Miscellaneous topics in Conway's Game of Life -- unfinished projects of all kinds and conditions

29 August 2020

Self-constructing diagonal spaceships, now with limit speed c/4!

[EDIT 4/24/2022: Recently another feat of seed-construction legerdemain created an adjustable self-constructing spaceship analogous to the one in the title, with an orthogonal limit speed of c/2. Details can be found here.]

For several years the upper speed limit for diagonally-traveling self-constructing spaceships has been c/12, the speed of a Cordership. This is because self-constructing spaceships speeds are always limited to the maximum speed at which a target object can be moved by a given construction arm. We can build structures that come as close as we want to that maximum speed, simply by increasing the period of the spaceship and spending a longer time moving the target object at top speed. Only a constant amount of time is needed to construct a copy of the spaceship's circuitry, so with a long enough period, the construction time can be made to be as small a percentage of the elbow-push time as you want.

Until recently, the fastest Demonoids used a "Corderpush" method to move their elbows and target blocks: i.e., first a Cordership was constructed and allowed to travel a long distance, and eventually it was shot down by a following salvo of gliders to produce faraway target ash, which was then converted into a new copy of the spaceship's circuitry by a slow salvo.

In late July 2020, Goldtiger997 constructed a new type of Demonoid puffer with the record-breaking velocity of (4825784,4825784)c/45679544 -- slightly slower than c/10 diagonally. This is a speed that can't be attained by Corderpush technology. What was used instead was a new and very large seed for a c/5 diagonal spaceship, which like a Cordership can be followed by a slow salvo of gliders to stop it after it travels a long distance, producing target objects for construction without releasing any stray gliders.

Here is the incredibly large and complex seed used by the new Demonoid spaceship:

