2BC4B$2.A.A2.2A3.B3D4B.4B6.B.29B2C6B$.A.A2.A.A3.2BD4B4.CE
9.6B.30B$.A2.2A.B4.2B3D2B4.E11.36B$2.A.A2.2B3.6B6.3E8.13B.11B.10B$.2A
.A.BA2B.7B8.E9.B2.6B5.4B.4B2.10B$4.A.A.A9B22.4B7.2B2.4B2.9B$.4A2.A.8B
24.4B7.2B2.8B.4B$.A3.2A4.6B25.4B5.B2AB2.6B3.5B$3.A.B6.6B25.4B5.2A4.4B
7.2A$2.2AB2AB3.7B26.4B9.6B6.A$5.2AB.8B28.4B7.8B6.3A$2.2A3.10B29.4B5.
4B2.4B7.A$2.A4.6B2A3B29.4B3.4B4.4B$3.A3.6B2A2B5.2A24.4B.4B6.4B$2.2A3.
10B5.A26.7B8.4B$6.11B2.BA.A27.5B10.3B$6.12B.B2A28.5B12.B2A$5.15B29.7B
11.BA.A$4.16B28.4B.4B13.A$.2B.16B27.4B3.4B12.2A$2A18B26.4B5.4B$2AB.
17B24.4B7.4B$.B.4B.8B2.4B22.4B9.4B14.B.2A$8.7B4.4B20.4B11.4B14.B2A2B
3.2A$9.6B5.4B18.4B13.4B14.4B2.B2AB$11.4B6.4B16.4B3.2A10.4B9.B.6B3.2B$
13.3BA5.4B14.4B5.A11.4B6.10B2.2B$14.BA.A5.4B.3B.2C5.4B5.A13.4B5.11B2A
2B$15.A.A6.8B2C4.4B6.2A13.4B3.12B2A3B.B$16.A8.9B3.4B8.B14.4B2.18B2A$
17.3A3.11B2.4B9.3B13.4B2.15B.B2A$19.A3.16B9.6B12.19B3.B$23.16B.B3.B2.
10B10.18B$23.35B3.2B2.19B$23.24BD3B2A15BD15B$24.4B3A16B2D2B2A15BDBD4B
.7B$26.2B2.A17B2D18B3D4B2.6B$27.B3A5B2D10BD21BD5B.7B$26.2B3.B2D2B2D9B
D29B.6B$27.5B2D5B2.3B4.14B.4B7.9B$27.13B3.3B3.7B.B5.3B9.8B$29.5B.4B5.
2A15.4B11.8B$29.B2A2B4.2B4.A16.2A14.7B$30.2A5.BA2B4.3A14.A15.6B$37.A.
A7.A11.3A16.7B$38.A20.A18.7B$78.8B.3B$78.13B$78.14B$78.15B$79.14B$79.
13B$78.14B$79.12B$81.3B2A3B$81.2BA2BAB$83.B2A!

[dvgrn]

I recall that in the late 90s someone (Dean Hickerson? Dieter Leithner?) built a stable reflector which restored a half-blockade.

Here's the base reaction, retrieved from 1997 and converted to RLE with comments slightly edited:

Code: Select all

#C Two-stage Herschel device
#C Stage 1 - Herschel arrival left): The stage, based in part on a
#C           Herschel-to-pi conduit by Paul Callahan, restores the
#C           two blocks which were destroyed by the glider in stage 1.
#C Stage 2 - Herschel departure (right): A conduit by Dave Buckingham
#C           transforms the r-pentomino (created by the collision of a
#C           glider with two blocks) into a Herschel.
#C Dieter Leithner, 26 Apr 1997
x = 68, y = 28, rule = B3/S23
23bo$22bobo$14b2o6bobo20b2o$14b2o4b3ob2o20bo$19bo25bo$20b3ob2o19b2o$
22bob2o2$2o$bo$bobo26bo$2b2o25bo18b2o15bo$29b3o16b2o15bobo$65b3o$33b2o
32bo$29b2o2b2o$29b2o2$2bo38b2o$2bobo22b2o12bo$2b3o22b2o6bo6b3o$4bo29bo
bo7bo$35bo$14b2o$14b2o2b2o$18bobo$20bo$20b2o!

EDITed to remove some duplication with calcyman's follow-up post...

Unfortunately, as Dieter pointed out at the time, you can't use this particular half-blockade factory and also get that fast 90-degree glider out.

Maybe Guam's G4 repair mechanism could be used somehow instead? The key glider can escape in that case:

Code: Select all

x = 59, y = 33, rule = LifeHistory
40.B$39.3B$34.A3.4B$33.A2B.4B$32.B3A4B$4.B26.8B$4.2B24.8B$4.3B22.8B$
4.4B20.8B$5.4B18.8B$6.4B16.8B$7.4B5.2A7.8B$8.4B3.B2AB5.8B3.2A$9.4B3.
3B4.8B5.A$10.5B2.B4.8B5.A$11.9B.8B6.2A$8.3B.16B8.B$8.19B9.3B$.B3.21B
9.6B$2AB.22B.B3.B2.10B$2A18BA24B3.2B2.2B$.B.16BA14BD3B2A15BD$4.7B2A6B
3A12B2D2B2A15BDBD$5.B.4B2A9B2D11B2D18B3DB$9.14B2C10BD21BD$8.A3.7B2A2B
C10BD21B$6.3A5.5B2A5B2.3B5.13B.B$5.A8.13B3.3B3.7B.B$5.2A9.5B.4B5.2A$
16.B2A2B4.2B4.A$17.2A5.BA2B4.3A$24.A.A7.A$25.A!

But I think that just replaces one problem with two equally difficult problems, since this doesn't fit next to the hive-with-tail to the northwest.

[calcyman]

EDIT: Can Bellman provide a replacement for the white block here?

Manual experimentation gives a solution that involves an awkward block preventing any last hope of inserting the pi-heptomino:

Code: Select all

x = 93, y = 84, rule = LifeHistory
45.B$44.2BA$44.3BA$45.3AB$24.2A20.4B$23.A.A21.4B$23.A5.A18.4B$14.2A6.
2A5.3A17.4B$13.B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$14.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$13.4B.4B2AB6.
7B14.4B$13.12B6.8B14.4B$4.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$5.A5.35B8.5B$5.A.AB
3.39B.8B$6.2AB.51B$8.24B3D27B$8.26BD28B$8.24B3D24B.4B$9.50B2.4B$11.
55B$15.9B.42B$16.7B2.42B$13.11B3.39B$12.12B5.34BC4B$12.12B5.33BCBC4B$
3.A8.11B7.31BC2BC4B$2.A.A2.2A3.8B.4B6.B.29B2C6B$.A.A2.A.A3.7B4.CE9.6B
.30B$.A2.2A.B4.7B4.E11.36B$2.A.A2.2B3.6B6.3E8.13B.11B.10B$.2A.A.BA2B.
7B8.E9.B2.6B5.4B.4B2.10B$4.A.A.A9B22.4B7.2B2.4B2.9B$.4A2.A.8B24.4B7.
2B2.8B.4B$.A3.2A4.6B25.4B5.B2AB2.6B3.5B$3.A.B6.6B25.4B5.2A4.4B7.2A$2.
2AB2AB3.7B26.4B9.6B6.A$5.2AB.8B28.4B7.8B6.3A$2.2A3.10B29.4B5.4B2.4B7.
A$2.A4.6B2A3B29.4B3.4B4.4B$3.A3.6B2A2B5.2A24.4B.4B6.4B$2.2A3.10B5.A
26.7B8.4B$6.11B2.BA.A27.5B10.3B$6.12B.B2A28.5B12.B2A$5.15B29.7B11.BA.
A$4.16B28.4B.4B13.A$.2B.16B27.4B3.4B12.2A$2A18B26.4B5.4B$2AB.17B24.4B
7.4B$.B.4B.8B2.4B22.4B9.4B14.B.2A$8.7B4.4B20.4B11.4B14.B2A2B3.2A$9.6B
5.4B18.4B13.4B14.4B2.B2AB$11.4B6.4B16.4B3.2A10.4B9.B.6B3.2B$13.3BA5.
4B9.A4.4B5.A11.4B6.10B2.2B$14.BA.A5.4B6.3A3.4B5.A13.4B5.11B2A2B$15.AB
.A5.4B4.A5.4B6.2A13.4B3.12B2A3B.B$16.A.A6.4B3.2A3.4B8.B14.4B2.18B2A$
14.A.A.2A6.8B2.4B9.3B13.4B2.15B.B2A$14.2A11.5B3.4B9.6B12.19B3.B$25.B.
6B.5B.B3.B2.10B10.18B$24.2A32B3.2B2.19B$24.2AB.19BD3B2A15BD15B$25.B.B
3C16B2D2B2A15BDBD4B.7B$27.2B.C17B2D18B3D4B2.6B$27.B3C5B2D10BD21BD5B.
7B$26.6B2D2B2D9BD29B.6B$27.5B2D5B2.3B4.14B.4B7.9B$27.13B3.3B3.7B.B5.
3B9.8B$29.5B.4B5.2A15.4B11.8B$29.B2A2B4.2B4.A16.2A14.7B$30.2A5.BA2B4.
3A14.A15.6B$37.A.A7.A11.3A16.7B$38.A20.A18.7B$78.8B.3B$78.13B$78.14B$
78.15B$79.14B$79.13B$78.14B$79.12B$81.3B2A3B$81.2BA2BAB$83.B2A!

[dvgrn]

Manual experimentation gives a solution that involves an awkward block preventing any last hope of inserting the pi-heptomino...

Here's another result from the Forlorn Hope Department:

There is an H-to-G that returns the FNG glider on one of the several lanes that could clean up a block, avoiding the problem with the awkward yellow eater and the Evil Glider... except I don't think there's _quite_ room to fit in an eater or boat-bit catcher for that Evil Glider anywhere (see the yellow-and-red glider below):

Code: Select all

x = 113, y = 90, rule = LifeHistory
43.A$44.A$42.3AB$43.4B$44.4B$45.4B$24.2A20.4B$23.A.A21.4B$23.A5.A18.
4B$14.2A6.2A5.3A17.4B$13.B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$14.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$13.
4B.4B2AB6.7B14.4B$13.12B6.8B14.4B$4.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$5.A5.35B8.
5B$5.A.AB3.39B.8B$6.2AB.51B$8.24B3D27B$8.26BD28B$8.24B3D24B.4B$9.50B
2.4B$11.50B.4B$15.9B.36B2.4B$16.7B3.42B$13.11B3.42B$12.12B5.34BC6B$
12.12B5.33BCBC6B$3.A8.12B5.32BC2BC7B$2.A.A2.2A3.B3D4B.2B5.4B.29B2C9B$
.A.A2.A.A3.2BD4B2.4B2.4B3.5B2.33B$.A2.2A.B4.2B3D2B4.2B.4B5.3B3.34B$2.
A.A2.2B3.6B4.7B6.3B4.6B.11B.10B.4B$.2A.A.BA2B.7B5.5B8.B6.2B5.4B.4B2.
10B2.4B$4.A.A.A9B6.4B23.2B2.4B2.9B4.4B$.4A2.A.8B5.7B23.2B2.8B.4B6.4B$
.A3.2A4.6B4.2E3.4B21.B2AB2.6B3.5B5.4B$3.A.B6.6B2.D.E4.4B21.2A4.4B7.2A
6.4B$2.2AB2AB3.7B2.D7.4B25.6B6.AB7.4B$5.2AB.8B2.2D8.4B23.8B6.3A6.4B$
2.2A3.10B13.4B21.4B2.4B7.BA6.4B$2.A4.6B2A3B13.4B19.2B6.4B6.A.A6.4B$3.
A3.6B2A2B5.2A8.4B17.3B7.4B5.A.AB6.4B$2.2A3.10B5.A10.4B15.4B8.4B5.A3B
6.4B$6.11B2.BA.A11.4B13.4B10.4B6.4B5.4B$6.12B.B2A13.4B11.4B12.4B5.6B
4.4B$5.15B16.4B9.4B14.4B4.7B.2B.4B$4.16B17.4B7.4B16.4B2.8B.8B$.2B.16B
18.4B5.4B18.23B$2A18B19.4B3.4B20.23B$2AB.17B19.4B.4B21.19B.4B$.B.4B.
8B2.4B19.7B22.5BD11B.B2A4B$8.7B4.4B19.5B23.6BD9B2.BA.A4B$9.6B5.4B18.
5B21.2AB.2B3D8B6.A.4B$11.4B6.4B16.7B19.A.AB2.11B7.2A.4B$13.3BA5.4B14.
4B.4B18.A5.10B12.4B$14.BA.A5.4B12.4B3.4B16.2A5.2B2A6B13.4B$15.A.A6.4B
10.4B5.4B21.3B2A6B14.4B$16.A8.4B8.4B7.4B21.10B15.4B$17.3A6.4B6.4B9.4B
20.8B.B2A.A12.4B$19.A7.4B4.4B11.4B18.7B3.B2AB3A11.4B$28.4B2.4B4.2A7.
4B17.6B6.B4.A11.4B$29.4BD3B5.A9.4B17.8B2.2A.3A13.4B$30.2BD4B2.BA.A10.
4B16.8B.A2.2A16.4B$30.2B3D3B.B2A12.4B14.8B.A.A20.4B$30.10B15.4B4.A8.
8BA.A.2A.A17.4B$30.6B2A2B16.4B3.3A6.6B.2BAB.A.2A18.4B$30.2B2A2B2A19.
4B5.A4.2B3D2B2.2B2.A22.4B$32.2A.2B21.4B3.2A4.4BD2B3.B.2A23.4B$59.4B2.
4B.4B3DB2.A.A2.2A22.4B$60.4B3.11B2.2A2.A2.A22.3B$61.4B.12B7.2A24.2B$
62.16B34.B$62.15B$62.12B$52.2A6.15B$53.A6.16B$53.A.AB2.18B$54.2AB.19B
.B$56.22B2A$56.22B2A$56.23B$57.17B2.5B$58.15B6.2A$60.4B2.4B9.A$58.5B
3.B13.3A$58.2A5.2A15.A$59.A5.A$56.3A7.3A$56.A11.A!

Also, catching that FNG with a syringe slightly impinges on the highway-robber lane. And the problem of re-creating the two blocks remains unsolved... could be done with two synchronized gliders, but that's unlikely to be doable in any record-breaking time, even if the other problems were solved.

