Make:

While cool, Tower of Hanoi is actually a really simple game once you understand the algorithm.

I'd be interested to see the code and how efficiently he's captured the algorithm.

He still doesn't have the high-score... what do you want to bet the guy who does used a software macro on the iphone itself to automate the touches?

Reply to this comment

Cute project, and I like the way you hacked the relays into solenoids.

I find it funny that you made a robot to play the game on a computer though, I was hoping to see it play with physical discs. As Magnin says, it's software, use a software robot.

It does make me think about using your idea on a machine that has physical buttons and connecting your controller to the physical buttons without solenoids.

Also Hanoi is really simple the motions are mindless for a person. I'd like to see something like this with a game that's difficult for a human but simple for a computer.

Reply to this comment

how did you use those rods to control the ipod. It senses a property of human skin...

Reply to this comment

property of human skin? the iphone (as well as most screens) use capacitive touch sensors. he just put water and paperclips.

Reply to this comment

In the first part, I show the robot solving all 7 levels at 5 moves per second. After a few closeups, there's a short clip of the robot running at 7 moves per second. It managed to solve the first few levels but then errors started popping up and it was unable to finish the whole game.

The fact that the phone kept up for as long as it did is impressive (to me anyway). Keep in mind that it takes 2 touches to make one move.

Reply to this comment