Sudoku Programmers Forum Index

 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister   ProfileProfile   Log inLog in          Games  Calendar

Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   

Mechanical Sudoku Solvers??

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Sudoku Programmers Forum Index -> The mathematics of sudoku
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
el_scorch0

Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 2
:

Items
PostPosted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:22 pm    Post subject: Mechanical Sudoku Solvers?? Reply with quote

Hello

For my final year project at university I have been asked to attempt to design a visual mechanism for solving sudoku puzzles. Recently I have been looking into alot of the maths behind sudoku for help but it seems to get heavy on the computer programming side which is something I know little about. I was just wondering if anybody had heard anything about mechanical sudoku solvers or if anyone had any advice for me before I get started. I have a couple of ideas floating around my brain involving a complex design of switches but nothing special at the moment. Any help/comments are welcomed!

Many Thanks

NB Sorry if this is in the wrong part of the forum mods but I could find an appropriate section to post in!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
tarek

Joined: 31 Dec 2005
Posts: 153
:
Location: London, UK

Items
PostPosted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What you need is a Human-style solver ....

Even on this forum you will find plenty ....

The following is most important & will solve most randomly generated puzzles ... because it says that a symbol can occur only once ia region & that ALL the 9 symbols must be present in any region

Code:
The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9


tarek
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
el_scorch0

Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 2
:

Items
PostPosted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the quick reply.

Could you point me in the direction of theses human-solvers?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
m_b_metcalf

Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 210
:
Location: Berlin

Items
PostPosted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

el_scorch0 wrote:
Thanks for the quick reply.

Could you point me in the direction of theses human-solvers?

The most simple-minded way to approach it is perhaps to use your switches. You have a 9x9 grid of cells, each of which can display a digit from 0 to 9. Some cells are fixed in value, corresponding to the given puzzle. All other cells now take in turn each of their possible values, your switches not allowing those values that conflict with the basic sudoku constraints given in a previous post. The device will halt when no cell displays 0. If it reaches a dead-end, it must be able to backtrack.

Regards,

Mike Metcalf
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sisophon2001

Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 32
:
Location: Cambodia

Items
PostPosted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have difficulty imagining how a mechanical solver would be possible (for the < genius average person). It seams akin to creating a mechanical computer, which I know is possible, but certainly not easy. And will mechanical solving methods also be visual methods? I suspect not. Looks like I am missing some inspiration!

I don't know how the advise to use human solving methods helps, unless the poster was thinking of the visual aspect, rather than the mechanical aspect.

By switches, you mean electronic switches, or mechanical switches?

If you make some progress I would be interested if you could tell us what you have achieved.

Garvan
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Lunatic

Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 166
:
Location: Ghent - Belgium

Items
PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Makes me thinking of Blaise Pascal, who made the mechanical calculator.
_________________
Marc
~~~<><~~~<><~~~<><~~~<><~~~
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
m_b_metcalf

Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 210
:
Location: Berlin

Items
PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lunatic wrote:
Makes me thinking of Blaise Pascal, who made the mechanical calculator.

And me of Babbage and his Difference Engine

Regards,

Mike Metcalf
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Sudoku Programmers Forum Index -> The mathematics of sudoku All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Sudoku Programmers topic RSS feed 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group

Igloo Theme Version 1.0 :: Created By: Andrew Charron