NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #20

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Newsgroups: comp.theory.cell-automata Path: sparky!uunet!munnari.oz.au!manuel!sserve!pdact!dbell From: dbell@pdact.pd.necisa.oz.au (David I. Bell) Subject: Spaceships in Conway's Life (Part 3b) Organization: NEC Information Systems Australia, Canberra Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 01:12:23 GMT Message-ID: <1992Sep11.011223.18940@pdact.pd.necisa.oz.au> Keywords: life Sender: news@pdact.pd.necisa.oz.au (News Holder) Lines: 673 ----------------- [Continued from previous mail article] -------------------- The following shows a weaving wicktrailer tagalong that looks reminiscent of the wicktrailer for period 2 spaceships. It can be said to have a period of 34. The three apparently different cycles are actually the same pattern, just in the 3 different phases. [Period 3 spaceship with wicktrailer (speed c/3)] ..O................O.....................OO..........O............... .O.......O.O......OO.........OOO....................OO............... OO..O.O..O......OOOOO.......O..........OO..O......OOOOO.OOO.......O.O ....OO.OO......O......O...OO....O.....O..........O........O.O...O..O. OO.O..OOO.....O..O..OO....OOO...O.O..OO....OOO...O.O..OO....O.O.O..OO OOOO...OO...O..O.O...O..........O......O...OO....O.....O..OOO........ OOOO...OO...O.........OO..O......OOOOO.......O..........O............ OO.O..OOO..........................OO.........OOO.................... ....OO.OO...............OO..........O................................ OO..O.O..O........................................................... .O.......O.O......................................................... ..O.................................................................. The wicktrailer can be attached to some other spaceships if it is slightly modified at the front. Here is a wicktrailer attached to Dean's second long spaceship, along with another related tagalong. Compare the top tagalong with the spaceship above to see the slight modification required. [Period 3 spaceship with two independent tagalongs (speed c/3)] .........O........O.................. ........O.O......OO.................. ........O......OOOOO.OOO............. .OOO....O...O.O........O.O........... .OO..O....O.O.O.O..OO....O.O.O..OO... ...OOO.OO.OO...O....O..OOO...O..O.... .O..O.O.OOO..........O.........O.O... O....O.....O......................... O....O.....O......................... .O..O.O.OOO..........O...O.O......... ...OOO.OO.OO...O....O.O.OO.O......... .OO..O....O.O.O.O..OO................ .OOO....O...O.O......OOOOOO.O.....O.. ........O......OOOOO...O........O.O.O ........O.O......OO......O..O.O.O.OO. .........O........O......O........... ..........................OO......... Only one cycle of the wicktrailer is shown above because there is no room for more cycles without removing the bottom tagalong. The bottom tagalong does not appear to be extensible. Sometimes a tagalong is not really a tagalong, but becomes a required part of a spaceship. An example of this is shown below. Here there is a large tagalong for the turtle spaceship, with what appears to be two copies of the wicktrailer attached to the back of the tagalong. But if either of these wicktrailers is removed, then the tagalong will self destruct. So this is really a single large tagalong. [Period 3 spaceship with a tagalong with required wicktrailers (speed c/3)] ...............................O............... ..................O...........OO............... ..O..............O..........OOOOO.OOO.......... .O.O......OO....OO..O.OO...O........O.O........ .O...OO..OOO........OO..O.O..O..OO....O.O.O..OO .O.O...O..O.....OO.O...O...O.O...O..OOO...O..O. ...O..O..OOO....OOOO....O.........O.........O.O OO..OOO..OOO.OO..OOO....O...................... OO..OOO..OOO.OO..OOO....O...................... ...O..O..OOO....OOOO....O.........O.........O.O .O.O...O..O.....OO.O...O...O.O...O..OOO...O..O. .O...OO..OOO........OO..O.O..O..OO....O.O.O..OO .O.O......OO....OO..O.OO...O........O.O........ ..O..............O..........OOOOO.OOO.......... ..................O...........OO............... ...............................O............... There are many more tagalongs for Dean's two symmetrical spaceships. Here is a small selection of them. You can see several components used repeatedly. Also of interest is that the front and back parts of the turtle ship appear in various widths. [Several period 3 spaceships with tagalongs (speed c/3)] .....................OO..... .....................OOO.O.. ...................O....OOO. .................OOOOOOO.OO. .OOO.......O....O........OO. .OO..O.OO.OO....O.OO.OO.OO.. ...OOO....O....O..OO..OO...O .O..O.O...O....OOO.O.OO...O. O....O....O..O...O..OO...... O....O....O..O...O..OO...... .O..O.O...O....OOO.O.OO...O. ...OOO....O....O..OO..OO...O .OO..O.OO.OO....O.OO.OO.OO.. .OOO.......O....O........OO. .................OOOOOOO.OO. ...................O....OOO. .....................OOO.O.. .....................OO..... .................O...........OOO...O........... ................O.O.........O.....O..O......... ................O...O.OO..OO....O.O...O........ .OOO.......O....O.O..O....OOO...O...O.....O.OO. .OO..O.OO.OO......O..OO...OO....O.O.O..OO.O.O.O ...OOO....O....OO..OO.O..........O...O......O.. .O..O.O...O....OO..OOOO........................ O....O....O..O..O..OOOO...O.................... O....O....O..O..O..OOOO...O.................... .O..O.O...O....OO..OOOO........................ ...OOO....O....OO..OO.O..........O...O......O.. .OO..O.OO.OO......O..OO...OO....O.O.O..OO.O.O.O .OOO.......O....O.O..O....OOO...O...O.....O.OO. ................O...O.OO..OO....O.O...O........ ................O.O.........O.....O..O......... .................O...........OOO...O........... ..............................OO..O.... .................O............OO..O.OOO ................O.O..............OO.... ................O...O.OO..OOOOOOO...O.. .OOO.......O....O.O..O....O..O....O.... .OO..O.OO.OO......O..OO...OOOO.OOOOO... ...OOO....O....OO..OO.O....OO.OO..OO... .O..O.O...O....OO..OOOO....O.....OOO... O....O....O..O..O..OOOO....O.....O..... O....O....O..O..O..OOOO....O.....O..... .O..O.O...O....OO..OOOO....O.....OOO... ...OOO....O....OO..OO.O....OO.OO..OO... .OO..O.OO.OO......O..OO...OOOO.OOOOO... .OOO.......O....O.O..O....O..O....O.... ................O...O.OO..OOOOOOO...O.. ................O.O..............OO.... .................O............OO..O.OOO ..............................OO..O.... ..............................OO..O...........................O......... .................O............OO..O..................OO......O.O........ ................O.O..............OO.........................O........O.O ................O...O.OO..OOOOOOO......OOO.........OO..O...O..OO.O.O..O. .OOO.......O....O.O..O....O..O....O....OO..O.OO...O......OOOOO.....O..OO .OO..O.OO.OO......O..OO...OOOO.OOOOO.....OOOO..O.OO....OO......O........ ...OOO....O....OO..OO.O....OO.OO..OO...O..O...OOO..O...OO...OO.......... .O..O.O...O....OO..OOOO....O.....OOOO.O....O..OO.........O..OO.......... O....O....O..O..O..OOOO....O.....O...OO....O..OOO....................... O....O....O..O..O..OOOO....O.....O...OO....O..OOO....................... .O..O.O...O....OO..OOOO....O.....OOOO.O....O..OO.........O..OO.......... ...OOO....O....OO..OO.O....OO.OO..OO...O..O...OOO..O...OO...OO.......... .OO..O.OO.OO......O..OO...OOOO.OOOOO.....OOOO..O.OO....OO......O........ .OOO.......O....O.O..O....O..O....O....OO..O.OO...O......OOOOO.....O..OO ................O...O.OO..OOOOOOO......OOO.........OO..O...O..OO.O.O..O. ................O.O..............OO.........................O........O.O .................O............OO..O..................OO......O.O........ ..............................OO..O...........................O......... .....................O..............................O...O.O.O............... .........O..........OO..OO.........OO...O......OO.OO..OOOO.OO............... ........O.O......O.OO.O.........O.OOO..O.O.....OO.O.O.OO....O.O............. ........O......OOO.OO...O.O....O...O...O.O....O....O......OO..OO.O.......O.O .OOO....O...O.O.O..OO.....O..O.O..OO...O.....OO..O.O......OOO..O...O....OOOO .OO..O....O.O.O....O....OOO.O....OOO..OO.O.O..O..OO............OO.OO...OO... ...OOO.OO.OO...OO.OOO...OOO.O.....OO.....O.........O..............OO..O.O... .O..O.O.OOO........OO.........OOO.OO.O....OO.......O.O..........O.O...O..... O....O.....O....................O..O.O..........................O...O.O..... O....O.....O....................O..O.O..........................O...O.O..... .O..O.O.OOO........OO.........OOO.OO.O....OO.......O.O..........O.O...O..... ...OOO.OO.OO...OO.OOO...OOO.O.....OO.....O.........O..............OO..O.O... .OO..O....O.O.O....O....OOO.O....OOO..OO.O.O..O..OO............OO.OO...OO... .OOO....O...O.O.O..OO.....O..O.O..OO...O.....OO..O.O......OOO..O...O....OOOO ........O......OOO.OO...O.O....O...O...O.O....O....O......OO..OO.O.......O.O ........O.O......O.OO.O.........O.OOO..O.O.....OO.O.O.OO....O.O............. .........O..........OO..OO.........OO...O......OO.OO..OOOO.OO............... .....................O..............................O...O.O.O............... Here are more period 3 spaceships found by the exhaustive search. The first two are rather small, whereas the right one is much larger. I call the one the left the "dart", and the middle one the "brain" because of their appearances. [Three more period 3 spaceships (speed c/3)] ........O. .OO........ ........O.O...................... .......O.O O..O.....OO ........O...OOO.................. ......OO.. OOO...OOO.. ......OO.....OO.................. .........O O..O.OOOO.. ......OO...O......O........OO.... .....O...O .OOO...O... .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.... ..O..O.... .O..OOO.... .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..... .O.O..OOOO ...O....OO. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO...O O..O...... ...OOOOO.O. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO .O.O..OOOO ........... O..O..................O...OO..O.. ..O..O.... ...OOOOO.O. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO .....O...O ...O....OO. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO...O .........O .O..OOO.... .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..... ......OO.. .OOO...O... .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.... .......O.O O..O.OOOO.. ......OO...O......O........OO.... ........O. OOO...OOO.. ......OO.....OO.................. O..O.....OO ........O...OOO.................. .OO........ ........O.O...................... The large spaceship on the right is important for the following reason: Whenever a spaceship is found which appears to be composed of components which are only loosely interacting (as in the above spaceship), then a good thing to try is to remove the components from the back end, and see what happens to the spaceship. In almost all cases, the ship will be destroyed. However, occasionally this doesn't occur, and something interesting will happen. (The best result is that a puffer engine might be found). In the case of the above spaceship, removing the tail component creates a period 9 spaceship, as shown below. [Period 9 spaceship (speed c/3)] ........O.O.................. ........O...OOO.............. ......OO.....OO.............. ......OO...O......O........OO .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO. O..O..................O...OO. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O. .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO ......OO...O......O........OO ......OO.....OO.............. ........O...OOO.............. ........O.O.................. The spaceship creates a blinker at the back which unfortunately reacts with the tail again, and gets eaten. Along with some tagalongs which have the same tail end as this ship, this is the only method known to make a period 9 spaceship. Following are two other small tagalongs which turn the period 9 ship back into a period 3 spaceship. Here the rightmost 3 columns from the spaceship above have been extracted, with the new tagalongs appended. [Alternative small tagalongs to make the period 9 spaceship into period 3] .......O. ........O. ......O.O .......O.O .OO..OO.. .OO....O.. OOO...O.. OOO...O..O .O....OO. .O....OOO. .OO..O.O. .OO..O.... OO..OOO.. OO..OOO... OO..O.... OO..O..... OO..OOO.. OO..OOO... .OO..O.O. .OO..O.... .O....OO. .O....OOO. OOO...O.. OOO...O..O .OO..OO.. .OO....O.. ......O.O .......O.O .......O. ........O. The large spark in the period 9 spaceship is useful. Running a LWSS into it can produce various debris. One of these reactions produces a loaf. When the loaf is properly hit with other LWSSs, it can be pulled backwards. This mechanism was found by Dean Hickerson, and is shown below. [Period 9 spaceship turns LWSS into a loaf which is then pulled backwards] ........OO...O............................................................ .......OOO....O........................................................... ......O...OOO............................................................. .....OO.O.OO.O...O.........O.............................................. ......O.O......OOO........OO.............................................. .....OOO..O....O..OO.O.OO.O............................................... ..O.OO.O........O...OOO...O..............OO............................OO. OO....OOOOOO....O..OO.....O.............OOOO...........OO.............OOOO OO..................OO....O............OO.OO..........OO.OO..........OO.OO OO....OOOOOO....O..OO.....O.............OO......O..O...OOOO...........OO.. ..O.OO.O........O...OOO...O.....OOOO...........O........OO....OOOO........ .....OOO..O....O..OO.O.OO.O.....O...O..........O...O..........O...O....... ......O.O......OOO........OO....O..............OOOO...........O........... .....OO.O.OO.O...O.........O.....O..O..........................O..O....... ......O...OOO............................................................. .......OOO....O........................................................... ........OO...O............................................................ Dean used a reaction like the above to construct another sawtooth pattern. In this sawtooth pattern, salvos of two LWSS are repeatedly shot at the receding period 9 spaceship. When the first LWSS reaches the period 9 ship, it is turned into a loaf. The loaf is then pulled back by the "tractor beam" of further LWSS reactions until it reaches the salvo gun where the loaf is deleted. The cycle is then repeated, but with more salvos needed since the period 9 spaceship has receded further. Here are some tagalongs for the period 9 spaceship, most of which turn the spaceship into period 3. Like the other spaceships, there are many of these tagalongs and the following is only a selection. The following shows an unusual two bit spark at the back. [Period 3 spaceship with tagalong (speed c/3)] ........O.O............................................O........ ........O...OOO...................OOO..............O.OO.O....... ......OO.....OO...................OO...O...O...OO.O.OOO.O....... ......OO...O......O........OO.......OOO.O.OO...OO.O............. .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.....O..OO....O.O..OO.OOO...O...... .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..........OO.OO..OOOOO..O....O...... ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO..OOOO.O..O.........OO..OO..OOO.... .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO.......OOOOOOOOO.O.O.......O... O..O..................O...OO..O.....................OOO...OO..OO .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO.......OOOOOOOOO.O.O.......O... ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO..OOOO.O..O.........OO..OO..OOO.... .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..........OO.OO..OOOOO..O....O...... .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.....O..OO....O.O..OO.OOO...O...... ......OO...O......O........OO.......OOO.O.OO...OO.O............. ......OO.....OO...................OO...O...O...OO.O.OOO.O....... ........O...OOO...................OOO..............O.OO.O....... ........O.O............................................O........ The two bit spark in the above spaceship can be replaced by a small tagalong that can be repeatedly attached to itself (in its next phase). But that small tagalong always needs terminating with the final tagalong shown here. [Period 3 spaceship with repeatable and terminating tagalongs (speed c/3)] ........O.O............................................O.................... ........O...OOO...................OOO..............O.OO.O................... ......OO.....OO...................OO...O...O...OO.O.OOO.O................... ......OO...O......O........OO.......OOO.O.OO...OO.O......................... .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.....O..OO....O.O..OO.OOO...O..............O.O. .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..........OO.OO..OOOOO..O....O.......O.O....OO.O ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO..OOOO.O..O.........OO..OO..OOO....OO.O...O.... .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO.......OOOOOOOOO.O.O.......O..O.O....OO.... O..O..................O...OO..O.....................OOO...OO..OOO.OO..O..... .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO.......OOOOOOOOO.O.O.......O..O.O....OO.... ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO..OOOO.O..O.........OO..OO..OOO....OO.O...O.... .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..........OO.OO..OOOOO..O....O.......O.O....OO.O .