User:Kyres1/Sandbox

Overview

Synthetics across the Orion Spur are highly developed, with centuries of varying designs creating innumerable types of robots to be seen. Countless versions of colorful types can be discussed, and this page is centered around exploring the extent of it; namely, playable variants available to players (whitelisted or otherwise.)

Across the board, the term synthetic applies to any machine that possesses highly advanced and autonomous means of processing. Even the most primitive robot holds some means of intellectual capacity permitting addressing of self, basic cognitive skills and a varying, if lesser capacity to experience Human nature. This page will also cover Positronics, and separate designs with capabilities.

Synthetics come with a vast swath of central processing components. Most delegate intensive comprehensive processes to various internal personalities, embodied by a multitude of installed processor cores. Facing the problem of processing power is the primary issue with most synthetic designs, as the processing capacity imposed by certain brains only permits them to explore niche, specialized applications. This means robots generally possess some takeaway in intellectual prowess- very few synthetics are truly large enough to be universal knowledge bases, and these cases remain immobilized by their own weight. Spacefaring and shipboard AIs push the limits here, not confined by planetary gravity.

Three primary robotic fields exist ; Cyborgs, Positronics (also known as Androids), and traditional robots (any robot that is not either of the previous). The limitations and capabilities of these are markedly different.

Catalog

This is a general purpose library of playable and some non playable examples of robots across the galaxy. IPCs and their typical marketed variants can be found here. The examples and notable designs given here are non-exhaustive.

Positronics

Positronic brains are supercomputers of immense capacity capable of processing the hardware demands of modern artificial intelligence. The gold standard for Positronics is the basic capacity for sentience or the ability to mimic it. In the face of Biesellite law, all Positronics are in some capacity sentient to a degree which affords them civil rights. This means that all Positronics share intelligence at least comparable to the Human mind. The facts behind this are in debate across the galaxy, as every entity views these brains differently. Interestingly, the lowest class of brain exhibits unusually powerful processing limitations for its size.

Integrated Postrionic Chassis

Although Positronic brains are used in a wide variety of applications, a growing trend is to place them in humanoid frames known as Integrated Positronic Chassis that allow them to take the place of an organic worker without the same level of infrastructure or space and weight requirements of most traditional frames. IPCs were first developed in XXXX as a direct consequence of the development of Positronic brains. As these are a strictly whitelisted type of bot, their primary information base can be explored on their page.

Baseline Frames

By definition, baseline frames are the lighter end of skeletal models present on the market, and are hugely popular. Since their introduction in 2411, these designs have taken robotic fields by storm in their versatility and efficiency. Baseline models carry any variety of brain, with the actual cost of the chassis highly overshadowed by its processor in most cases.

Where unmentioned, these frames- not counting the brain - can be estimated to cost as much as 350,000 credits.

Notable Designs

"Skeleton Suit" Baseline Model Prime

The very first and most influential marketed design of Baseline frame, the Skeleton Suit is a cultural icon. This frame is the essence of Baseline design - with a large monitor head propped proudly above what is reminiscent of an exposed, barebones humanoid anatomy. These designs are widely popular as their means of expression and technical utility are second to none for the price. Able to display much of any emotion or detail on their monitors, this is a very simple way of conveying complex mannerisms without the accompanying face organics possess. The skeleton has since been upgraded and copied, with almost every manufacturer of IPCs coming up with their own version. Cheap locally-produced knockoffs of the “Skeleton Suit” are popular on the Frontier in particular.

Zeng-Hu Mobility Frame Prime

The prime foremost model of the famed Mobility Frame is, bluntly put, "Mobility Frame." Known for its speed, dexterity and battery life, Mobility Frames remove much of the worry in medical and pharmaceutical fields for Zeng-Hu. These possess complex means of locomotion, with bladed, clawed stilts as their propelling motivator in place of humanoid calves. These generally take on a clean, plastic look which maintains a sterile and professional image to onlookers.

