LEGO Computer Snake Game V2

[@ozziegerff]

Apparently this needs to be said: this is still in the designing phase and not built yet. It's real as in it only uses legos and not an EV3 or an actual computer. I accidentally glossed over a couple things near the end, notably with the food writer. The food writer is responsible for generating food tiles and as it stands will be in the opposite position as the head (rotated 180). It also has a piston on it so that every 10 or so cycles it will push in creating a new food tile. The method of food generation will likely change to something better and you can find more details of the screen in the video about that (LEGO Computer Part 5: Mechanical Screen)! I will also say this is my biggest and longest taking video I have done yet and in that 2 weeks of editing I did forget to add a couple visuals as well as possibly making a major development on the joystick but that will be saved for a later video. I may do a longer video just going over the details of the whole computer, probably going to call it the boring video...

[@nootypenguino]

Dw about people. It's nice of you to explain

[@That1annoyingBee]

How long did this take to type?

[@ozziegerff]

@@That1annoyingBee the comment?

[@Champdrad]

I want the boring video!

[@For891]

Do you think plastic flex,gear back lash and lego tolerances would actually allow for this to work?

[@thealtstoman]

I literally didn't understand a single thing you said in this video. 10/10, highly recommend

[@DIfromTCS]

Me too dude

[@brandonmack111]

I'm sure that's not true. I bet you understood the part about how you have grabby hands.

[@Neon_games-1]

Then you don’t have a attention span du du du

[@rc-fannl7364]

Same here

[@doorknob1518]

@@brandonmack111 i dont so i struggled with unuderstanding that part

[@Waterdog37]

Not only one of the very few mechanical computers I've ever seen), but it's literally made of Lego. Genius engineering behind this thing. Like beyond genius. Edit: I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS! CHILL OUT PEOPLE. I SAID "one of the few" not "the only"

[@NerdCloud-IT]

It also litterally has a screen and the mechanical parts don't lose torque over long paths

[@XMarkxyz]

You'll be surprised but mechanical computers were a thing not only for long time but also quite well spread; for example they wer still used in airplanes in the 70s and in every ww2 warship for fire direction

[@anderss7713]

True

[@reddblackjack]

Tge Turing machine was a mechanical computer built for decoding ENIGMA, the Nazi code. It was huge with all of the dials and switches and everything. But I wonder if the typewriter set could be used as parts for some kind of coding machine like the enigma machine. Obviously it had a specific way of encoding where letters and numbers could be represented by different things depending on the cipher used. Mr. Turing himself would be very impressed. When his machine broke enigma in '42, he surely became a real hero! The Brits were able to mess with German bombings and we were able to sink many U-boats and totally mislead them in operation Overlord and route their forces quickly! This guy's a genius of Turing caliber. He doesn't need a triple hexadecimal cipher like enigma but something less complicated would make a winner of Ideas and a set I'd buy! Especially if it could really be used for secret messages. Dang.

[@patrickmuller5223]

I gave u a abo if u make a version for non elezronic digital guys

[@juhor.7594]

This must be an incredibly slow and loud system, but I would be extremely excited to see it built for real.

[@sliceofbread2611]

what you are trying to say is that the game has a low entry level and the music is purely mechanical as well

[@zizirobinson]

one of the Legoland parks should reach out to OP and ask for permission to build one there

[@intcreator]

reminds me of old mechanical phone switching systems like the strowger step by step switch, panel switch, crossbar switch, etc.

[@happyface1211]

This is breathtaking to look at. We are now living in an age where Lego Technic can finally transform and replicate into logical scenarios!

[@dezpotizmOFheaven]

And yet Lego only chooses to make bad and overpriced licensed models without any functionality.

[@magic00squirrel]

I’ve never felt so dumb in my entire life

[@eadweard2214]

I felt like an amoeba being told how wheels and aeronautics worked.

[@Benzinilinguine]

That's the first step to become smart

[@Darkstar327]

2 m³ is absolutely wild, the spinning animations made it look like it was only about 30cm³

[@viquezug3936]

30 cm³ is minuscule: it's not the volume of a cube with side length of 30 cm, but ~3.107 cm. Similarly, 2 m³ is not the volume of a 2 m cube, but that of two 1 m cubes.