Code: Select all
x = 1296, y = 1352, rule = B3/S23
939bo$938bobo$938b2o16$925bo$924bobo$923bobo$923b2o3$925b2o$925bobo$
926bo6$922bo$921bobo$922b2o$622bo$621bobo283bo$622b2o282bobo$905bobo$
905b2o23b2o$929bobo$928bobo$907b2o20bo$907bobo$908bo7$903bo$902bobo$
902bo2bo55bo$903bobo54bobo$638bo249bo15bo56b2o$637bobo247bobo$638bobo
245bobo12b2o51b2o$639b2o245b2o12bo2bo49bo2bo$900bobo50bo2bo$901bo52b2o
$637b2o249b2o$636bobo249bobo$637bo251bo7$889bo$637b2o249bobo$636bo2bo
231bo11bo3bo2bo$637b2o231bobo9bobo3b2o$644b2o11bo211bobo10bobo$643bo2b
o9bobo210b2o12bo$644bobo10bobo$645bo12b2o$871b2o$871bobo$656b2o214bo$
655bobo$656bo3$870bo$869bobo$868bo2bo$869b2o$656bo197bo11bo$655bobo
195bobo9bobo$655bo2bo3bo11bo177bobo10bo2bo$656b2o3bobo9bobo176b2o12b2o
$661bobo10bobo$662bo12b2o$854b2o$854bobo$673b2o180bo$672bobo$673bo3$
997bo$996bobo$996b2o48bo$675b2o368bobo$674bo2bo159bo16b2o189bo2bo$675b
2o159bobo8b2o5bobo189b2o11bo$835bobo9b2o6bo202bobo$835b2o221b2o$876bo
105bo$875bobo103bobo$837b2o37b2o104b2o$837bobo$679bo158bo30b2o104b2o
59b2o$678bobo187bo2bo102bo2bo58bobo16bo$679b2o187bo2bo102bo2bo59bo16bo
bo$869b2o104b2o77b2o$535bo$534bobo165bo268bo$535b2o164bobo131b2o133bob
o59b2o$702bobo129bo2bo132b2o59bo2bo$703b2o130b2o156b2o36bo2bo$569bo
397b2o24b2o37b2o$568bobo396bobo$568b2o131b2o265b2o49b2o$700bobo114bo
170b2o29bobo$575b2o124bo114bobo169b2o30bo$574bo2bo237bobo144bo45bo$
533bo40bo2bo237b2o15bo128bobo43bobo$532bobo40b2o254bobo128b2o43b2o$
533bobo295b2o182b2o$534b2o167bo113b2o136b2o57bo2bo$702bobo112bobo113bo
20bo2bo56bo2bo$538bo163bo2bo112bo113bobo19bo2bo57b2o$537bobo163b2o228b
2o20b2o$538bo168bo$706bobo160bo56b2o$705bo2bo159bobo54bo2bo$706b2o14bo
93b2o51b2o54bo2bo$721bobo92bobo107b2o$722bobo92bo44b2o$723b2o76bo59bo
2bo137b2o$800bobo58bo2bo74bo13b2o47bobo$799bobo60b2o74bobo12b2o48bo$
721b2o76b2o137b2o$720bobo94b2o155b2o$721bo94bo2bo154b2o$801b2o13bo2bo
129b2o47b2o$801bobo13b2o130b2o46bo2bo$802bo166b2o26bo2bo$969b2o27b2o2$
667bo$666bobo57bo$666b2o57bobo$726b2o$673b2o65bo56bo$606bo65bo2bo63bob
o54bobo$605bobo64bo2bo64bobo53b2o$605b2o66b2o51b2o13b2o40bo36bo$726bob
o53bobo34bobo$612b2o113bo53bobo36b2o$567bo43bo2bo124b2o40b2o13b2o$566b
obo42bo2bo123bobo54bobo15b2o41bo$566b2o44b2o125bo56bo15bo2bo39bobo$
783b2o27bo2bo40b2o$573b2o118bo89bobo27b2o$572bo2bo116bobo83b2o4bo64b2o
$572bo2bo116b2o84b2o68bo2bo69bo$573b2o165b2o106bo2bo68bobo$699b2o38bob
o107b2o69b2o$698bo2bo38bo$698bo2bo54bo25b2o$529bo169b2o54bobo24bobo$
528bobo225bobo24bo$529b2o226b2o233b2o$739b2o251bobo$738bo2bo251bo$738b
o2bo13b2o198bo$501b2o236b2o13bobo26b2o169bobo$500bobo252bo26bo2bo168b
2o$501bo280bo2bo202b2o$783b2o202bo2bo$559bo192b2o233bo2bo$558bobo190bo
2bo233b2o139bo$505b2o52b2o189bo2bo374bobo$504bo2bo243b2o17bo357b2o$
504bo2bo54b2o205bobo$505b2o54bobo206bobo322b2o$531bo29b2o193bo14b2o
321bobo$530bobo222bobo335bobo$531b2o22b2o197bobo177bo159bo$555b2o197b
2o13b2o162bobo174bo$768bobo162b2o174bobo4bo$524b2o243bo142b2o196b2o3bo
bo$523bobo34b2o350b2o200bobo$524bo35b2o539b2o11b2o$1101bobo$907b2o193b
o$907b2o$528b2o$527bo2bo242b2o$527bo2bo222bo18bo2bo128b2o$528b2o51bo
170bobo17bobo129b2o$580bobo169b2o19bo55bo54bo$581b2o245bobo52bobo$759b
2o18bo49b2o52b2o201b2o8bo$758bo2bo16bobo119b2o183bo2bo6bobo4bo$758bo2b
o16b2o42b2o56b2o18b2o183bobo8b2o3bobo$759b2o60bo2bo55bobo203bo13bobo$
821bo2bo56b2o217b2o$822b2o$1084b2o$1083bo2bo$1084b2o2$800bo$799bobo63b
o44bo$800bobo61bobo42bobo$801b2o61b2o43b2o$905b2o$572b2o287b2o42bobo$