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.....O..OO....O.O..OO.OOO...O..............O.O. ......OO...O......O........OO.......OOO.O.OO...OO.O......................... ......OO.....OO...................OO...O...O...OO.O.OOO.O................... ........O...OOO...................OOO..............O.OO.O................... ........O.O............................................O.................... The following tagalong ends in a tail which has the same shape as the base ship, and therefore can be repeatedly attached to itself. Because of that special tail, this becomes a period 9 spaceship. [Period 3 spaceship with repeatable period 9 tagalong (speed c/3)] ........O.O.................................................... ........O...OOO................................................ ......OO.....OO...................................O............ ......OO...O......O........OO................OOO.O.O..O.......O .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO..........O.O.O...O..OOO.O......OO .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O...OO.....OOOO.OO.....OO.O.OO.OO.O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO...O....OO......O..O.OO..O.OO...O. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO.O....O..OO......O.O....O.OO.....O. O..O..................O...OO.O...O..O...................O....O. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO.O....O..OO......O.O....O.OO.....O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO...O....OO......O..O.OO..O.OO...O. .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O...OO.....OOOO.OO.....OO.O.OO.OO.O. .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO..........O.O.O...O..OOO.O......OO ......OO...O......O........OO................OOO.O.O..O.......O ......OO.....OO...................................O............ ........O...OOO................................................ ........O.O.................................................... Note that this tagalong uses two previously known small tagalongs in order to make the connection to the base ship. The connection between the second of those tagalongs and the new one is tenuous, and is similar to several other ships and tagalongs. But the spacing between the two points of contact makes it difficult to connect the tagalong to them. The following is the best that has been found. Here two turtle ships plus wicktrailers are used to pull the tagalong. [Alternate attachment of period 9 tagalong to period 3 spaceships (speed c/3)] ...................O................................ .................OO................................. .OOO.......O.....OO.........O.O..................... .OO..O.OO.OO.......O.......OOOO..................... ...OOO....O......O...O....OO........................ .O..O.O...O...O.O...OOOO..OO........................ O....O....O..O.OO...O.O..O.......................... O....O....O..O.OO...O.O..O.......................... .O..O.O...O...O.O...OOOO..OO...........O............ ...OOO....O......O...O....OO......OOO.O.O..O.......O .OO..O.OO.OO.......O.......OOOO.O...O..OOO.O......OO .OOO.......O.....OO.........O.O.OO.....OO.O.OO.OO.O. .................OO...............O..O.OO..O.OO...O. ...................O..............O.O....O.OO.....O. .............................................O....O. ...................O..............O.O....O.OO.....O. .................OO...............O..O.OO..O.OO...O. .OOO.......O.....OO.........O.O.OO.....OO.O.OO.OO.O. .OO..O.OO.OO.......O.......OOOO.O...O..OOO.O......OO ...OOO....O......O...O....OO......OOO.O.O..O.......O .O..O.O...O...O.O...OOOO..OO...........O............ O....O....O..O.OO...O.O..O.......................... O....O....O..O.OO...O.O..O.......................... .O..O.O...O...O.O...OOOO..OO........................ ...OOO....O......O...O....OO........................ .OO..O.OO.OO.......O.......OOOO..................... .OOO.......O.....OO.........O.O..................... .................OO................................. ...................O................................ The above construction can be widened by repeatedly adding another turtle ship, wicktrailer, and tagalong in a similar manner. This gives a spaceship with multiple period 9 sparks at the back which are closer together than can be accomplished using multiple copies of the original period 9 spaceship. The following shows two more tagalongs of the period 9 spaceship. (The second one begins at the large gap near the end of the ship, and is 10 columns long.) Without the final tagalong, a single spark is produced at the center of the back. With the final tagalong, that spark is suppressed. The final tagalong shares a property with one of the period 2 tagalongs in my previous article, in that cells are turned OFF by the rest of the spaceship, instead of cells being turned ON. The final tagalong also has a spectacular set of parallel sparks. [Period 3 spaceship with two tagalongs (speed c/3)] ........O.O............................................................... ........O...OOO...................OOO.............OOOO..O.O.......O....... ......OO.....OO...................OO...O...O...OO...O..OO.O.OO..OO........ ......OO...O......O........OO.......OOO.O.OO...OO.O.............OO..O..... .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.....O..OO....O.O..OO.OOOOOOOO.........O...OO .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..........OO.OO..OOOOO..O...O....O..O.O.O.O.O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO..OOOO.O..O.........OO..OO...OO....O......OO. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO.......OOOOOOOOO.O.O.....OO....OOOOOOO.O. O..O..................O...OO..O.....................OOO....O............OO .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OO..OOO.......OOOOOOOOO.O.O.....OO....OOOOOOO.O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OO..OOOO.O..O.........OO..OO...OO....O......OO. .....O...O......O..OO.O.O..O..........OO.OO..OOOOO..O...O....O..O.O.O.O.O. .........O.OO..OO.O.......OOO.....O..OO....O.O..OO.OOOOOOOO.........O...OO ......OO...O......O........OO.......OOO.O.OO...OO.O.............OO..O..... ......OO.....OO...................OO...O...O...OO...O..OO.O.OO..OO........ ........O...OOO...................OOO.............OOOO..O.O.......O....... ........O.O............................................................... Finally I shall give a few results from the search that are really large spaceships on their own. This is because they were found from a slightly modified period 9 spaceship. The following spaceship has an interesting "square" shaped component near the back with a cavity in the back. This cavity must be filled with something or the ship will not work. In this case, it is filled with a copy of the dart spaceship. This is an example of a "pushalong" instead of a tagalong. That is, an object that has to have a following spaceship instead of a leading spaceship. The following spaceship's purpose here is simply to prevent some cells from being turned ON. [Large period 3 spaceship with embedded "dart" spaceship (speed c/3)] ........O.O............................................. ........O...OOO.....................O..OO..O.O.O......O. ......OO.....OO..........OOO......OO...OO..O.OOOO....O.O ......OO...O......O......OO.......OO......OO...OO...O..O .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O.....OOOOOO...........O.. .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O..O....O...O........OOOO ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.....OO...OOOO.....O.OO.O. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOO..O.......O...OO....OOO O..O..................O...OO......O........O...OO....... .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOO..O.......O...OO....OOO ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.....OO...OOOO.....O.OO.O. .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O..O....O...O........OOOO .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O.....OOOOOO...........O.. ......OO...O......O......OO.......OO......OO...OO...O..O ......OO.....OO..........OOO......OO...OO..O.OOOO....O.O ........O...OOO.....................O..OO..O.O.O......O. ........O.O............................................. The following shows the void in the square component being filled with a non-spaceship, and reacting with it more substantially. This ends in the period 9 tail. [Very large period 9 spaceship (speed c/3)] ........O.O........................................................... ........O...OOO.....................O..OO..O.O........................ ......OO.....OO..........OOO......OO...OO..O.OOOO.....O...OOO......... ......OO...O......O......OO.......OO......OO.........OO...OOO........O .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O.....OOOOOO......O..OO.......OO......OO .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O..O....O...O....O..OOO....O..OOO.OO.O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.....OO...OOOO...O..O...OOO......OO...O. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOO..O.......O..OOO..OOO....OO.OO.....O. O..O..................O...OO......O........O..O...............OO....O. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOO..O.......O..OOO..OOO....OO.OO.....O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.....OO...OOOO...O..O...OOO......OO...O. .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O..O....O...O....O..OOO....O..OOO.OO.O. .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O.....OOOOOO......O..OO.......OO......OO ......OO...O......O......OO.......OO......OO.........OO...OOO........O ......OO.....OO..........OOO......OO...OO..O.OOOO.....O...OOO......... ........O...OOO.....................O..OO..O.O........................ ........O.O........................................................... The following shows yet another way to fill the void. This ends in the same two bit spark that was found in one of the previously shown ships. [Period 3 spaceship (speed c/3)] ........O.O.....................................................OO...... ........O...OOO.....................O..OO..O.O.O.............O....O..... ......OO.....OO..........OOO......OO...OO..O.OOOO........OO.O.O.O....... ......OO...O......O......OO.......OO......OO...OO.......O...O...O....... .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O.....OOOOOO.............O.....OOO........ .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O..O....O...O..........OOOO......O.OO.... ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.....OO...OOOO...O.....O......O.OO...OOO.. .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOO..O.......O..O.O..O.OOOOOO.O.O....O..O. O..O..................O...OO......O........O..O...OO..........O......OOO .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOO..O.......O..O.O..O.OOOOOO.O.O....O..O. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.....OO...OOOO...O.....O......O.OO...OOO.. .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O..O....O...O..........OOOO......O.OO.... .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O.....OOOOOO.............O.....OOO........ ......OO...O......O......OO.......OO......OO...OO.......O...O...O....... ......OO.....OO..........OOO......OO...OO..O.OOOO........OO.O.O.O....... ........O...OOO.....................O..OO..O.O.O.............O....O..... ........O.O.....................................................OO...... Finally, here is a slightly different spaceship with a tagalong. Without the tagalong, the same two bit spark is produced as in the previous ship. This tagalong has yet another size of a back end similar to the turtle spaceship. [Period 3 spaceship with tagalong (speed c/3)] ........O.O...................................O..................O......... ........O...OOO...........................O.OO..................O.O.....O.O ......OO.....OO..........OOO..........O.OO..O.O.................OO......O.. ......OO...O......O......OO..........OO.OO...O............OO....O...O.OO... .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O....O..O...OOOOO..........O.O.....OOO..OO... .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O...OOO.......O.OO.......OO.OO...O....OO.O.. ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.........OO..OO.....O.....OOO.OO....OOOOO.O.O .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOOOOOOOO.O..O....O....O..OO..O.OOO...O...... O..O..................O...OO...............OO....OO..OO...........OOO...... .O.O..OOOOOO........O..O..OOO.OOOOOOOOO.O..O....O....O..OO..O.OOO...O...... ..O..O......O...OOOO...OO..OOO.........OO..OO.....O.....OOO.OO....OOOOO.O.O .....O...O......O..OO.O.OO.O...O...OOO.......O.OO.......OO.OO...O....OO.O.. .........O.OO..OO.O........O..O....O..O...OOOOO..........O.O.....OOO..OO... ......OO...O......O......OO..........OO.OO...O............OO....O...O.OO... ......OO.....OO..........OOO..........O.OO..O.O.................OO......O.. ........O...OOO...........................O.OO..................O.O.....O.O ........O.O...................................O..................O......... No method has been found to make a puffer train from period 3 spaceships. But the next best thing is something which I call a pseudo-puffer. A pseudo-puffer creates debris from a period 3 spaceship, but not by itself. It must be "fed" some input in the form of a c/2 spaceship stream. It can then turn that input into debris which can be manipulated by sparks from other period 3 spaceships. The following is a pseudo-rake. (A rake is