BEAM robotics (from
Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics and Mechanics) is a style of
robotics that primarily uses simple
analogue circuits, such as
comparators, instead of a
microprocessor in order to produce an unusually simple design. While not as flexible as microprocessor based robotics, BEAM robotics can be robust and efficient in performing the task for which it was designed. Robots that use both analog and microprocessor electronics are known as "mutants".