572b2o225b2o60bobo42b2o$798bobo61b2o215bo$799bo266bo11bobo4bo$1065bobo
11b2o3bobo$576b2o487bobo15bobo$576b2o488bo16b2o$581bo$580bobo$581b2o$
585b2o$584bobo$584b2o213b2o16bo27bo$798bobo5b2o8bobo25bobo215b2o$799bo
6b2o9bobo24b2o215bo2bo$818b2o241bobo$841b2o219bo$841bobo$816b2o24b2o
49bo$815bobo74bobo130b2o$816bo4b2o69b2o88b2o41bobo$821b2o65b2o92bobo
41bo$888bobo92bo$889b2o$598bo458bo$597bobo217b2o202b2o33bobo4bo$598b2o
216bobo159b2o40bo2bo33b2o3bobo$817bo159bo2bo39bo2bo18b2o5bo11bobo$977b
o2bo40b2o19bobo3bobo10b2o$978b2o63bo4bobo$644bo404bo$508b2o88bo44bobo$
418bo88bobo87bobo43b2o171b2o68b2o$417bobo88bo89b2o215bo2bo67bobo$418b
2o11bo13bo156b2o46b2o163bo2bo68bo72b2o$425bo4bobo11bobo93b2o59bobo45bo
2bo163b2o142bobo$424bobo3b2o12bo2bo91bobo59b2o46bo2bo308bo$425bobo17b
2o65b2o26bo109b2o$426b2o83bo2bo367b2o$511bo2bo152bo213bo2bo$512b2o152b
obo212bo2bo71b2o83bo$544b2o120b2o214b2o71bo2bo69bo11bobo4bo$443b2o98bo
2bo73bo24bo309bo2bo68bobo11b2o3bobo$443bobo97bo2bo72bobo22bobo26b2o
281b2o69bobo15bobo$444b2o98b2o74b2o23b2o25bo2bo352bo16b2o$604b2o66bo2b
o$603bobo42b2o23b2o$604bo42bobo219b2o$647b2o220b2o2$559b2o$558bobo47b
2o254b2o158b2o$559bo47bo2bo253b2o157bo2bo$450bo9bo146bo2bo412bobo$444b
o4bobo7bobo146b2o414bo$443bobo3b2o8bobo152bo48bo$444bobo13bo102b2o48bo
bo46bobo$445b2o115bo2bo48b2o47b2o$562bo2bo52b2o330b2o$563b2o52bobo46b
2o282bobo$463bo153b2o46bobo283bo$462bobo200b2o$462bo2bo542bo10bo$463b
2o542bobo8bobo4bo$946b2o60b2o9b2o3bobo$945bo2bo74bobo$945bo2bo74b2o$
946b2o3$1007b2o$1007b2o3$471bo10bo$465bo4bobo8bobo$464bobo3b2o9b2o$
465bobo174b2o32bo$466b2o174b2o31bobo72bo$676b2o71bobo$609b2o138b2o250b
o$608bobo36b2o351bobo4bo$482b2o125bo37b2o107b2o235b2o6b2o3bobo$482b2o
271bo2bo233bo2bo9bobo$755bo2bo123bo109bobo10b2o$756b2o123bobo105bo3bo$
613b2o93bo172bo2bo103bobo$612bo2bo91bobo172b2o104bo2bo$612bo2bo91b2o
280b2o$613b2o$714b2o$713bo2bo180b2o$489bo223bo2bo180b2o$483bo4bobo223b
2o$482bobo3b2o6b2o388bo16b2o$483bobo9bo2bo386bobo15bobo$484b2o10bobo
386bobo11b2o3bobo$497bo3bo384bo11bobo4bo68bo9bo$500bobo396bo73bobo7bob
o4bo$499bo2bo470bobo8b2o3bobo$500b2o205bo266bo13bobo$706bobo279b2o$
667bo39b2o$666bobo$667b2o41b2o259bo$709bobo258bobo$709b2o258bo2bo$970b
2o$671bo$506bo163bobo$500bo4bobo163b2o228b2o$499bobo3b2o7bo160b2o224bo
bo$500bobo10bobo158bobo225bo$501b2o10bobo158b2o235bo381b2o$514bo395bob
o10b2o368bobo$523bo386bobo10bobo368bo$522bobo386bo7b2o3bobo38bo$523b2o
393bobo4bo26bo11bobo4bo$919bo31bobo11b2o3bobo$951bobo15bobo$641b2o309b
o16b2o$640bobo$641bo321b2o$963b2o$727b2o$727b2o538b2o$645b2o278bo341bo
bo$644bo2bo276bobo21b2o318b2o$644bo2bo276b2o21bo2bo$526bo118b2o84b2o
214bobo$520bo4bobo203b2o215bo$519bobo3b2o7bo395bo$520bobo10bobo393bobo
353b2o$521b2o10bobo162b2o228bo2bo344b2o7bobo$534bo163b2o229b2o12b2o
330bobo8bo$543bo399bobo329b2o$542bobo394b2o3bobo$543b2o158b2o233bobo4b
o$703b2o234bo9$582b2o361b2o$581bobo360bo2bo$546bo35bo358bo3b2o$540bo4b
obo392bobo16b2o$539bobo3b2o7bo384bobo17bobo$540bobo10bobo384bo14b2o3bo
bo$541b2o10bobo30b2o366bobo4bo$554bo30bo2bo366bo$563bo21bo2bo$562bobo
21b2o$563b2o2$640b2o$639bobo$640bo$960bo$959bobo$825b2o132bo2bo$644b2o
178bo2bo132b2o$643bo2bo177bo2bo$643bo2bo178b2o107b2o$644b2o287bo2bo$
566bo13b2o351bo2bo$560bo4bobo5bo5bo2bo351b2o$559bobo3b2o5bobo4bo2bo
247bo$560bobo9b2o6b2o247bobo132bo16b2o$499bo61b2o266b2o132bobo15bobo$
498bobo438bo23bobo11b2o3bobo$497bo2bo437bobo23bo11bobo4bo$498b2o438b2o