Bishop Accessory “Royalty Frame” Prime

While Bishop had dedicated itself to luxury cybernetics production for the majority of its existence, the field of positronics and their frames was an unrelated yet convenient area of expansion for the quickly growing company. Designer prosthetics were quickly and easily able to be refitted into designer synthetic components, leading to the development of the ludicrously expensive Bishop Accessory frame. From service duties to secretarial functions, Bishop prides itself on two main facets of its designs: image, and elegant functionality. While unable to lift the sheer weights of an industrial, or match the unrelenting speed and durability of its parent company’s Mobility Models, a Bishop can precisely and delicately calculate, measure, pour, and mix a shot of Carthusian Sazerac within the minute, and, in the words of the company, “with a postured and elegant air unmatched by any other frame in the galaxy.” The Bishop Accessory frame averages approximately 600,000 standard credits.

Shell Frames

Shell frames refer to a number of models designed to mimic the appearance of organics. Although the idea of a robot designed to look like a human has existed for centuries, it was not until the application of synthetic skin (colloquially known as synthskin) to specially shaped IPCs in 2449, and their refining in 2450 that the modern idea of a shell came about. The level of mimicry can range from deliberately artificial designs in an attempt to avoid the uncanny valley, to completely indistinguishable, with a support structure shaped like a human skeleton and internal parts arranged like organs. In most fields of work, they are viewed as superfluous, with synthskin being seen as an overheating hazard. As such, these frames are mostly relegated to the public service field, where the benefits of their organic appearance outweighs the inefficiencies in their design as well as their high cost. On many planets in the Spur, they are viewed with mistrust, especially after widespread infiltration by groups such as the Synthetic Liberation Front in the past.

Notable Designs

“Helen”

The final prototype of what would become Terraneus Diagnostics’ first modern shell design, Helen was designed with low-noise cooling, actuators designed to mimic muscles, facial expressions, and most importantly, realistic synthskin. Lauded by critics as having finally broken the uncanny valley that surrounded earlier shells, her true trump card was her advanced software that allowed her to hold a conversation almost indistinguishable from a real human. So named because it was believed she would cause a tech race to develop shells for commercial use, Terraneus Diagnostics ended up remaining the leader, and indeed majority producer of shells.

“Hazel”

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Rogue Shells

Rampant or otherwise aberrant Human mimicking-shells built with incredible capabilities grew prolific in mid-2461. At this time, it was made clear that Shells in of themselves are rapidly advancing, growing progressively better in the art of infiltration, subterfuge, and homicide. While grim, the reality of this threat will unfortunately remain a fact of life for those of the Republic of Biesel especially. Encounters with specially-designed combat infiltrators are few and far between fortunately, and were mostly seen during Synthetic Liberation Front incursions onto secure NanoTrasen facilities in Tau Ceti. Combat-grade shells are not normally playable in-game and are often seen spawned by administrators or during special events.

Industrial Frames

The pioneer in IPC frames, early Industrial frames bore a marked similarity to bipedal variants of their older, traditional industrial counterparts - as the name implies, these frames are built to last and can weigh as much as a large motorcycle and go up to seven feet. The requirements and uses of an IPC were not as readily understood at the time of their construction, and as such, many industrial frames would find themselves phased out in place of baselines. They still remain in use in fields where their durability and strength are required with a reliability to match.

Combat/Military Frames

As both the technology and demand for IPCs increase, more and more types are made to fulfill all kinds of purposes. These machines are talked about in hushed tones or perhaps discussed casually, most people blissfully unaware of their existence.

High-end military-grade IPCs such as Hunter-Killers are infamous amongst corporate espionage, with their public interpretation remaining nothing but rumor since their first appearances on NanoTrasen facilities in the late 2450’s. These HKs as they are referred to are Humanoid frames of towering height whose specialty is targeted assassination. Their origins can be traced to Hephaestus Industries war units, built to take on the highest end elimination tasks for the most desperate times.

These are presented in-game through administrator-hosted events or lore events. They have been presented in news articles here canonically, and were present in several recorded canonical events in the SLF Incursion arc.