Generalization of the concept of "spaceship"

[hpstricker]

Is there - conceptually - something beyond spaceships?

- A still-life is an oscillator with period 1.
- An oscillator is a spaceship with velocity 0.
- A spaceship is an X with Y Z.

[Mats]

Like this?

- A spaceship is a puffer with no smoke.

[hpstricker]

That's funny, but to be honest: not exactly what I was looking for, immediately. But I have to think about it for a while.

[Tropylium]

- A spaceship is a replicator with 1 offspring per cycle?

[simsim314]

Single living cell is universal constructor.

[dvgrn]

- A spaceship is a glider rake with 0 gliders per cycle...

I do like the much more ambitious claim for spaceships to be replicators -- but doesn't that mean oscillators are also replicators? Replicators don't really have to move themselves, they just have to send out copies -- just ask any tree.

[itaibn]

Along the same lines as the puffer example, but more outrageous:

- A spaceship is an wickstretcher for the completely blank wick.

[Tropylium]

I do like the much more ambitious claim for spaceships to be replicators -- but doesn't that mean oscillators are also replicators? Replicators don't really have to move themselves, they just have to send out copies -- just ask any tree.

But of course. We just established in OP that oscillators are spaceships.

Another not-so-serious version: A spaceship is a gun with no engine and infinite period…