37bo3$781b2o$483b2o296b2o$483b2o2$477b2o16bo290b2o$476bobo15bobo289b2o
$475bobo3b2o11bobo85bo9bo$476bo4bobo11bo80bo4bobo7bobo$482bo92bobo3b2o
8bobo145b2o$576bobo13bo145bobo140b2o$577b2o159b2o140bo2bo$880bo2bo115b
2o$741b2o138b2o71b2o28bo14bobo$595bo145bobo209bo2bo26bobo9b2o3bobo$
594bobo145bo210bo2bo25bobo9bobo4bo$594bo2bo356b2o26b2o6bo4bo$476bo118b
2o289bo102bobo$475bobo407bobo100bo2bo$463b2o11b2o407b2o101bobo$462bobo
271b2o221bo29bo$461bobo3b2o266bo2bo219bobo$462bo4bobo265bo2bo219b2o$
468bo267b2o19b2o$484bo271bobo$483bobo257b2o11b2o$482bobo116bo140bobo
38b2o25b2o191bo$482b2o111bo4bobo11bo128bo15b2o22bobo23bobo185bo4bobo$
594bobo3b2o11bobo143bobo22bo24b2o185bobo3bobo10b2o$595bobo15bobo144bo
52b2o181b2o5bo11bobo$596b2o16bo198bobo195b2o3bobo$462bo351bo5b2o188bob
o4bo$461bobo138b2o215bo2bo188bo$449b2o11b2o138b2o215bo2bo$448bobo369b
2o$447bobo3b2o$448bo4bobo$454bo162b2o$470bo145bo2bo205bo$469bobo145bob
o204bobo$468bobo147bo205b2o190bo$468b2o545bobo$1015bo2bo$1016b2o4$451b
o373b2o$445b2o3bobo371bobo$444bobo3b2o372b2o$445bo382b2o190bo16b2o$
431b2o395bobo188bobo15bobo$430bobo396bo189bobo11b2o3bobo$429bobo3b2o
583bo11bobo4bo$430bo4bobo595bo$436bo$798b2o$797bobo$797b2o2$800b2o$
800bobo$801bo237bo$1038bobo$939b2o97b2o11b2o$938bo2bo109bobo$938bo2bo
105b2o3bobo$433b2o504b2o105bobo4bo$432bobo612bo$433bo597bo$424bo605bob
o$411b2o10bobo33b2o356b2o125bo86bobo$410bobo10bobo32bo2bo354bobo124bob
o86b2o$409bobo3b2o7bo33bo2bo35b2o317b2o125b2o$410bo4bobo41b2o35bo2bo$
416bo79bo2bo319b2o$497b2o320bobo13b2o$820bo14bobo$455bo380bo213b2o$
454bobo592bo2bo$455b2o36bo38b2o516bobo3b2o$492bobo36bo2bo516bo3bo2bo$
493b2o36bo2bo300b2o217bo2bo$410bo121b2o300bobo218b2o13b2o$409bobo422b
2o234bobo$397b2o11b2o170b2o482b2o3bobo$396bobo35b2o146bobo117b2o133b2o
226bobo4bo$395bobo3b2o30bo2bo91bo54b2o116bo2bo132bobo226bo$396bo4bobo
29bo2bo90bobo49b2o77b2o41bo2bo133bo$402bo31b2o92b2o39b2o7bobo76bo2bo
41b2o67b2o$418bo149bo2bo7bo77bo2bo109bo2bo$417bobo148bo2bo86b2o49b2o
59bo2bo87b2o$416bobo150b2o137bobo60b2o88b2o$416b2o12bo278bo$429bobo
346b2o$430b2o345bobo70b2o$565bo92bo119bo71bobo12b2o205b2o$396bo167bobo
90bobo191bo13b2o204bo2bo$395bobo167b2o90b2o409bo3b2o$383b2o11b2o669bob
o16b2o$382bobo550b2o129bobo17bobo$381bobo3b2o545bo2bo129bo14b2o3bobo$
382bo4bobo263b2o279bo2bo143bobo4bo$388bo264b2o4bo275b2o145bo$404bo163b
2o88bobo13b2o$403bobo162bobo87b2o13bo2bo$402bobo164b2o70b2o30bo2bo$
402b2o161b2o74bobo30b2o264bo$564bobo75b2o12b2o281bobo$565bo90bobo280b
2o159b2o$639b2o16bobo440bobo$638bobo17bo309b2o131bo$639bo34bo292bo2bo$
673bobo291bo2bo$380bo292b2o107b2o184b2o$379bobo399bo2bo$378bo2bo399bo
2bo$379b2o401b2o$973bo$675bo27b2o84b2o181bobo$674bobo25bo2bo82bobo80b
2o99b2o$557b2o62b2o51b2o26bo2bo83bo81bobo$557bobo61bobo79b2o167bo$558b
2o62b2o$358b2o16bo177b2o116b2o36b2o$357bobo15bobo175bobo63b2o31b2o18bo
bo9b2o6bo16bobo$356bobo3b2o11bobo176bo63bobo30bo2bo18bobo8b2o5bobo16bo
$357bo4bobo11bo242bo31bo2bo19bo16b2o$363bo288b2o$795b2o$450b2o193b2o
147bo2bo$449bo2bo192bobo146bo2bo$449bo2bo193bo148b2o$450b2o$426b2o374b
2o$425bo2bo372bobo$425bo2bo263bo109bo$426b2o18bo152b2o90bobo$445bobo
151bobo89b2o$359bo86b2o152b2o$353b2o3bobo349bo$352bobo3b2o62bo153b2o
19b2o90b2o18bobo$353bo67bobo114b2o35bobo18bobo90bobo10b2o5bo2bo$339b2o
81b2o114bobo35bo20bo92bobo9bobo5b2o252b2o$338bobo198b2o150bo11b2o258bo
2bo$337bobo3b2o190b2o426bo2bo$338bo4bobo188bobo342b2o83b2o$344bo190bo