[@nikkeloneboot8326]

This is genius. Nasa is considering making a fully mechanical rover for Venus, maybe you should look into that project

[@viquezug3936]

FULLY mechanical?? I can understand making it more mechanical that typical probes, but like, wut?

[@SioxerNikita]

You can't make a fully mechanicalmrover, because it will need electronics

[@nikkeloneboot8326]

@@SioxerNikita The point is that they find something to drive a mechanical motion and then use radar reflector plates to transmit data to a satellite. I dont think they know how to control it yet, there was a contest a couple of years back where you could submit suggestions on how this robot could sense it's surroundings and make decisions about where to drive next based on mechanical computing. It sounds outrageous to build a rover without any microelectronics, but that is exactly the point they're trying to figure out. So maybe they will prove you wrong or maybe they won't

[@SioxerNikita]

@@nikkeloneboot8326 Yeah, I think that's more of a "Let's hope this concept works". A fully mechanical computing system would be far too big for a Rover to actually do anything meaningful. You'll be completely reliant on very few useful mechanical measurements. It not only sounds outrageous, but it would be silly. The radar reflectors plates to transmit data to a satellite requires even more infrastructure, like a satellite, but the problem is, you can't really transfer radar or other signals into mechanical motion which means you cannot control a fully mechanical rover from remote, which would mean it would be more of an automated probe than a Rover. We'd only be able to receive. It would also be EXTREMELY sensitive to the Venution environment in terms of debris. It likely wouldn't have a particularly long mission life. Honestly, they'd probably have more success sending down a mechanical probe to do automated measurements that it then uses radar reflectors to transfer results back, than trying to make a rover. Anyway, reading the actual paper, they haven't really conceptualized even the control system. It's a lot of "high concept", and they can't have things like a camera, so the only way to interact with the environment would be "touch". And even the paper goes back to talking about vacuum tubes, and old electronics, which are less temperature sensitive. The document is an extremely rough draft as far as I can see. To be fair, NASA has quite a few "Far out there" ideas they take serious and experiment with, on the very tiny off-chance it'll work... and as I said, this will likely be more like a "Throw a probe down, do measurements and then leave", if it needs guidance, likely a remote controlled traditional drone with a very limited lifespan to move the probe into the correct position, is going to be my guess of what they actually end up doing.

[@LukasFink1]

@@nikkeloneboot8326 Sounds like an interesting project. But is there a practical reason against using electronics for that project?

[@MrJacksspleen]

You've invented a new definition for assembly language programming.

[@bennettw8666]

This is insanely impressive and deserves millions of views.

[@awesomecronk7183]

I've designed several digital computers from gates and relays and even designed a water based "relay" that would let me make a proper water computer. This? This is another level. This is a mechanical thinking that I don't think I'll ever match. Very impressive.

[@dilutioncreation1317]

How would your water relay work? Will there be a constant source of water falling?

[@awesomecronk7183]

@@dilutioncreation1317 The idea is that an input stream lands on a see saw of some sort, which then twists a paddle and changes which way another stream goes. I've never actually printed one, but I have several on paper kicking around somewhere...

[@dilutioncreation1317]

@@awesomecronk7183 sounds like it could be very visually striking; reminds me of something like Turing Tumble

[@maxobyrne1474]

Can’t wait to watch Bad Apple on this screen

[@spazemfathemcazemmeleggymi272]

First it must play doom

[@benrboss]

Can it run crysis

[@jonathanshorp8346]

Can’t wait for someone to make a Linux distribution for lego

[@dafoex]

Bonus points if you can make it play the music mechanically, too

[@hjonk1351]

I used to think people building computers in minecraft was impressive, this is just a mindblowing mechanical masterpiece

[@Amy-E.-Jones]

You have NO IDEA how fascinated I am with this project! Finally a truly fully mechanical screen. Your efforts and skills deserve much more attention Please keep up the awesome work🌸

[@bru57000]

I hope it will work. I fear too much torque, and too much backlash, and lack of rigidity will make this a real challenge.

[@SpydersByte]

yea, I couldnt follow even half this shit but I had the same thought, I dont think the pieces are precise or rigid enough to allow this all to work correctly. It would be amazing if it does though!

