# Summary of #hplusroadmap IRC Log (Feb 5, 2009)

• A link to a resource on stigmergic collaboration was shared, along with a related book "Stigmergic Optimization Studies in Computational Intelligence" (Springer 2006).

• Participants discussed an open source drug discovery project called Tropical Disease (tropicaldisease.org), which was noted as being similar to OSDD (Open Source Drug Discovery).

• There was a detailed discussion about robotic assembly systems, including the challenges of programming robots for assembly tasks, the possibility of automatic assembly instruction generation, and "jigless assembly" approaches using dual-arm robots.

• Participants debated whether machine vision (cameras) is necessary for robotic assembly, with some arguing that parts could be lined up in boxes or detected with laser scanners as alternatives.

• The group discussed the potential for software that could automatically convert SolidWorks assembly files into robot arm movement commands, which would significantly simplify the creation of replicating machines.

• A philosophical concept was shared: "Control of a system is exercised by the element with the greatest variety of behavioral responses" (from Systemantics), which sparked debate about its validity.

• Members mentioned attending a Robot Research Group meeting, with one participant reporting an encounter with David Treadwell (working on automated product disassembly).