343bobo$880bo28b2o$909bobo$558b2o350bo58bo$558b2o408bobo$890b2o76b2o$
889bobo$889b2o$554b2o155bo203b2o$554b2o154bobo179b2o21bobo$710b2o180bo
bo21bo$723bo169bo$323b2o397bobo$322bobo9b2o6b2o299b2o63b2o13b2o219b2o$
321bobo3b2o5bobo4bo2bo297bo2bo62bobo233bobo$322bo4bobo5bo5bo2bo297bo2b
o63bobo233bo$328bo13b2o299b2o65bo$723b2o$636b2o85bobo$636bobo85bo$637b
o2$803b2o$802bo2bo$802bo2bo$530b2o271b2o$325bo204b2o9b2o186bo$319b2o3b
obo213bobo185bobo79b2o$318bobo3b2o215bo186b2o13b2o64bobo63b2o38b2o38b
2o$319bo422bobo65bo63bo2bo37bobo36bobo$305b2o219b2o213bobo130bo2bo38bo
37b2o$304bobo219b2o198b2o14bo132b2o81b2o$303bobo3b2o415bobo229bobo$
304bo4bobo415bobo152b2o75bo$310bo417bo17b2o133bobo$500b2o243bo2bo133bo
64b2o14b2o$499bobo136b2o104bo2bo199b2o13bo2bo$500bo136bo2bo104b2o215bo
2bo$529b2o106bo2bo322b2o$529b2o107b2o$743bo207b2o$631b2o109bobo206b2o
36b2o$524b2o105bobo108b2o224bo19bo2bo$304b2o218b2o106bo334bobo18bo2bo$
303bo2bo660b2o20b2o$303bobo128b2o304b2o$304bo60b2o66bo2bo303bobo$364bo
2bo65bo2bo304bobo$364bo2bo66b2o306bo251bo$286b2o77b2o394bo231bobo$285b
obo13bo99b2o357bobo230b2o$284bobo3b2o8bobo97bo2bo80b2o275b2o$285bo4bob
o7bobo97bo2bo26bo53b2o250b2o145b2o$291bo9bo59bo39b2o26bobo303bo2bo143b
o2bo$360bobo67b2o303bo2bo143bo2bo$361b2o373b2o23b2o120b2o90b2o$480b2o
279bobo211bobo$340b2o55bo77b2o3b2o280bo127b2o84bo33b2o$339bo2bo53bobo
76b2o412bobo117bo2bo$339bo2bo54b2o491bo118bobo$340b2o395bo265bo6bo$
470b2o264bobo263bobo$285b2o183b2o265b2o263bobo$284bo2bo715bo$284bobo
49bo430bo135b2o$285bo49bobo428bobo133bo2bo$336b2o184b2o217b2o23b2o134b
o2bo$521bobo212bo4b2o160b2o46b2o$267b2o253bo212bobo213bobo$266bobo13bo
453b2o26b2o144b2o40bo53b2o$265bobo3b2o8bobo480bobo142bobo94bobo$266bo
4bobo7bobo357b2o122bobo142bo96bo$272bo9bo357bo2bo81b2o11b2o26bo$640bo
2bo80bo2bo9bobo$641b2o81bobo9bobo$725bo11bo$634b2o79b2o$634bobo77bo2bo
216b2o$635bo79b2o216bo2bo$933bo2bo$934b2o$266b2o$265bo2bo672b2o$266b2o
672bobo$941bo$250b2o204b2o$249bobo13bo190b2o$248bobo3b2o8bobo$249bo4bo
bo6bo2bo$255bo8b2o185b2o261bo$451b2o39b2o219bobo$492b2o205b2o13b2o84bo
$699bobo97bobo149b2o$700bobo96bobo3b2o143bo2bo$701bo14b2o82bo3bo2bo
142bo2bo$488b2o225bobo87bobo143b2o$488b2o224bobo89bo$2o633b2o59b2o17bo
242b2o$2o632bo2bo57bo2bo258bobo$5b2o245bo381bo2bo58bo2bo258bo$6bo239b
2o3bobo381b2o60b2o$3b3o239bobo3b2o$3bo242bo100b2o115b2o162b2o$232b2o
112bo2bo113bobo162bobo69bo105bo$231bobo112bo2bo114bo164bo56bo12bobo
103bobo12bo$230bobo3b2o109b2o336bobo12b2o103b2o12bobo$231bo4bobo447bob
o129bobo$237bo449bo131bo$702b2o99b2o$343bo345bo11bobo99bobo11bo$342bob
o251b2o90bobo9bobo101bobo9bobo$23b2o318b2o250bo2bo89bobo10bo103bo10bob
o$22bobo419b2o149bo2bo90bo127bo$23bo419bobo150b2o$444bo$589b2o$28b2o
559bobo$28b2o204bo355bo$228b2o3bobo$227bobo3b2o449bo137bo$228bo454bobo
135bobo$214b2o454b2o12b2o135b2o12b2o$213bobo454bobo161bobo$212bobo3b2o
193b2o256bo163bo$213bo4bobo191bobo271b2o131b2o$219bo193bo271bobo131bob
o$684bobo133bobo$671b2o12bo135bo12b2o$442b2o226bo2bo159bo2bo$442bobo
226b2o161b2o$443b2o2$440b2o$439bobo$213b2o225bo$212bo2bo452bo169bo$
212bo2bo216b2o233bobo167bobo$213b2o216bobo234b2o167b2o$432bo2$208b2o
460b2o163b2o11b2o$194b2o11bobo459bobo163bobo9bo2bo$193bobo11b2o459bobo
165bobo9bobo$192bobo3b2o5b2o314b2o146bo167bo11bo$193bo4bobo3bobo313bo
2bo334b2o$199bo4b2o314bo2bo333bo2bo$521b2o335b2o2$514b2o38b2o$514bobo
36bo2bo84b2o$357b2o156bo37bo2bo84bobo$356bo2bo194b2o86bobo$356bo2bo12b