[@bloodgoa139]

I don't know if this can really be called a computer, since it's not programmable. This thing is more like an ASIC if you want a microchip analogue.

[@ozziegerff]

First one to point that out! Yeah its not an actual computer by any definition but it is running a computer game and I need something to call it so yeah. Besides... Lego Snake Machine gives off the wrong idea

[@lordomacron3719]

Hmm yes it would more akin to the Difference Engine rather than what we now call a computer. (Well Computer used to be a Human job title, so it’s meaning has changed over the years)

[@ryanmccampbell7]

It's not a programmable computer, but this certainly would have been called a "computer" before ~ the 1950's-60's. If it computes it's a computer.

[@clementpoon120]

it's an analogue computer

[@ryanmccampbell7]

@@clementpoon120 I think I would still consider it mostly digital bc it relies on discreet states rather than continuous values. Although some parts are more analog.

[@alexstacks8819]

So for the controller filter, you could probably simplify the filter by recognizing that the snake can only change direction when it changes axis

[@ozziegerff]

I may have to look into that!

[@willmoffatt3081]

Very cool I am going to have to watch this a few times before I give up trying to understand it

[@etansivad]

"Why am I making this? I don't really know." How about because it's an absolutely brilliant way of showing a bus works in electronics? For reference, I'm a 44 year old software engineer that does database integrations and understands a bit about electronics, enough to make a few silly breadboard projects. I love reading about early computers and how CPUs are constructed. When you posted this video I immediately had to watch it, and then I made my two boys (15 and 12) watch it because they really like making machines out of legos. One suggestion if you want to grow the channel a little, is make some shorter videos where you show transitior logic implemented in legos (OR, NOR, XOR, etc). These are concepts that are very hard to understand (at least for me) when first approaching them, but seeing logic implemented in lego gives the concepts a much more tactile understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Thank you for posting this. It's a deeply fascinating video.

[@Scandium_quasar]

I think I understood at least 60%... maybe, the actual computation with the tail memory is still marinating in my brain though, this is very impressive, the fact that it's fully independent of logic gates is amazing, this better pop off.

[@Espen_Danielsen]

I see so many issues with this, mechanical backlash with gears, pressure loss in pneumatic system, timing and delay issues, structural stability as the weight will be insane, and so on... BUT if you can surpass these issues you will have created one of the worlds most advanced mechanical computers, and that made of Lego! I also suggest looking into the Venus project. Many of your ideas would be a lot easier to realize with proper mechanics, and there ar a lot of good ideas here.

[@A_Dilophosaurus]

this is insanely intelligent, a lego computer is something i've never seen but you seem to be pioneering it quite well, definitly deserves more recognition

[@SioxerNikita]

Technically not a computer, but interesting😊

[@Glowstone_Guy]

I doubt this will be seen, but to reset you could run a wide slope behind the screen pins to move them all to the blank position, then run the tail memory buffer through a funnel-like structure to push all of the bits to the 0 position (then of course move the structure out of the way)

[@bootthekid]

This is sick. Ive been tinkering with the idea of a tetris machine. I figured out (conceptually) how to make a display and move a pixel around, erase a line and keep score but ive yet to figure out how to rotate a shape once it is on the screen.

[@ozziegerff]

like mechanical?

[@bootthekid]

@@ozziegerff yes, but I have yet to actually build it. Basically works like a flip display. As one tile flips down, it flips up the tile above, below or beside it. Would be controlled by one horizontal and one vertical "gear." CW on the horizontal gear to move the "pixel" down, CCW for up, and vertical would control side to side movement. For score keeping, the flipped tile would act as a clutch, if the whole line is "on" it would cause the line to reset and increase the score. I think it could be done fairly efficiently without any need for external memory or logic. Just don't have time to do it like I used to lol

[@almosthuman4457]

How'd you know I was a big weird fleshy thing with hands?

[@ozziegerff]

lucky guess

[@almosthuman4457]

@@ozziegerff I'm glad you replied. I forgot to subscribe. thanks for keeping it silly.

[@lulusbedtimestories4864]

Did bro have a TRAFFIC LIGHT?!!?!?! 0:44

[@trumpetsrlife9692]

you know there free right

[@sliceofbread2611]

@@trumpetsrlife9692 where free?

