LEGO mechanical computer
Realizes: arbitrary digital logic / sequential game state
A fully mechanical computer built from LEGO Technic with no electronics. Binary memory is stored as lever positions on a rotating drum (rod logic); a read/write head flips levers to write bits and senses them pneumatically on readback. A joystick translates direction inputs into pneumatic signals that pass through a mechanical filter preventing illegal moves, then drive a 16×16 push-rod display. Demonstrated running the game Snake entirely in hardware. Speed: ~1 Hz game-tick (limited by pneumatic signal propagation through tubing). Capacity: 16×16 display state + snake tail buffer (tens of bits of working memory).
Examples
LEGO Computer Snake Game V2
Full demonstration of the LEGO mechanical computer playing Snake, with explanation of the rod-logic memory drum, joystick input filtering, and push-rod pixel display
Hackaday — A Game Of Snake On A LEGO Mechanical Computer
Technical breakdown of the three subsystems: joystick/filter, tail buffer memory drum, and 16×16 display writer