2o269bo$193bo163b2o13bobo172b2o$192bobo178b2o172bobo$193b2o174b2o42b2o
133bo89b2o$368bobo42bobo221bo2bo$353bo15bo44b2o222bo2bo218bo$188bo163b
obo55b2o227b2o218bobo13b2o$187bobo163b2o54bobo447b2o13bo2bo$187bo2bo
219bo463bo2bo$174b2o12b2o417b2o33bo232b2o$173bobo430bo2bo31bobo213b2o$
172bobo3b2o426bo2bo32b2o213bobo$173bo4bobo120b2o304b2o249bobo$179bo
120bo2bo555bo$300bo2bo35b2o259b2o28b2o12b2o229bo$301b2o35bo2bo258bobo
26bo2bo10bobo228bobo$338bo2bo259bo27bo2bo9bobo229b2o$339b2o289b2o11bo
2$297bo$296bobo326b2o$297b2o36bo87b2o199bobo249bo$334bobo86bobo198b2o
249bobo$171bo163b2o19b2o66b2o87b2o107b2o251b2o$170bobo4bo178bobo40b2o
111bo2bo105bobo$158b2o10bobo3bobo178b2o39bobo20b2o89bo2bo105b2o$157bob
o11bo5b2o174b2o44bo20bobo90b2o358b2o$156bobo3b2o188bobo66bo451bobo$
157bo4bobo188bo152b2o366bobo$163bo342bobo113bo252bo$507bo113bobo$622b
2o$285b2o139b2o180b2o$284bo2bo137bo2bo178bobo$284bo2bo137bo2bo179bo15b
2o251b2o$285b2o139b2o195bobo251bobo$622bobo253bo$419b2o202bo$378b2o39b
obo46b2o26b2o$281bo95bobo40bo46bo2bo24bo2bo$280bobo95bo88bo2bo24bo2bo$
281b2o185b2o26b2o106b2o$603bo2bo$461b2o26b2o113b2o$461bobo25bobo$341b
2o119bo27bo$340bobo$341bo243bo$584bobo$583bobo16bo$129b2o221b2o229b2o
16bobo$128bobo220bobo248b2o$129bo222bo2$604b2o$591b2o10bobo$591bobo8bo
bo$592bo10bo2$272b2o$271bo2bo$271bo2bo$272b2o46b2o$319bobo266bo$320bo
266bobo$588b2o$268bo$267bobo$268b2o320b2o$577b2o10bobo$577bobo8bobo$
578bo10bo2$435b2o135bo$434bo2bo133bobo$434bo2bo133bo2bo$435b2o135b2o2$
428b2o$409b2o17bobo$408bo2bo17bo$408bo2bo$409b2o$349b2o217bo$348bobo
51b2o148b2o13bobo$349bo52bobo146bo2bo13b2o$403bo147bo2bo$552b2o$261b2o
307b2o$260bo2bo305bobo$260bo2bo304bobo$261b2o306bo$553bo$552bobo$553b
2o$257bo$256bobo$257b2o$302b2o$302b2o81b2o165bo$384bo2bo163bobo$384bo
2bo149b2o13b2o$243b2o52b2o86b2o150bobo$242bo2bo51b2o36b2o201bobo$242bo
2bo88bobo41b2o159bo14b2o$243b2o90bo42bobo172bobo$379bo172bobo$534b2o
17bo$533bo2bo$239bo48b2o244bo2bo$238bobo46bobo245b2o$239b2o47bo35b2o$
324bobo$325b2o211bo$537bobo$322b2o214b2o$321bobo202bo$322bo202bobo$
525b2o13b2o$539bobo$538bobo$359b2o178bo$358bo2bo163b2o$358bo2bo162bobo
$359b2o164bo2$352b2o$352bobo$353bo$275b2o52b2o$275bobo50bo2bo$276b2o
50bo2bo188bo$272b2o55b2o173b2o13bobo$271bobo229bo2bo13b2o$272bo49b2o
179bo2bo$322bobo179b2o$323bo198b2o$521bobo$520bobo16b2o$273b2o246bo16b
o2bo$272bobo230bo32bobo$273bo230bobo32bo$505b2o$540bo$539bobo$539b2o2$
504bo$503bobo$490b2o12b2o$490bobo$491bo$318b2o186b2o$317bo2bo184bobo$
317bo2bo183bobo$318b2o171b2o12bo$490bo2bo$311b2o178b2o$311bobo$312bo4$
488bo$487bobo$488b2o3$490b2o$489bobo$488bobo$468b2o19bo$468bobo$469bo
4$291b2o176b2o$290bo2bo174bo2bo$290bo2bo175b2o$291b2o2$276bo7b2o$275bo
bo6bobo$276bo8bo$466bo$272b2o191bobo$271bobo192b2o$270bobo$271bo$468b
2o$467bobo$448b2o16bobo$447bobo17bo$448bo2$266b2o$265bobo$266bo3$444b
2o$443bo2bo$444b2o6$442bo$441bobo$442b2o3$431bo12b2o$430bobo10bobo$
429bo2bo9bobo$430b2o11bo$423b2o$422bo2bo$423b2o8$423bo$422bobo$423b2o
3$412bo12b2o$411bobo10bobo$406b2o3bobo9bobo$405bo2bo3bo11bo$405bobo$
406bo7$406bo$405bobo$406b2o3$408b2o$407bobo$406bobo$407bo$386b2o$385bo
bo$386bo7$382b2o$381bo2bo$382b2o6$380bo$379bobo$380b2o288bo$669bobo$
670bobo$382b2o287b2o$381bobo$380bobo$381bo5$378b2o$377bobo$378bo25$
360b2o$360bobo$361bo337$30b3o$32bo$31bo!
[[ THEME 2 STEP 30 T 4500 X 0 Y -200 Z -2 STEP 30 T 7000 STEP 15 T 8200 STEP 10 T 8500 Z 3 Y -300 X 60 STEP 2 T 9000 THEME 3 ANGLE 315 ]]