[@SemiCollin]

@@trumpetsrlife9692typical “Schlatte” viewer

[@rgbatom5145]

its free

[@ozziegerff]

they are free just like ducks, frogs, and stop signs

[@MexicanUranium-235]

Whoa, i see the project has be coming along really well, thank you for the update, i hope one day you can build this ginormous and legendary Lego build,

[@jonathanshorp8346]

Computer using redstone: simply just copy already known digital computer stuff, impressive but still overdone Computer using LEGO: outstanding, using witchcraft and eldritch knowledge to make an analog memory/input/etc. not to mention the several galaxy brain designs to make this work and be relatively simple and functional

[@jackpaxton9391]

The absolute talent needed to take the basics of a computer and make them mechanical is wild.

[@mycatisverydumb646]

Bruh I don't even know how 1s and 0s make stuff do stuff, you deserve a sub

[@pierrotA]

This is amazing and very clever. What a machine. However, I do not think we can call it a "computer", given that you cannot code or launch any other program that snake. The mechanics are hardcoded in the system, and not store in a memory somewhere. It's still an amazing arcade system.

[@Keldor314]

The mechanical display actually reminds me of e-ink. Instead of using a push rod, e-ink uses an electric charge to push and pull black or white pigment particules to the front of a given pixel, so for instance, applying a positive charge might push positively charged white particles forward and pull negatively charged black particles backwards, turning the pixel white.

[@ozziegerff]

I'm a bit familiar with the E-ink stuff. I think it should be bigger than it is, especially with outdoor signage where it would excel in the sun

[@Keldor314]

@@ozziegerff There might be some longevity issues for outdoor sinage. A lot of pigments fade after a few years of sunshine, and I see no reason why e-ink would be different. That being said, there are some similarities in the microgeometry of retroreflective paints and the pigment capsules in e ink. I wonder if it would be possible to make a retroreflective e ink...

[@Tango8787]

I subbed for the sole purpose of knowing there is someone out in this world like you. I didn't understand how any of this works and that's OK. I'm just happy to know some of the brightest minds are on KZbin and you're freely sharing you knowledge with us. What a super complex task to challenge yourself with, a mechanical computer programmed to play snake. Unbelievable. Thank you!

[@achimaufachse5925]

Dude... that reminds me of visualisations of protein biosynthesis. You are nuts...❤

[@tereziipyrope]

Bold of you to assume I have hands. I only have little nubs that I slap wildly across my keyboard under a video is displayed in this cold damp basement (of which I have been banished to)

[@ozziegerff]

same

[@orendamusic7577]

This is clinically insane and I love it

[@RileyLittle]

Absolute gem. The production quality is strong with this one.

[@jfwfreo]

If this is legit running without anything electronic, that's amazing.

[@ozziegerff]

just constant motors and compressed air

[@maffepaffe]

This is insane, the fact that this has 9 comments right now WILL change, the internet will catch on soon. been here since the beginning of the project!!

[@roboman2444]

I've got a hunch that the entire screen can be made significantly smaller, by using the same belt mechanism as the tail buffer. It would need to be scrolled around back to be read and manipulated, then scrolled to the front to display it every cycle. You could probably get away with just looking directly at the belt, with a "mesh" in front of it to only let you see bits that were in a certain state, and block you from seeing bits that were not in that state. That would be extremely simple mechanically, and basically just be a direct view of the "framebuffer memory". Another benefit of it being scrolled, is you could do most logic line-by-line, which should also simplify it significantly.

[@ozziegerff]

For this project that would be unnecessary, but for one that need the entire screen to be updated each frame, that could be useful. Ill keep this is mind

[@roboman2444]

@@ozziegerff May be useful if you want to something like Lego game-of-life.