[praosylen]

Slightly more accessible:

Code: Select all

x = 93, y = 84, rule = LifeHistory
45.B$44.2BA$44.3BA$45.3AB$24.2A20.4B$23.A.A21.4B$23.A5.A18.4B$14.2A6.
2A5.3A17.4B$13.B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$14.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$13.4B.4B2AB6.7B
14.4B$13.12B6.8B14.4B$4.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$5.A5.35B8.5B$5.A.AB3.39B
.8B$6.2AB.51B$8.24B3D27B$8.26BD28B$8.24B3D24B.4B$9.50B2.4B$11.55B$15.
9B.42B$16.7B2.42B$13.11B3.39B$12.12B5.34BC4B$12.12B5.33BCBC4B$3.A8.11B
7.31BC2BC4B$2.A.A2.2A3.8B.4B6.B.29B2C6B$.A.A2.A.A3.7B4.CE9.6B.30B$.A2.
2A.B4.7B4.E11.36B$2.A.A2.2B3.6B6.3E8.13B.11B.10B$.2A.A.BA2B.7B8.E9.B2.
6B5.4B.4B2.10B$4.A.A.A9B22.4B7.2B2.4B2.9B$.4A2.A.8B24.4B7.2B2.8B.4B$.
A3.2A4.6B25.4B5.B2AB2.6B3.5B$3.A.B6.6B25.4B5.2A4.4B7.2A$2.2AB2AB3.7B26.
4B9.6B6.A$5.2AB.8B28.4B7.8B6.3A$2.2A3.10B29.4B5.4B2.4B7.A$2.A4.6B2A3B
29.4B3.4B4.4B$3.A3.6B2A2B5.2A24.4B.4B6.4B$2.2A3.10B5.A26.7B8.4B$6.11B
2.BA.A27.5B10.3B$6.12B.B2A28.5B12.B2A$5.15B29.7B11.BA.A$4.16B28.4B.4B
13.A$.2B.16B27.4B3.4B12.2A$2A18B26.4B5.4B$2AB.17B24.4B7.4B$.B.4B.8B2.
4B22.4B9.4B14.B.2A$8.7B4.4B20.4B11.4B14.B2A2B3.2A$9.6B5.4B5.2A11.4B13.
4B14.4B2.B2AB$11.4B6.4B3.B2AB9.4B3.2A10.4B9.B.6B3.2B$13.3BA5.4B3.3B8.
4B5.A11.4B6.10B2.2B$14.BA.A5.5B2.B8.4B5.A13.4B5.11B2A2B$15.AB.A5.9B5.
4B6.2A13.4B3.12B2A3B.B$16.A.A2.B3.9B3.4B8.B14.4B2.18B2A$14.A.A.A.2AB.
10B2.4B9.3B13.4B2.15B.B2A$13.A.A2.A.2A17B9.6B12.19B3.B$13.A2.2A3.18B.
B3.B2.10B10.18B$12.2A10.34B3.2B2.19B$25.B.20BD3B2A15BD15B$28.3C16B2D2B
2A15BDBD4B.7B$28.B.C17B2D18B3D4B2.6B$28.3C5B2D10BD21BD5B.7B$29.3B2D2B
2D9BD29B.6B$29.3B2D5B2.3B4.14B.4B7.9B$29.11B3.3B3.7B.B5.3B9.8B$30.4B.
4B5.2A15.4B11.8B$29.B2A2B4.2B4.A16.2A14.7B$30.2A5.BA2B4.3A14.A15.6B$37.
A.A7.A11.3A16.7B$38.A20.A18.7B$78.8B.3B$78.13B$78.14B$78.15B$79.14B$79.
13B$78.14B$79.12B$81.3B2A3B$81.2BA2BAB$83.B2A!

EDIT: More clearance on the weld.

[Jormungant]

mmm, just so I understand, is the actual challenge to only remake the loafer bait without crossing the diagonal line (which is +- followed by the factory), or the restitution of the half blockade is a mandatory component of the challenge as well?

[dvgrn]

mmm, just so I understand, is the actual challenge to only remake the loafer bait without crossing the diagonal line (which is +- followed by the factory), or the restitution of the half blockade is a mandatory component of the challenge as well?

Really any highway robber with a recovery time less than 878 ticks would be a good discovery -- this half-blockade reflection just seemed like a good attempt at that goal, because it produces a quick 90-degree glider and an accessible R-pentomino output that can help with other cleanup tasks.

Entity Valkyrie's solution shown in the LifeWiki highway robber article solves two of the three problems, but adjusting the SE cleanup attachment far enough to make the half-blockade accessible also makes the repeat time of the mechanism truly horrible again:

Code: Select all

x = 122, y = 139, rule = LifeHistory
29.A$28.2BA$28.3AB18$48.A$24.2A21.2BA$23.A.A21.3AB$23.A5.A18.4B$14.2A
6.2A5.3A17.4B$13.B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$14.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$13.4B.4B2AB
6.7B14.4B$13.12B6.8B14.4B$4.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$5.A5.35B8.5B$5.A.A
B3.39B.8B$6.2AB.51B$8.24B3D27B$8.26BD28B$8.24B3D24B.4B$9.50B2.4B$11.
50B.4B$15.9B.36B2.4B$16.7B3.42B$13.11B3.42B$12.12B5.34BC6B$12.12B5.
33BCBC6B$3.A8.13B4.32BC2BC6B$2.A.A2.2A3.B3D4B.5B2.4B.29B2C7B$.A.A2.A.
A3.2BD4B4.8B3.5B2.30B$.A2.2A.B4.2B3D2B4.7B5.3B3.30B$2.A.A2.2B3.6B7.4B
6.3B4.6B.11B.10B$.2A.A.BA2B.7B6.6B6.B6.2B5.4B.4B2.10B$4.A.A.A9B6.7B
20.2B2.4B2.9B$.4A2.A.8B5.2AB3.4B20.2B2.8B.4B$.A3.2A4.6B4.A.AB4.4B18.B
2AB2.6B3.5B6.4B$3.A.B6.6B3.A8.4B18.2A4.4B7.2A7.4B$2.2AB2AB3.7B2.2A9.
4B22.6B6.AB8.4B$5.2AB.8B15.4B20.8B6.3A7.4B$2.2A3.10B16.4B18.4B2.4B7.A
8.4B$2.A4.6B2A3B16.4B16.4B4.4B16.4B$3.A3.6B2A2B5.2A11.4B14.4B6.4B16.
4B$2.2A3.10B5.A13.4B12.4B8.4B16.4B$6.11B2.BA.A14.4B10.4B10.4B16.4B$6.
12B.B2A16.4B8.4B12.4B16.4B$5.15B19.4B6.4B14.4B16.4B$4.16B20.4B4.4B16.
4B16.4B$.2B.16B21.4B2.4B18.4B16.4B$2A18B22.8B20.4B16.4B$2AB.17B22.6B
22.4B16.4B$.B.4B.8B2.4B22.4B24.4B10.2A4.4B$8.7B4.4B20.6B24.4B9.A.A4.
4B$9.6B5.4B18.8B24.4B10.3A3.4B$11.4B6.4B16.4B2.4B24.4B8.A3.A3.4B$13.
3BA5.4B14.4B4.4B24.4B6.B2A2.A4.4B$14.BA.A5.4B12.4B6.4B19.2A3.4B3.5B3.
2A3.4B$15.A.A6.4B10.4B8.4B19.A4.4B2.3B6.A4.4B$16.A8.4B8.4B10.4B18.A.A
B2.8B6.A.A3.4B$17.3A6.4B6.4B12.4B18.2AB.8BA2B5.2A4.4B$19.A7.4B4.4B14.
4B19.9BABA3B10.4B$28.4B2.4B4.2A10.4B17.10BABA3B11.4B$29.4BD3B5.A12.4B
17.10BA2B.B2A10.4B$30.2BD4B2.BA.A13.4B14.2AB.11B.BA.A10.4B$30.2B3D3B.
B2A15.4B9.2A.A.AB3.7B6.A11.4B$30.10B18.4B8.2A.A7.7B5.2A11.4B$30.6B2A
2B19.4B10.A7.6B20.4B$30.2B2A2B2A22.4B9.3A5.7B20.4B$32.2A.2B24.4B11.A
4.8B8.2A10.4B$55.2A5.4B5.5A5.9B7.A12.4B$56.A5.4B4.A10.5B.4B3.BA.A13.
4B$56.A.AB.7B2.B3A6.7B.4B2.B2A15.3B$57.2AB.7B3.2B.A5.3B2A2B2.6B18.2B$
59.12B4A6.2B2AB4.5B19.B$59.7B2A3BAB2.2A4.6B3.5B$59.7B2A2B.B3A2.A3.6B
2.7B$59.10B3.B.A.2A2.7B.4B.4B$58.8B8.A5.6B.4B3.4B$31.2A24.9B7.2A6.9B
5.4B$31.A24.4B2.3B16.8B7.4B$33.A21.4B3.5B13.8B9.4B$29.5A20.4B7.2A13.
8B10.4B$29.A23.4B8.A5.2A7.6B.B11.4B$31.B4A16.4B10.3A3.A6.7B14.4B$31.B
A2.A15.4B13.A3.A.AB3.7B15.4B$29.6B15.4B19.2AB2.8B16.4B$28.6B15.4B22.
11B17.4B10.2A$28.5B15.4B23.11B18.4B9.A$17.2A9.7B12.4B24.11B19.4B10.A$
18.A6.11B10.4B24.11B14.2A5.4B5.5A$18.A.AB.12B10.4B13.2A11.7B18.A5.4B
4.A$19.2AB.14B7.4B14.A6.2A4.8B17.A.AB.7B2.B3A$21.20B2.4B16.A6.A5.8B
17.2AB.7B3.2B.A$21.25B16.2A6.A.AB2.7B20.12B4A$21.24B17.B8.2AB.9B19.7B
2A3BAB2.2A$23.21B16.3B10.11B19.7B2A2B.B3A2.A$25.19B14.6B9.11B19.10B3.
B.A.2A$25.20B10.10B2.B3.B.9B.B2A16.8B8.A$27.20B2.2B3.27B2.BA.A14.9B7.
2A$28.15BD15B2A20B5.A13.4B2.3B$25.16BDBD15B2A20B5.2A11.4B3.5B$25.16B
3D37B10.A6.4B7.2A$24.A.15BD40B7.3A5.4B8.A$23.A.A.56B5.A7.4B10.3A$24.A
3.12B5.4B.13B5.3B2.5B2.4B4.2A5.4B13.A$29.7B10.3B5.B.7B3.3B3.6B3.9B4.
4B$29.5B13.4B15.2A5.4B5.6B5.4B$29.5B15.2A16.A4.2B8.8B2.4B$27.2AB.2B
16.A14.3A4.2BAB5.15B$26.A.AB20.3A11.A7.A.A5.14B$26.A25.A20.A6.13B$25.
2A51.2AB.10B$77.A.AB3.B2A3B$77.A6.B2A3B$76.2A6.4B$85.3B$86.2B.BA$85.B
2ABA.A$84.BABABA.A$82.A2.A.A.A.A.2A$82.4A.2A2.A2.A$86.A4.2A$84.A.A$
84.2A!