This impressive piece of technology stirred up new interest in the subject. Less than a month later, a collaborative effort produced a new and much cheaper glider recipe for a c/4 diagonal wickstretcher based on a crab. Crab spaceships are glide symmetric and have two attachment points for long barge/boat wicks. These wicks can burn cleanly, faster than the wickstretcher can travel.

It turns out that just the right gliders traveling near a crab spaceship can allow a burning wick to either destroy the crab when it catches up with it, or else just stop the wickstretching activity and leave a target block behind, safely off to one side.

Code: Select all
x = 511, y = 511, rule = LifeSuper
67.pA.pA$68.2pA$68.pA47$116.S$117.S$115.3S118$277.M$276.M.M$277.2M35.
3N$316.N$315.N$312.2N$312.N2$310.N3.2N$309.N.N2.2N5.3N$258.2M48.N.N3.
N.N6.N$257.M2.M46.N.N6.2N4.N$257.M.M33.3N10.N.N6.N.4N$258.M36.N9.N.N
10.2N$280.2M5.2M5.N9.N.N8.N$279.M2.M3.M.M14.N.N8.N.N$265.2M13.M.M3.M
15.N.N8.N.N$265.2M14.M3.2M14.N.N8.N.N$300.N.N8.N.N$299.N.N8.N.N$252.
2M44.N.N8.N.N$251.M.M43.N.N8.N.N$251.2M43.N.N8.N.N$295.N.N8.N.N$294.N
.N8.N.N3.3N$250.2M15.2M3.2M7.M11.N.N8.N.N6.N$249.M.M15.2M3.M.M4.3M10.
N.N8.N.N6.N$248.M.M22.M4.M12.N.N8.N.N$249.M28.2M10.N.N8.N.N$289.N.N8.
N.N$266.2M20.N.N8.N.N$266.2M19.N.N8.N.N$287.2N8.N.N8.2M$243.2M51.N.N
10.M$242.M.M50.N.N8.3M$242.2M15.2M34.2N9.M$259.M.M$261.M10.N$243.M17.
2M8.N.N33.2M$242.M.M27.2N32.M2.M$242.M.M25.2M35.M.M$243.M19.2M5.2M29.
2M5.M$264.M10.2M24.M$264.M.M3.2M2.M.M22.M.M$234.2M29.2M2.M2.M2.M23.2M
$234.2M33.M.M$231.M38.M45.2M6.M$230.M.M7.M65.2M8.M.M4.M.M$230.M.M5.3M
33.M26.M4.M.M8.M.M4.2M$231.M5.M6.M28.M.M5.2M5.2N10.M.M4.2M9.M$237.2M
4.M.M23.M3.M2.M3.M.M5.N.N10.2M$242.M.M18.2M4.M4.M.M4.M7.N$242.2M19.M.
M3.M5.M31.M$265.M14.M25.M.M5.2M$265.2M12.M.M.2M20.M2.M5.2M$272.3M3.M
2.M.2M21.2M$279.2M2$293.2M$257.2M8.2M11.2M11.2M$257.2M7.M2.M10.M$261.
M4.M2.M11.3M$260.M.M4.2M14.M$260.2M24.M$286.3M$289.M$266.M21.2M14.M$
265.M.M36.3M$264.M2.M32.M6.M$242.2M21.2M22.2M8.M.M4.2M$241.M.M16.2M
27.M10.M.M$242.M16.M2.M24.M.M11.2M$260.2M21.M3.2M$282.M.M$281.M.M$
281.2M$242.2M28.M$241.M2.M26.M.M$241.M2.M5.2M18.M.M$242.2M5.M2.M17.2M
$249.M2.M31.M$250.2M22.2M7.M.M$274.M9.M$272.M.M$272.2M5.2M$279.2M3$
265.M$264.M.M$255.2M7.2M$255.M.M20.2M$256.M20.M.M$278.M$233.3M$235.M$
234.M87$125.3W$127.W$126.W5$111.3W$113.W$112.W3$427.2S$426.2S$428.S
12$96.3S$98.S$97.S$132.3W$134.W$133.W21$71.2S$72.2S$71.S31$508.2pA$
508.pA.pA$508.pA44$27.2pA$26.pA.pA$28.pA23$.pA$.2pA$pA.pA!
#C [[ X 22 Y -37 Z 5 ]]