[@DoodleBricks]

That has to be the most insane Lego build I’ve ever seen. BRAVO

[@reddblackjack]

Dude! How did you design this. It's freaking AMAZING! It's very much a mechanical computer. Are you aware how cool that is. They were made by IBM long ago and this uses the same principles but you made an early game made for computers before Pong was a thing! Since you're a wizard, I may have something for you. In the first century ( about 70CE) there was a little known genius. Heron of Alexandria who made robots. Indeed primitive, but they would utilize ropes with weights weaved around nubs on gear like things and when allowed to fall, it manipulated the gears, which moved parts of the Robot. Like a dancer that spun, moved its arms, turned its head, and stuff. These things could kinda be programmed by weaving the rope different ways. Driven by gravity power and able to change motions by timing. You're magic, like people thought he was. You could make a simple mechanical bull for instance. So it only needs two motions, maybe three if you add side to side or head bobbing with spinning and bucking. Four motions if you have the guts. This is the Coolest thing I've seen in a while from a young person, though. Gonna watch again!

[@reddblackjack]

Is there a way to have a weight sensor that could be used to oscillate a fat surface between tilting right and left? I was thinking PONG could be made, With one flat paddle on each side of a playing field that goes up and down at variable or analog speed. But it would need to have switching tilts to make it work. When the ball hits the paddle the tilt would need to switch instantly to send the ball the other way smoothly. Is that possible with what you know?

[@crionidel]

I LOVE your cards and editing, good job man!

[@MECKENICALROBOT]

Hell yeah, make it!! 11:50

[@clnrrr]

Dude this is fucking mindblowing. Im reall looking forward to the finished build

[@kjamison5951]

Charles Babbage is speechless. I cannot wait to see the finished piece in operation! Subscribed!

[@MHSDankusPotatus]

Never stop doing your thing. Shits badass

[@fonephix7222]

A modern marvel! Awesome work

[@yanneckblw]

Next video: lego computer runs doom

[@asiriomi]

I just subscribed and became a member of your patreon. As a life-long fan of LEGO, especially technic sets, this is the type of project I would have dreamed to be able to build. If I can help you work on this and build it then I suppose in some way so did I. Can't wait to see how this project develops

[@HarperChisari]

Using the screen as memory is just like the old Plato IV system, which actually was the reason plasma screens were invented; they’re their own vram.

[@Chezkak]

This is by far the most underrated video I have ever seen. This is absolutely incredible. Great job!

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

This is amazing! Reminds me of redstone game computers but lego, and its amazing that its almost completely mechanical

[@hotdog720]

Wow, I really want to see it finished. Just the design is incredible.

[@manoelguidialvares6903]

Simply beautiful, maybe we can have a sneak peak of like, 2x2 screen?

[@dumpsterfireanimations]

0:07 is that algdoo

[@ozziegerff]

yup

[@HokoraYinphine]

i miss phun

[@lottievixen]

i forgot the original name its been so long, thanks ​@@HokoraYinphine

[@Randy-Lahey]

@@HokoraYinphinedamn what a flashback

[@BradenHolmes]

bro this is s beautiful machine. great work!

[@misterikkit]

There is no need to question why you are making this. The universe will simply be better when it exists

[@lazyeye79]

Nice work, glad to see it coming along nicely.

[@NisseHult101]

Pretty wild idea, building a mechanical computer game with Lego! Simply fascinating!

[@IneptOrange]

I can't believe they invented minecraft redstone computers in real life

[@Spessforce]

I can imagine the technic sounds this would make in operation. I like the other commenter’s idea on reaching out to Lego or Legoland for parts, the park can keep an identical one you build.

[@qfurgie]

unparalleled genius

[@symonpiotr4676]

I'm always really impressed by those kinds of projects. Some people are just soooooo fricking smart and committed.

[@Mau_DelS]

this is really really insane man... you deserve much more IMPRESSIVE!

[@aidenwilkson5193]

One of the best things I’ve ever seen on the internet period. Hope you get hired somewhere that deserves you lol

[@brassandbricks7701]

This is an mechanical engineering marvel. What an awesome project. One day I hope to have the amount of Legos required for projects like this XD

[@sebulbathx]

Wow amazing piece of art! I really can't understand how a mechanical computer works and it's always amazing to see people build things like this.

[@Tajealos]

I like your funny words, magic man

[@benmorey6002]

Holly Cow Dude, that build is crazy complicated. My brain hurts after only watching that video. Awesome

[@GavinFisher-t4h]

This will be so cool when you get it built and working!

