Roomba's Algorithm Disseminated: Chaos Theory Illuminated
I’m in the midst of wrapping up my cover story on networked storage for the June 28th print edition of EDN, so instead of in-depth discourses on the malware pandemic, high-bandwidth wireless links, and the critical plight of news media, you’ll be getting briefer fare from me the next few days. To wit, check out this ~30-minute exposure shot of a Roomba in action, taken by blogger ‘Signaltheorist’ (with thanks to Gizmodo for the heads-up):
There’s pattern in the chaos, of course, especially after iRobot’s beloved automated, intelligent vacuum cleaner has established the boundaries of the space to be cleaned along with identifying any immovable objects within in. But randomness ultimately reigns supreme, just as in all other aspects of life.
I can’t help but chuckle inside whenever someone points out some particular thing in their life over which they don’t have any control…doesn’t everything ultimately fit that description?