Here the green gliders stand in for a slow-salvo cleanup of the wickstretcher activation reaction, the yellow gliders create a boat and convert it to an R-loaf to light the first wick, which burns without destroying the crab spaceship. The pink gliders perform the same wick-lighting trick later for the second wick, but this time when the reaction catches up to the crab, it destroys it, leaving a slow-salvo target behind.

This mechanism allows a wickstretcher to easily produce two targets separated by long distances. This is exactly what is needed by a Speed Demonoid design, where the recipe spends a fair fraction of its time traveling in the same direction as the full spaceship, zigzagging back and forth between its two halves. Each half will be made up of a Scorbie Splitter (which produces a copy of the recipe to be used by the splitter's construction arm) and a Snark reflector, separated from the Scorbie Splitter by a long distance in the direction of travel.

Here is a 21-glider slow salvo that produces two workable targets. They happen to be lined up one right behind the other, so they could be used as elbow blocks for a single-channel recipe, but. This is not a design requirement, though; slsparse could equally well compile two standard slow-salvo recipes that produce a Scorbie splitter and a Snark, a safe distance to the northwest of these two target blocks.

Code: Select all
x = 525, y = 530, rule = B3/S23 516b2o$515bobo$517bo$514bo$513b2o$513b2o$514b2o$511bo3b2o6b2o$510bobob o2b2o3bobo$509bobo4b3o5bo$495b2o11bobo10bo$494bobo10bobo10b2o$496bo9bo bo8bo$505bobo8bobo$504bobo8bobo$503bobo8bobo$502bobo8bobo$501bobo8bobo $500bobo8bobo$499bobo8bobo$498bobo8bobo$497bobo8bobo$496bobo8bobo3b2o$ 495bobo8bobo3bobo$494bobo8bobo6bo$493bobo8bobo$492bobo8bobo$491bobo8bo bo$490bobo8bobo$489bobo8bobo$488bobo8bobo$487bobo8bobo$486bobo8bobo$ 485bobo8bobo$484bobo8bobo$483bobo8bobo$482bobo8bobo$481bobo8bobo$480bo bo8bobo$479bobo8bobo$478bobo8bobo$477bobo8bobo$476bobo8bobo$475bobo8bo bo$474bobo8bobo$473bobo8bobo$472bobo8bobo$471bobo8bobo$470bobo8bobo$ 469bobo8bobo$468bobo8bobo$467bobo8bobo$466bobo8bobo$465bobo8bobo$464bo bo8bobo$463bobo8bobo$462bobo8bobo$461bobo8bobo$460bobo8bobo$459bobo8bo bo$458bobo8bobo$457bobo8bobo$456bobo8bobo$455bobo8bobo$454bobo8bobo$ 453bobo8bobo$452bobo8bobo$451bobo8bobo$450bobo8bobo$449bobo8bobo$448bo bo8bobo$447bobo8bobo$446bobo8bobo$445bobo8bobo$444bobo8bobo$443bobo8bo bo$442bobo8bobo$441bobo8bobo$440bobo8bobo$439bobo8bobo$438bobo8bobo$ 437bobo8bobo$436bobo8bobo$435bobo8bobo$434bobo8bobo$433bobo8bobo$432bo bo8bobo$431bobo8bobo$430bobo8bobo$429bobo8bobo$428bobo8bobo$427bobo8bo bo$426bobo8bobo$425bobo8bobo$424bobo8bobo$423bobo8bobo$422bobo8bobo$ 421bobo8bobo$420bobo8bobo$419bobo8bobo$418bobo8bobo$417bobo8bobo$416bo bo8bobo$415bobo8bobo$414bobo8bobo$413bobo8bobo$412bobo8bobo$411bobo8bo bo$410bobo8bobo$409bobo8bobo$408bobo8bobo$407bobo8bobo$406bobo8bobo$ 405bobo8bobo$404bobo8bobo$403bobo8bobo$402bobo8bobo$392b2o7bobo8bobo$ 391bobo6bobo8bobo$393bo5bobo8bobo$398bobo8bobo$397bobo8bobo$396bobo8bo bo$395bobo8bobo$394bobo8bobo$393bobo8bobo$392bobo8bobo$391bobo8bobo$ 390bobo8bobo$353b2o34bobo8bobo$352bobo33bobo8bobo$354bo32bobo8bobo$ 386bobo8bobo$374b2o9bobo8bobo$373bobo8bobo8bobo$375bo7bobo8bobo$382bob o8bobo$381bobo8bobo$380bobo8bobo$379bobo8bobo$378bobo8bobo$377bobo8bob o$376bobo8bobo$375bobo8bobo$374bobo8bobo$373bobo8bobo$372bobo8bobo$ 371bobo8bobo$370bobo8bobo$369bobo8bobo$368bobo8bobo$342b2o23bobo8bobo$ 341bobo22bobo8bobo$343bo21bobo8bobo$364bobo8bobo$363bobo8bobo$362bobo 8bobo$361bobo8bobo$360bobo8bobo$359bobo8bobo$358bobo8bobo$357bobo8bobo $356bobo8bobo$355bobo8bobo$354bobo8bobo$353bobo8bobo$352bobo8bobo$351b obo8bobo$350bobo8bobo$349bobo8bobo$348bobo8bobo$347bobo8bobo$346bobo8b obo$345bobo8bobo$312b2o30bobo8bobo$311bobo29bobo8bobo$313bo28bobo8bobo $341bobo8bobo$340bobo8bobo$339bobo8bobo$338bobo8bobo$337bobo8bobo$336b obo8bobo$335bobo8bobo$334bobo8bobo$333bobo8bobo$332bobo8bobo$331bobo8b obo$330bobo8bobo$329bobo8bobo$328bobo8bobo$327bobo8bobo$326bobo8bobo$ 325bobo8bobo$324bobo8bobo$323bobo8bobo$322bobo8bobo$321bobo8bobo$320bo bo8bobo$300b2o17bobo8bobo$299bobo16bobo8bobo$301bo15bobo8bobo$316bobo 8bobo$315bobo8bobo$314bobo8bobo$313bobo8bobo$312bobo8bobo$311bobo8bobo $310bobo8bobo$309bobo8bobo$308bobo8bobo$307bobo8bobo$306bobo8bobo$305b obo8bobo$304bobo8bobo$294b2o7bobo8bobo$293bobo6bobo8bobo$295bo5bobo8bo bo$300bobo8bobo$299bobo8bobo$298bobo8bobo$297bobo8bobo$296bobo8bobo$ 295bobo8bobo$294bobo8bobo$293bobo8bobo$279b2o11bobo8bobo$278bobo10bobo 8bobo$280bo9bobo8bobo$289bobo8bobo$288bobo8bobo$287bobo8bobo$286bobo8b obo$285bobo8bobo$284bobo8bobo$283bobo8bobo$282bobo8bobo$281bobo8bobo$ 280bobo8bobo$253b2o24bobo8bobo$252bobo23bobo8bobo$254bo22bobo8bobo$ 276bobo8bobo$275bobo8bobo$274bobo8bobo$273bobo8bobo$272bobo8bobo$271bo bo8bobo$270bobo8bobo$269bobo8bobo$268bobo8bobo$267bobo8bobo$266bobo8bo bo$265bobo8bobo$264bobo8bobo$263bobo8bobo$237b2o23bobo8bobo$236bobo22b obo8bobo$238bo21bobo8bobo$259bobo8bobo$258bobo8bobo$257bobo8bobo$256bo bo8bobo$255bobo8bobo$254bobo8bobo$253bobo8bobo$252bobo8bobo$251bobo8bo bo$250bobo8bobo$249bobo8bobo$248bobo8bobo$247bobo8bobo$246bobo8bobo$ 245bobo8bobo$244bobo8bobo$226b2o15bobo8bobo$225bobo14bobo8bobo$227bo 13bobo8bobo$240bobo8bobo$239bobo8bobo$238bobo8bobo$237bobo8bobo$236bob 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15bobo8bobo$14bobo8bobo$13bobo8bobo$12bobo8bobo$11bobo8bobo$9bo2bo8bob o$9bobo8bobo$19bobo$10bo7bobo$8b2o7bobo$16bobo$15bobo$14bobo$13bobo$ 12bobo$11bobo$10bobo$9bobo$8bobo$7bobo$6bobo$5bobo$4bobo$3bobo$bo$o2b 2o$o! #C [[ TRACK 1/4 -1/4 STOP 7855 ]]