[@ianmoore5502]

Dude I clicked this because I thought it was minecraft what THE HECK i feel so fortunate rn also the music, the gifs, the concise explanations, this whole video is golden

[@joppleysier4714]

7k!? Start the funding campaign!!

[@ozziegerff]

www.patreon.com/OzzieGerff

[@Rowlesisgay]

love the contrast between this and minecraft computers, really interesting stuff.

[@eduardogarcia3049]

This is absolutely the most insane thing i have ever seen on KZbin. Holy crap! Can’t wait to see this things built.

[@Aroxsch]

This needs to go viral I didn't understand 80% of this video and it's about lego

[@BasementCreationsChannel]

Dude, you're insane, can't wait for more!

[@apodsilvaticus6489]

Just impressive the amount of knowledge and time effort put into this, congratulations. I wish all the lengthy parts you buy with the dollar I will be sending do not get warped and become your nightmare. 🎉

[@natejack2292]

Insanely cool design! I think this will blow up soon. Check out 7-segment cam displays. Fully mechanical and use a camshaft to show 0-9 depending on the rotation of the shaft. Not as easily scalable as your current display, but might be useful for a future project. This inspired me; keep up the good work!

[@ozziegerff]

I've seen those and those kinda scare me just from how many moving parts and mechanisms it takes just to make one digit. I feel like it would be a nightmare to deal with to make and keep working properly😩

[@jeffbarr1960]

This is truly amazing and I hope that you eventually bring it to life. Keep up the great work!

[@onndoff]

Actually genius. You madman.

[@TykhonBlok]

You are very smart and cool:)

[@JBBrickFanatic]

My man, this is genius! Making an analog computer out of LEGO?!? Good stuff. Subbed at 3K, I’m here for more. Best 🙊

[@NicolasSaudemont]

Man ! Once the design is done, just make a crowdfunding campaign to get the money for the lego pieces and metal axles ! Amazing work, but I'm still not sure whether the long axles will resist twist enough to actually work as intended...

[@calebrosenhauch4296]

Dude how do you only have 900 subs??? I subbed

[@Argyle117]

If every human had the intelligence and engineering genius that you have, humanity as a whole would be so far into the stars.

[@sophiafernandez9684]

WOW this is ambitious. I really, really hope this all works together in reality. Good luck, looking forward to updates

[@gunier.j.kintgenanimations]

When this thing actually gets built, I expect a montage showing it working with this song playing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp_dfZalo7Bnitk This has to be the best youtube video I've seen all month; This is beyond impressive!

[@iO-Sci]

This is a serene type Snake game to play and simulate.

[@Elliottblancher]

my god you must have lost your soul a million times while building this feat of Lego engineering

[@HolmesHobbies]

What a cool project! Some shorts showing a few cycles would be nice. I want to hear the din of it working!

[@Benjamin-cl3js]

A comment to help engagement. You deserve deserve so many more views and good luck building it!

[@martinfisker7438]

This is frigging insane. Im not sure if i understood everything correctly, but you update the screen my moving a gantry to every pixel position? How many pixels do you visit? Only the few that needs updating? Anyways, i would guess your "1/fps" would be in the tens of seconds, maybe even minutes?

[@ozziegerff]

Each pixel that needs updating has its own gantry and writer. the only things that change each frame are the head, tail and food generation. On top of that each one only needs to move over one pixel each frame so it can happen relatively quick! I'm expecting each cycle or frame to be around 2 seconds!

[@uattias]

I just love the Marathi Luther music playing while this guy shows us a master build. Lol

[@ericrodrigue893]

I can't even explain how blown away I am

[@speedy_808]

Can you make a Lego set out of this?

[@Dan-vq4pz]

Thats so clever geeting feedback at the end of ghe pneumatic cylinders!!!

[@bobikoart]

I didnt watch the first video. Thought it would all be analogue, but then i saw that binary part of the system. Really amazing

[@MNSweet]

So what im hearing is you were born to late and should have grown up in the 70s/80s building pinball and arcade machines.

[@ozziegerff]

For real I have 3 pinball machines (one project) with a combined age of like 160 I also worked pinball and coin-op repair and loved every second of it

[@sly_dawg_17]

This needs to be a real life Lego set now idc how much it costs