FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in          Games  Calendar Log in to check your private messages    Mechanical Sudoku Solvers??          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 Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:22 pm    Post subject: Mechanical Sudoku Solvers?? 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 tarek Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 153 : Location: London, UK Items Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 2:52 pm    Post subject: 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 el_scorch0 Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 2 : Items Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:08 pm    Post subject: Thanks for the quick reply. Could you point me in the direction of theses human-solvers? Back to top m_b_metcalf Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 210 : Location: Berlin Items Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:44 am    Post subject: 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 Sisophon2001 Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 32 : Location: Cambodia Items Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:56 am    Post subject: 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 Lunatic Joined: 11 Mar 2007 Posts: 166 : Location: Ghent - Belgium Items Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:12 am    Post subject: Makes me thinking of Blaise Pascal, who made the mechanical calculator. _________________ Marc ~~~<><~~~<><~~~<><~~~<><~~~ Back to top m_b_metcalf Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 210 : Location: Berlin Items Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:44 pm    Post subject: 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 Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         Sudoku Programmers Forum Index -> The mathematics of sudoku All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum Sudoku----------------Solving sudokuSetting sudokuProgramming sudokuThe mathematics of sudokuExotic sudoku Library----------------PuzzlesSoftwareSudoku elsewhere Not sudoku----------------Random thoughtsForum feedback  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   Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group Igloo Theme Version 1.0 :: Created By: Andrew Charron