[Jormungant]

kk, I guess its good to have benchmark then, there is a boring solution with recovery time 876:

Code: Select all

x = 244, y = 287, rule = LifeHistory
8$13.C$11.C.C$12.2C193$157.2A$156.B2AB11.2A.A.2A$157.3B4.A.2A.A2.A.2A
2.A$156.B.B5.2A.A.2A.A4.A.A$156.5B8.B2.5A.A$156.6B6.2ABA4.A$156.8B4.
2A.A.AB2.A15.2A$157.13B2.A.A2B.A15.A$155.13B5.A2B.2A15.A.2A$154.15B3.
3B16.BA.A.A$154.15B3.2B14.2A.B2A2.A$153.17B.4B10.B.B2A2B4.3A$153.29B
3.B2.4B7.A$152.13B2A11BD4B2.7B6.2A$151.14B2A9B3D4B2.6B7.7B$150.2AB3.
20BDBD4B.7B7.8B$149.A2.A4.19BD15B2.2B.10B3.B10.2B$148.A.2A5.6B3.B2.2B
2.20B3.17B8.3B$148.A7.6B14.42B.5B$147.2A6.9B14.51B$142.2A10.4B4.2A5.B
9.20B3D28B$143.A9.4B5.A15.23BD29B$141.A10.3BD7.3A12.21B3D24B.5B$141.
5A5.3BD5.3A2.A10.2AB.3B2.41B2.4B$146.A3.3BDB5.A2.A11.A.AB6.43B.2B.C$
143.3AB2.3BD3B.BA.A2.2A10.A8.44B2.C.CB$142.A.2B3.4BD2B.B2A14.2A7.48B
2CB$142.4A8BD3B24.10B2.39B$140.2A2.BA3B2A4BD2B23.4B.6B4.34BC4B$139.A
2.3AB.2B2A5BDB22.4B3.B.B6.33BCBC4B$139.2A.A.B3.9BD21.4B5.3B5.32BC2BC
4B$142.A8.7BD19.4B5.B2AB5.3B.29B2C6B$142.2A7.9B17.4B7.2A4.4B3.5B2.30B
$152.3B2.4B15.4B14.2A6.3B3.30B$150.5B3.4B13.4B16.A6.3B4.6B.11B.10B$
150.2A7.4B11.4B14.3A8.B6.2B5.4B.4B2.10B$151.A8.4B9.4B15.A25.2B2.4B2.
9B$148.3A10.4B7.4B43.2B2.8B.5B$148.A13.4B5.4B43.B2AB.7B2.6B$163.4B3.
4B45.2A3.5B7.2A$164.4B.4B50.7B6.A$165.7B51.8B6.3A$166.5B51.4B3.2A8.A$
166.5B50.4B4.A$165.7B48.4B6.3A$164.4B.4B10.A35.4B9.A$163.4B3.4B7.3A
34.4B$162.4B5.4B5.A36.4B$161.4B7.3BD4.2A10.2A22.4B$160.4B9.3BD5B10.A
22.D3B$159.4B6.2A3.D2BD2B9.BA.A21.D2BD$158.4B8.A4.D2BD2B4.3B.B2A10.A
10.D2BD$157.4B9.A.AB.BD2BD2B.7B12.3A7.D2BD$156.4B11.2AB.2BD2BD9B15.A
5.D2BD$155.4B14.5BD2BD7B15.2A4.D2BD$154.4B14.7BD2BD7B14.5BD2BD6.2A$
153.4B16.7BD2BD8B14.2BD2BD7.A$152.4B15.2AB.6BD2BD10B2.2B2.B3.2BD2BD5.
2A.A$151.4B15.A.AB4.4BD2BD5BD14BD2BDB4.A2.A$150.4B16.A6.6BD.BD2BDBD
13BD2BD3B3.B2A$149.4B16.2A4.2AB.2B.B.D2BDB3D9B2ABD2BD9B$148.4B22.A.AB
7.D3BD11B2AD2BD9B$147.4B23.A11.D15BD2BD9B$146.4B23.2A11.BD5.2B.B.3BD
2BD10B$145.4B39.D2.D3B4.BD2BD10B$144.4B40.2A.BDA5.D2BD11B$143.4B41.A.
DBADA3.D.BD11B$142.4B43.A2.BADA.D2BD10B$141.4B45.A3.ADC.AC4.8B$140.4B
44.A.4A2.ABCA6.6B$139.4B44.A.A3.ADA.DB8.5B$139.3B45.A.A2.A2.AC.2A9.B.
B$139.2B47.A3.CA2.A.A9.3B$139.B56.A.A9.B2AB$197.A11.2A!

though... that fits the criterion you set ^^' success? there might even be better track to do the color changing and improving the recovery time...