a puffer which produces a wave of gliders). In this construction, the reaction that converts a glider into a LWSS was found by Bill Gosper, and the reaction that converts 3 gliders into a LWSS was found by David Buckingham. This picture is compressed to prevent lines which are too long. Here each dollar sign should be replaced by 10 periods to reconstruct the full picture. [Pseudo-rake producing gliders from spaceship stream (speed c/3)] $$$$$$$$$$$.....O.O..OO$$ $$$$$$$$$$$....O...O.OOO....OO$... ......O$$$$$$$$$$........O......OO...OO$... ....OO$$$$$$$$..O...OO$$..OOOOO.O$......... ....OO$$$$$$$....OO....OO.O.OOO$$.....OOO$$ ......O$$$$$$$...OO....O....OOO$$$$........ ....O$$$$$$$$.O...O$$........OOO$$ ....O.O$$$$$$$$OOO$$......OOOOO.O$.....OO.. ....O.O$$$$$$$$$$........O......OO$....OO.. .....O$$$$$$$$.OOO$$....O...O.OOO$......... ...OO$$$.....OO$$$$....O...O$$....O.O..OO$$ ....O$$.....OO.......O.O$$$........OO....O....OOO$.....O$$$.. ....OOO$$...OO......OO.O$$$........OO....OO.O.OOO$......OO$$$ .....O$$$...OO$$......OO$.........O...OO$.....OO$$$. .......O$$$..O$$......O.O.......OO$$$$$$... .....OO$$$$$$..O.......OO$$$$$$... .....OO$$$...O$$......OOO$$$$$$$.. $$$.........OO$$$$$$$$$$. ..OOO$$.....OO......OO.O$$$$$$$$$$ ..OO..OO$$..OO.......O.O$$$$$$$$$$ ....O$$$.....OO.......O.O$.....OOO$$$$$$$.. ...OO$$$$....OO$........O.......OO$$$$$..OO.....OO.. ...OO$$$$.....O$......O.O.......OO$$$$$.O..O...O..O. ...O..O$$$$$$OO$$$$$.O.O$OO.OO.... .......O$$$$$$$$$$$...OO.........O.O.O.O... ....OOOOO$$$$$$$$$$$..O$O.O.O.O... ........OO$$$$$$$$$$$$O.........O. ........OO$$$$$$$$.O..O$$$....O$.O .....OOOO$$$$$........OOOO$.........O$$..OOOO$$..... ....O...O$$$$$........O...O$........O...O$........O...O$.....OO.OO.... ....OOO$$$$$$O$$..OOOO$.........O$.......O..O.O..O.. ....O..O$$$$$$O..O$$$$..O..O$...OOO...OOO.. .....O$$$$$$$$$$$$$...... .....O.O$$$$$$$$$$$$$.... ......O$$$$......OOO$$$$$$$$..OO.. $$$$$...O$$$$$$$$....OO.. $$$$$....O$$$$$$$$....... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. $$$.........OOO$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$.O$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$O$$$$$$$$$$. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. $$$$$$.....OO$$$$$$$..... $$$$$$.....O.O$$$$$$$.... $$$$$$.....O$........OO$$$$$...... $OO$$$$$$$.O$$$$$........ OO.......O.O$......OO$$$$$..O..OO$OO$$$$... OO......OO.O$.....O.O$$$....O$.......O..O$.OO$$$$... .........OO$........O.......OO$$...O..O$......O.O$$$$$....... $O$$.....OO.OO......OO.OO$OOOOO$......OO$$$$$....... $$$.......O..O......OO.OO$OOO.OO$$$$$$$.... $O$$......O..O$$..OO.O$......OO$$$$$....... .........OO$$.......OO$$....OO$......O.O$$$$$....... OO......OO.O$$$$$$$O..O$.OO$$$$... OO.......O.O$$......OO$$....OO$......O..OO$OO$$$$... $OO$$.....O..O$$..OO.O$......O$$$$$........ $$$.......O..O......OO.OO$OOO.OO$......OO$$$$$...... $$$......OO.OO......OO.OO$OOOOO$$$$$$$..... $$$.......OO$$...O..O$$$$$$$...... $$$$$$....O$$$$$$$....... Gliders from several of these pseudo-rakes can be collided to produce some desired puffer output. In addition, a glider or the result of a collision can be perturbed by using some of the period 3 spaceships. For example, the following shows the brain spaceship perturbing a glider to produce a honey farm. This can be added to the pseudo-rake above to form a row of honey farms. [Period 3 spaceship perturbing a glider to make a honey farm] .............O. ............O.. ............OOO ............... ............... ..OO........... .O..O.....OO... .OOO...OOO..... .O..O.OOOO..... ..OOO...O...... ..O..OOO....... ....O....OO.... ....OOOOO.O.... ............... ....OOOOO.O.... ....O....OO.... ..O..OOO....... ..OOO...O...... .O..O.OOOO..... .OOO...OOO..... .O..O.....OO... ..OO........... No period 3 spaceship with really good accessible sparks has been found. For perturbing purposes, such sparks should be on the edge of the spaceship so that debris can be perturbed as the spaceship passes by. But it appears that period 3 isn't large enough for such sparks to be far enough away from the ship to be useful for many things. Most perturbations end up destroying the spaceship. Compare this with the MWSS and HWSS, which are much more effective at perturbing things successfully. The next article in this series will deal with two classes of the period 4 spaceships, in particular the c/4 orthogonal and diagonal period 4 spaceships. That article should appear in about two weeks.