[dvgrn]

kk, I guess its good to have benchmark then, there is a boring solution with recovery time 876 ... that fits the criterion you set ^^' success?

Definitely! It's only a few ticks faster, but it's actually a significant improvement over chris_c / EV2's model. The 878-tick mechanism's output signal was very awkwardly placed, so that it was actually necessary to add a second highway robber to permit a following glider to get past on the first highway-robber's lane.

(This is a use case that comes up every now and then for highway robbers. There are a couple of highway robbers in the ADD and SUB components in the pi and phi calculators, for example, to count how many closely-spaced signals are coming in on a key lane... though they're kind of overkill in that context -- a couple of demultiplexers on equivalent delay circuits would have been good enough.)

With the new 876-tick model there's a clean perpendicular output glider with no messy extra circuitry needed. I've updated the LifeWiki highway robber article to show the improvement.

[Goldtiger997]

3 more ticks off:

Code: Select all

x = 228, y = 265, rule = LifeHistory
C.C$.2C$.C192$145.2A$144.B2AB11.2A.A.2A$145.3B4.A.2A.A2.A.2A2.A$144.B
.B5.2A.A.2A.A4.A.A$144.5B8.B2.5A.A$144.6B6.2ABA4.A$144.8B4.2A.A.AB2.A
15.2A$145.13B2.A.A2B.A15.A$143.13B5.A2B.2A15.A.2A$142.15B3.3B16.BA.A.
A$142.15B3.2B14.2A.B2A2.A$141.17B.4B10.B.B2A2B4.3A$141.29B3.B2.4B7.A$
140.13B2A11BD4B2.7B6.2A$139.14B2A9B3D4B2.6B7.7B$138.2AB3.20BDBD4B.7B
7.8B$137.A2.A4.19BD15B2.2B.10B3.B10.2B$136.A.2A5.6B3.B2.2B2.20B3.17B
8.3B$136.A7.6B14.42B.5B$135.2A6.9B14.51B$130.2A10.4B4.2A15.20B3D28B$
131.A9.4B5.A15.23BD29B$129.A10.4B7.3A12.21B3D24B.5B$129.5A5.4B5.3A2.A
10.2AB.3B2.41B2.4B$134.A3.5B5.A2.A11.A.AB6.43B.2B.C$131.3AB2.7B.BA.A
2.2A10.A8.44B2.C.CB$130.A.2B3.7B.B2A14.2A7.48B2CB$130.4A12B24.10B2.
39B$128.2A2.BA3B2A7B23.4B.6B4.34BC4B$127.A2.3AB.2B2A7B22.4B3.B.B6.33B
CBC4B$127.2A.A.B3.10B21.4B5.3B5.32BC2BC4B$130.A8.8B19.4B5.B2AB5.3B.
29B2C6B$130.2A7.9B17.4B7.2A4.4B3.5B2.30B$140.3B2.4B15.4B14.2A6.3B3.
30B$138.5B3.4B13.4B16.A6.3B4.6B.11B.10B$138.2A7.4B11.4B14.3A8.B6.2B5.
4B.4B2.10B$139.A8.4B9.4B15.A25.2B2.4B2.9B$136.3A10.4B7.4B3.A39.2B2.8B
.5B$136.A13.4B5.4B4.3A36.B2AB.7B2.6B$151.4B3.4B8.A36.2A3.5B7.2A$152.
4B.4B8.2A40.7B6.A$153.7B9.4B38.8B6.3A$154.5B5.2A5.B2A3.2A31.4B3.2A8.A
$154.5B5.A.A3.BA.A2.B2AB29.4B4.A$153.7B6.A3.B2A3.3B29.D3B6.3A$152.4B.
4B5.3A.3B4.B29.D3B9.A$151.4B3.4B6.BA2B3.5B26.B3D$150.4B5.4B5.2A2B.9B
12.A10.4B$149.4B7.4B5.14B11.3A7.4B$148.4B9.4B3.15B14.A5.4B$147.4B11.
4B2.14B14.2A4.4B$146.4B13.19B14.9B6.2A$145.4B15.20B14.6B7.A$144.4B17.
22B2.2B2.B3.6B5.2A.A$143.4B19.17BD19B4.A2.A$142.4B18.3B.8B.4BDBD20B3.
B2A$141.4B19.2A2.7B2.4B3D9B2A14B$140.4B21.A3.6B2.4BD11B2A13B$139.4B
19.3A5.4B4.29B$138.4B20.A5.6B11.4B.17B$137.4B27.2A3.2B9.6B.15B$136.4B
29.A2.B2A2.2A.2A.2BA.19B$135.4B27.3A4.A.A2.A.A.2BA.A.17B$134.4B28.A4.
A.A.2A4.A2.BA.A.14B$133.4B34.2A9.A3.A.A.2A4.8B$132.4B44.A.4A2.AB2A6.
6B$131.4B44.A.A3.A.A2.B8.5B$130.4B45.A.A2.A2.2A.2A9.B.B$129.4B47.A3.
2A2.A.A9.3B$128.4B56.A.A9.B2AB$127.4B58.A11.2A!

Are any alternate sufficiently edgy loaf factories known? A quick search through the forums suggested no but I could have missed one. The loaf factory that is used is quite slow so if an alternate one is found it would probably result in a repeat time improvement.

[dvgrn]

Are any alternate sufficiently edgy loaf factories known? A quick search through the forums suggested no but I could have missed one. The loaf factory that is used is quite slow so if an alternate one is found it would probably result in a repeat time improvement.

I haven't collected any that I can recall. I've been interested in highway-robber technology since the horrible one that's still showcased in heisenburp.py, and that was from February 2007, so I probably would have noticed anything that had space for the extra eater catalyst and output glider lane.

If we started a project to semi-automatically collect edgy Herschel-to-junk converters, then by the time we'd collected several thousand new factories, a few of them would very likely happen to work as highway robbers.

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

3 more ticks off:

Code: Select all

x = 228, y = 265, rule = LifeHistory
C.C$.2C$.C192$145.2A$144.B2AB11.2A.A.2A$145.3B4.A.2A.A2.A.2A2.A$144.B
.B5.2A.A.2A.A4.A.A$144.5B8.B2.5A.A$144.6B6.2ABA4.A$144.8B4.2A.A.AB2.A
15.2A$145.13B2.A.A2B.A15.A$143.13B5.A2B.2A15.A.2A$142.15B3.3B16.BA.A.
A$142.15B3.2B14.2A.B2A2.A$141.17B.4B10.B.B2A2B4.3A$141.29B3.B2.4B7.A$
140.13B2A11BD4B2.7B6.2A$139.14B2A9B3D4B2.6B7.7B$138.2AB3.20BDBD4B.7B
7.8B$137.A2.A4.19BD15B2.2B.10B3.B10.2B$136.A.2A5.6B3.B2.2B2.20B3.17B
8.3B$136.A7.6B14.42B.5B$135.2A6.9B14.51B$130.2A10.4B4.2A15.20B3D28B$
131.A9.4B5.A15.23BD29B$129.A10.4B7.3A12.21B3D24B.5B$129.5A5.4B5.3A2.A
10.2AB.3B2.41B2.4B$134.A3.5B5.A2.A11.A.AB6.43B.2B.C$131.3AB2.7B.BA.A
2.2A10.A8.44B2.C.CB$130.A.2B3.7B.B2A14.2A7.48B2CB$130.4A12B24.10B2.
39B$128.2A2.BA3B2A7B23.4B.6B4.34BC4B$127.A2.3AB.2B2A7B22.4B3.B.B6.33B
CBC4B$127.2A.A.B3.10B21.4B5.3B5.32BC2BC4B$130.A8.8B19.4B5.B2AB5.3B.
29B2C6B$130.2A7.9B17.4B7.2A4.4B3.5B2.30B$140.3B2.4B15.4B14.2A6.3B3.
30B$138.5B3.4B13.4B16.A6.3B4.6B.11B.10B$138.2A7.4B11.4B14.3A8.B6.2B5.
4B.4B2.10B$139.A8.4B9.4B15.A25.2B2.4B2.9B$136.3A10.4B7.4B3.A39.2B2.8B
.5B$136.A13.4B5.4B4.3A36.B2AB.7B2.6B$151.4B3.4B8.A36.2A3.5B7.2A$152.
4B.4B8.2A40.7B6.A$153.7B9.4B38.8B6.3A$154.5B5.2A5.B2A3.2A31.4B3.2A8.A
$154.5B5.A.A3.BA.A2.B2AB29.4B4.A$153.7B6.A3.B2A3.3B29.D3B6.3A$152.4B.
4B5.3A.3B4.B29.D3B9.A$151.4B3.4B6.BA2B3.5B26.B3D$150.4B5.4B5.2A2B.9B
12.A10.4B$149.4B7.4B5.14B11.3A7.4B$148.4B9.4B3.15B14.A5.4B$147.4B11.
4B2.14B14.2A4.4B$146.4B13.19B14.9B6.2A$145.4B15.20B14.6B7.A$144.4B17.
22B2.2B2.B3.6B5.2A.A$143.4B19.17BD19B4.A2.A$142.4B18.3B.8B.4BDBD20B3.
B2A$141.4B19.2A2.7B2.4B3D9B2A14B$140.4B21.A3.6B2.4BD11B2A13B$139.4B
19.3A5.4B4.29B$138.4B20.A5.6B11.4B.17B$137.4B27.2A3.2B9.6B.15B$136.4B
29.A2.B2A2.2A.2A.2BA.19B$135.4B27.3A4.A.A2.A.A.2BA.A.17B$134.4B28.A4.
A.A.2A4.A2.BA.A.14B$133.4B34.2A9.A3.A.A.2A4.8B$132.4B44.A.4A2.AB2A6.
6B$131.4B44.A.A3.A.A2.B8.5B$130.4B45.A.A2.A2.2A.2A9.B.B$129.4B47.A3.
2A2.A.A9.3B$128.4B56.A.A9.B2AB$127.4B58.A11.2A!

Are any alternate sufficiently edgy loaf factories known? A quick search through the forums suggested no but I could have missed one. The loaf factory that is used is quite slow so if an alternate one is found it would probably result in a repeat time improvement.

This highway robber actually has two outputs, one SW and one SE.

[Goldtiger997]

Enitity Valkyrie 2 and Extrementhusiast's recent great discovery knocks 10 more ticks off the repeat time of the highway robber:

Code: Select all

x = 225, y = 266, rule = LifeHistory
C$.2C$2C190$142.2A$141.B2AB11.2A.A.2A$142.3B4.A.2A.A2.A.2A2.A$141.B.B
5.2A.A.2A.A4.A.A$141.5B8.B2.5A.A$141.6B6.2ABA4.A$141.8B4.2A.A.AB2.A
15.2A$142.13B2.A.A2B.A15.A$140.13B5.A2B.2A15.A.2A$139.15B3.3B16.BA.A.
A$139.15B3.2B14.2A.B2A2.A$138.17B.4B10.B.B2A2B4.3A$138.29B3.B2.4B7.A$
137.13B2A11BD4B2.7B6.2A$136.14B2A9B3D4B2.6B7.7B$135.2AB3.20BDBD4B.7B
7.8B$134.A2.A4.19BD15B2.2B.10B3.B10.2B$133.A.2A5.6B3.B2.2B2.20B3.17B
8.3B$133.A7.6B14.42B.5B$132.2A6.9B14.51B$127.2A10.4B4.2A15.20B3D28B$
128.A9.4B5.A15.23BD29B$126.A10.4B7.3A12.21B3D24B.5B$126.5A5.4B5.3A2.A
10.2AB.3B2.41B2.4B$131.A3.5B5.A2.A11.A.AB6.43B.3BC$128.3AB2.7B.BA.A2.
2A10.A8.44B2.C.CB$127.A.2B3.7B.B2A14.2A7.48B2CB$127.4A12B24.10B2.39B$
125.2A2.BA3B2A7B23.4B.6B4.34BC4B$124.A2.3AB.2B2A7B22.4B3.B.B6.33BCBC
4B$124.2A.A.B3.10B21.4B5.3B5.32BC2BC4B$127.A8.8B19.4B5.B2AB5.3B.29B2C
6B$127.2A7.9B17.4B7.2A4.4B3.5B2.30B$137.3B2.4B15.4B14.2A6.3B3.30B$
135.5B3.4B13.4B16.A6.3B4.6B.11B.10B$135.2A7.4B11.4B14.3A8.B6.2B5.4B.
4B2.10B$136.A8.4B9.4B15.A25.2B2.4B2.9B$133.3A10.4B7.4B32.A10.2B2.8B.
5B$133.A13.4B5.4B33.3A7.B2AB.7B2.6B$148.4B3.4B37.A7.2A3.5B7.2A$149.4B
.4B37.2AB10.7B6.A$150.7B38.5B8.8B6.3A$151.5B35.3B3.3B7.4B3.2A8.A$151.
5B35.4B2.6B3.4B4.A$150.7B32.15B.4B6.3A$149.4B.4B29.21B9.A$148.4B3.4B
27.8B.13B$147.4B5.4B25.23B$146.4B7.4B23.4B2.19B$145.4B9.4B21.4B2.21B$
144.4B11.4B19.4B3.20B2A$143.4B13.4B6.A10.4B5.19B2A$142.4B15.4B5.3A7.
4B9.17B$141.4B17.4B7.A5.4B5.B4.16B$140.4B19.4B5.2A4.4B5.2AB.18B$139.
4B21.4B4.9B6.2A9B2A8B$138.4B23.4B5.6B8.B.7BA2BA8B$137.4B25.4B2.8B10.
7BABA10B$136.4B27.15B8.8BA11B$135.4B29.14B9.18B$134.4B31.13B10.17B$
133.4B33.10B.B2A9.17B$132.4B35.4B2AB3.BA.A7.14B.B2A.A$131.4B37.3B2AB
6.A7.B2AB2.B2.B5.B2AB3A$130.4B40.4B6.2A7.2A5.3B6.B4.A$129.4B41.3B22.B
2AB5.2A.3A$128.4B39.AB.2B24.2A7.A.A$127.4B39.A.AB2AB32.A.A$126.4B40.A
.ABABAB32.A$125.4B38.2A.A.A.A.A2.A$124.4B39.A2.A2.2A.4A$169.2A4.A$
175.A.A$176.2A!

[Goldtiger997]

I got the repeat time down to 742 ticks at the cost of some size and simplicity:

Code: Select all

x = 195, y = 236, rule = LifeHistory
.C$2.C$3C153$82.4B36.A30.4B$83.4B34.A.A30.4B$84.4B33.A.A31.4B$85.4B
26.2A.2A.A.A.2A29.4B$86.4B24.A.A.A.A.A.A.A30.4B$87.4B19.2A2.A5.A3.A8.
A24.4B$88.4B18.A.A.2A3.2A.B.2A5.3A25.4B$89.4B19.A.4B.7B4.A29.4B$90.4B
18.4A2B3.3B3.2B.2A29.4B$91.4B15.2A2.BA2B.BA11B30.4B$92.4B13.A2.3A.3BA
BA8B33.4B$80.2A3.2A6.4B12.2A.A.5BABA8B34.4B$79.B2AB.B2AB6.4B14.A2.5BA
9B35.4B$80.2B2.3B3.B4.4B13.2A2.13B19.2A16.4B$81.3B.3B.4B3.4B18.9B2.B
19.A17.4B$73.2A5.7B.13B17.12B19.A.2A15.4B$74.A5.23B16.9B18.BA.A.A17.
4B$74.A.AB.19B.8B9.B3.4B.4B14.2A.B2A2.A18.4B$75.2AB.29B4.13B.4B12.B2A
2B4.3A17.4B$77.33B.26B6.4B7.A17.4B$77.56BD4B3.6B6.2A18.4B$77.34BA19B
3D4B2.6B7.7B14.4B$78.32BABA18BDBD4B.7B7.8B14.4B$80.30BABA18BD15B2.2B.
10B3.B10.4B$78.33BA8B4.2B2.20B3.17B8.5B$78.2A3.26B.10B11.42B.8B$79.A
3.20B9.7B14.51B$76.3A6.15B11.3B2.4B14.20B3D28B$76.A8.11B13.3B2AB2.4B
12.23BD29B$84.13B11.A.A2.A4.4B11.21B3D24B.5B$83.15B8.3A.3A6.4B8.2AB.
3B2.41B2.4B$83.16B6.A3.A10.4B6.A.AB6.43B.3BC$83.17B5.2A2.A.2A8.4B5.A
8.44B2.CBCB$83.16B11.A.A9.4B3.2A7.48B2CB$85.13B25.4B10.10B2.39B$85.3B
.2B2A5B26.4B8.4B.6B4.34BC4B$83.4B2.2B2A3B29.4B6.4B3.B.B6.33BCBC4B$83.
2A3.8B30.4B4.4B5.3B5.32BC2BC4B$84.A4.2B3D3B30.4B2.4B5.B2AB5.3B.29B2C
6B$81.3A5.3BD4B31.8B7.2A4.4B3.5B2.30B$81.A8.2B3D2B32.6B14.2A6.3B3.30B
$90.7B33.4B16.A6.3B4.6B.11B.10B$82.A7.6B33.6B12.3A8.B6.2B5.4B.4B2.10B
$81.A.A6.6B32.8B11.A25.2B2.4B2.9B$81.A.A6.5B32.4B2.4B37.2B2.8B.5B$79.
3A.2A4.6B31.4B4.4B35.B2AB.7B2.6B$78.A4.B6.6B29.4B6.4B35.2A3.5B7.2A$
79.3AB2AB3.7B28.4B8.4B38.7B6.A$81.A.2AB.8B28.4B10.4B37.8B6.3A$85.10B
27.4B12.4B35.4B3.2A8.A$85.6B2A3B25.4B14.4B33.4B4.A$85.6B2A2B5.2A18.4B
16.4B31.4B6.3A$85.10B5.A18.4B18.4B29.4B9.A$84.11B2.BA.A17.4B20.4B27.
4B$84.12B.B2A17.4B22.4B25.4B$83.15B18.4B24.4B23.4B$82.16B17.4B26.4B
21.4B$79.2B.16B5.A10.4B28.4B19.4B$78.2A18B5.3A7.4B30.4B6.A10.4B$78.2A
B.17B7.A5.4B32.4B5.3A7.4B$79.B.4B.8B2.4B5.2A4.4B34.4B7.A5.4B$86.7B4.
4B4.9B36.4B5.2A4.4B$87.6B5.4B5.6B38.4B4.9B$89.4B6.4B2.8B39.4B5.6B$91.
3BA5.15B38.4B2.8B$92.BA.A5.14B39.15B$93.A.A6.13B40.14B$94.A8.10B.B2A
39.13B$95.3A6.4B2AB3.BA.A39.10B.B2A$97.A7.3B2AB6.A40.4B2AB3.BA.A$107.
4B6.2A40.3B2AB6.A$107.3B51.4B6.2A$104.AB.2B52.3B$103.A.AB2AB48.AB.2B$
103.A.ABABAB46.A.AB2AB$100.2A.A.A.A.A2.A44.A.ABABAB$100.A2.A2.2A.4A
41.2A.A.A.A.A2.A$102.2A4.A45.A2.A2.2A.4A$108.A.A45.2A4.A$109.2A51.A.A
$163.2A!

[calcyman]

Here's an alternative geometry: can the output glider be rerouted to yield the white Herschel in the following partial?

Code: Select all

x = 127, y = 74, rule = LifeHistory
99.B$98.3B$98.4B$99.4B$78.2A20.4B$77.A.A21.4B$77.A5.A18.4B$68.2A6.2A
5.3A17.4B$67.B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$68.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$67.4B.4B2AB6.7B
14.4B$67.12B6.8B14.4B$18.2A38.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$17.B2AB11.2A.A.
2A17.A2.A5.35B8.5B$18.3B4.A.2A.A2.A.2A2.A16.2A.A.AB3.39B.8B$17.B.B5.
2A.A.2A.A4.A.A8.2A7.A.2AB.51B$17.5B8.B2.5A.A8.B2A2B5.A3.54B$17.6B6.2A
BA4.A11.4B2.BA.A3.55B$17.8B4.2A.A.AB2.A8.7B.B2A4.51B.4B$18.13B2.A.A2B
.A6.11B6.50B2.4B$16.13B5.A2B.2A7.9B9.50B.4B$15.15B3.3B11.12B10.9B.36B
2.4B$15.15B3.2B12.16B.B5.7B3.41B$14.17B.4B10.32B3.39B$14.29B4.31B5.
34BD4B$13.13B2A16B2.32B5.33BDBD4B$12.14B2A16B2.32B5.32BD2BD4B$11.2AB
3.27B.22B3C7B6.3B.29B2D6B$10.A2.A4.41B3.2B2.2BC4B8.2AB4.5B2.30B$9.A.
2A5.6B3.B2.2B2.22B10.2B3C2B7.A.AB5.3B3.30B$9.A7.6B14.17B12.6B8.A8.3B
4.6B.11B.10B$8.2A6.9B14.15B11.7B7.2A9.B6.2B5.4B.4B2.10B$3.2A10.4B4.2A
13.17B9.4B.B35.2B2.4B2.9B$4.A9.4B5.A14.19B6.4B39.2B2.8B.4B$2.A10.4B7.
3A12.19B4.4B39.B2AB2.6B3.5B$2.5A5.4B5.3A2.A13.6B.10B4.4B41.2A4.4B7.2A
$7.A4.4B5.A2.A15.6B.9B4.4B47.6B6.A$4.3AB2.7B.BA.A2.2A15.4B4.7B3.4B47.
8B6.3A$3.A.2B3.7B.B2A22.B3.8B3.4B47.4B2.4B7.A$3.4A12B28.2A4.2B2.4B47.
4B4.4B$.2A2.BA3B2A7B29.A7.4B47.4B6.4B$A2.3AB.2B2A7B26.3A7.4B47.4B8.4B
$2A.A.B3.10B26.A8.4B47.4B10.3B$3.A8.8B33.4B47.4B13.B2A$3.2A7.9B31.4B
47.4B14.BA.A$13.3B2.4B29.4B47.4B18.A$11.5B3.4B27.4B47.4B19.2A$11.2A7.
4B25.4B47.4B$12.A8.4B23.4B47.4B$9.3A10.4B21.4B47.4B$9.A13.4B19.4B47.
4B$24.4B6.A10.4B47.4B$25.4B5.3A7.4B47.4B$26.4B7.A5.4B47.4B$27.4B5.2A
4.4B47.4B$28.4B4.9B47.4B$29.4B5.6B47.4B$30.4B2.8B46.4B$31.15B43.4B$
32.14B42.4B$33.13B$34.10B.B2A$36.3B2AB3.BA.A$36.3B2AB6.A$38.4B6.2A$
38.3B$35.AB.2B$34.A.AB2AB$34.A.ABABAB$31.2A.A.A.A.A2.A$31.A2.A2.2A.4A
$33.2A4.A$39.A.A$40.2A!

This initial G-to-H stage can involve a bait; we can restore it by replacing the first Snark with a Callahan G-to-H where the output Herschel restores the bait from the first stage.

[dvgrn]

Here's an alternative geometry: can the output glider be rerouted to yield the white Herschel in the following partial? ...
This initial G-to-H stage can involve a bait; we can restore it by replacing the first Snark with a Callahan G-to-H where the output Herschel restores the bait from the first stage.

There's certainly some space to work with here. Even on an initial attempt with no bait I can get a repeat time of 983 -- nowhere near good enough, but at least it's a three-digit number.

Code: Select all

x = 293, y = 367, rule = LifeHistory
2.A$A.A$.2A244$246.C.C$247.2C$247.C6$231.2A$230.A.A$230.A5.A$221.2A6.
2A5.3A$221.2A16.A$229.2A7.2A$229.2A2$171.2A38.2A$171.2A12.2A.A.2A17.A
2.A$178.A.2A.A2.A.2A2.A16.2A.A.A$178.2A.A.2A.A4.A.A8.2A7.A.2A$186.5A.
A9.2A7.A$182.2A.A4.A18.A.A$182.2A.A.A3.A17.2A$186.A.A3.A$187.A3.2A4$
270.C$179.2A88.C.C$179.2A87.C2.C$164.2A54.3D46.2C$163.A2.A54.D12.2A$
162.A.2A55.3D9.A.A$162.A70.A$161.2A69.2A$156.2A18.2A$157.A18.A$155.A
21.3A72.A6.2A$155.5A14.3A2.A72.3A4.2A15.2A$160.A13.A2.A77.A20.A$157.
3A12.A.A2.2A75.2A21.3A$156.A15.2A105.A$156.4A40.2A$154.2A3.A3.2A36.A
44.2A$153.A2.3A4.2A33.3A45.A$153.2A.A41.A44.2A.A$156.A86.A2.3A4.2A20.
2A$156.2A86.2A3.A3.2A20.A.A$222.2A22.4A27.A$222.2A7.2A13.A15.2A13.2A$
164.2A65.A15.3A12.A.A$165.A55.D7.A.A18.A13.A$162.3A55.3D6.2A14.5A14.
2A$162.A56.D2.2D21.A$187.A59.A$187.3A21.2A33.2A$190.A21.A$189.2A21.A.
A$213.2A3$227.2A$227.A.A$229.A53.A$199.2A28.2A50.3A$192.2A5.A.A78.A$
192.2A7.A78.2A$201.2A2$188.A99.2A$187.A.A.2A21.3D72.A$187.A.A.A.A21.D
8.2A63.A.2A$184.2A.A.A.A.A2.A18.3D6.A56.2A4.3A2.A$184.A2.A2.2A.4A28.
3A53.2A3.A3.2A$186.2A4.A34.A58.4A$192.A.A77.2A15.A$193.2A76.A.A12.3A$
271.A13.A$270.2A14.5A$290.A$288.A$288.2A7$216.2A$216.2A7.2A17.2A.2A$
225.A19.A.A$215.D7.A.A14.2A.A5.A.2A$214.3D6.2A4.2A8.A.A.2A3.2A.A.A$
207.2A4.D2.2D11.A8.A6.A.A6.A$208.A18.A.A8.7A3.7A$208.A.A16.2A$209.2A
29.3A7.3A$239.A2.A3.A3.A2.A$239.2A4.A.A4.2A$245.A.A$246.A2$228.D$226.
D.D$226.3D9.2A$226.D11.2A2$215.2A$211.2A2.2A$210.A.A43.2A$210.A23.2A
19.A.A$209.2A23.A5.2A5.2A6.A$235.3A.A.A4.A2.A3.3A$237.A.A6.A.A3.A3.2A
$238.2A7.A4.4A2.A$243.2A10.A.2A$244.A7.2A.A$241.3A9.A.A$241.A9.A.A.2A
$251.2A!

I kind of wish someone would find an H-to-loaf (or H-to-some-other-bait) stage that isn't so awkwardnessful, though. Optimizing anything attached to that H-to-loaf seems a little silly somehow.

[carsoncheng]

Kazyan's p8 nearly-stable reflector works perfectly in deleting the block. By nearly stable, I mean that it can be used no matter which phase the Coe's p8 is in. The only problem in this configuration is how to replace the Coe's p8 with a still life.

Code: Select all

x = 89, y = 59, rule = LifeHistory
60.4B$61.4B$40.2A20.4B$39.A.A21.4B$39.A5.A18.4B$30.2A6.2A5.3A17.4B$29.
B2AB2.2B.B9.A17.4B$30.2B3.3B2A7.2A18.4B$29.4B.4B2AB6.7B14.4B$29.12B6.
8B14.4B$20.2A6.14B.2B.10B3.B10.4B$21.A5.35B8.5B$21.A.AB3.39B.8B$22.2A
B.51B$24.54B$24.55B$24.51B.4B$17.2B6.50B2.4B$17.B9.50B.4B$17.4B10.9B.
36B2.4B$17.8B.B5.7B3.41B$17.23B3.39B$17.23B5.34BD4B$17.23B5.33BDBD4B$
17.23B5.32BD2BD4B$17.12B3C7B5.4B.29B2D6B$17.4B3.2B2.2BC8B5.3B3.5B2.30B
$17.B10.2B3C4B5.2AB6.3B3.30B$28.10B3.A.AB6.3B4.6B.11B.10B$27.10B4.A10.
B6.2B5.4B.4B2.10B$26.4B.5B4.2A25.2B2.4B2.9B$25.4B2.4B33.2B2.8B.4B$19.
B4.4B2.4B33.B2AB2.6B3.5B$23.4B2.4B35.2A4.4B7.2A$22.4B2.4B41.6B6.A$21.
4B2.4B41.8B6.3A$20.4B2.4B41.4B2.4B7.A$19.4B2.4B41.4B4.4B$18.4B2.4B41.
4B6.4B$17.4B2.4B41.4B8.4B$16.4B2.4B41.4B10.3B$6.2A7.4B2.4B41.4B13.B2A
$A.2A.A.A6.4B2.4B41.4B14.BA.A$2A.A.A7.4B2.4B41.4B18.A$4.2AB5.4B2.4B41.
4B19.2A$4.2B5.4B2.4B41.4B$5.2B3.5B.4B41.4B$4.B2AB.10B41.4B$5.2A11B41.
4B$6.B.9B41.4B$9.7B41.4B$.B7.2B2AB.3B38.4B$2AB.3B3.B2AB2.2A37.4B$2A2B
3A3.4B2.A38.3B$.B.3BA2B2.2B4.3A35.2B$3.2BABAB.2B7.A35.B$5.2B2AB2AB$5.
BAB.B2A$10.B!

Edit: This doesn't decrease the repeat time of the highway robber, but may offer a significant bounding box reduction.