Kaidan Alenko (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
not_a_whiner) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2012-07-13 12:48 pm
not_a_whiner) wrote in fandomhigh2012-07-13 12:48 pm
Entry tags:
Introduction to Robotics, Friday
"Last week, we gauged your, uh, experiences with technology," Kaidan began. "Obviously I'll be working from examples from my world, so I thought... maybe a lesson on mass effect physics might be useful. I'll talk about that for a bit, then we'll talk about some simplistic mechs, and you can use the last fifteen minutes to start work on your drone."
The classroom had been appropriately outfitted with the materials and gadgets required. He figured most of these kids knew their way around. "You're allowed to help each other out," he added.
Then he took a breath, and dove right in. "We discovered mass effect physics... just a couple of decades ago. Until that point, we thought FTL - faster than light - travel was completely impossible, never mind a lot of the tricks in space craft maneuvering and biotics that we know today. In fact, my people are using mass effect fields in a wide range of ways these days."
He smiled briefly. "Essentially, we rely on a substance called element zero. Eezo's rare, but it's worth getting, because it has an interesting quirk: if exposed to a current, it can change mass. A positive current increases mass, a negative current decreases it. Basically, we can make things heavier or lighter... and that way, we affect gravity, because gravity is the force exerted by any body dependent on its mass. So you can see why it's very useful."
He activated his omni-tool by running his hand over his other arm. "One area in which we employ mass effect fields is production," he said, "creating alloys, for example. Which brings me to the topic of mechs - some of you would know 'em as plain robots. We use mechs for a variety of jobs, like running security or helping us doing the heavy lifting."
A few presses of the button, and an image appeared. "This is a LOKI mech. It's designed to resemble humans - though not too closely. You might've heard about the uncanny valley effect, which inspired designers to stay away from trying to build too human-like bots. Anyway, LOKI mechs are there to run guard duty or security."
"They're simple, easy to build, and they can handle a whole variety of tasks. Not just that, but they're easy to network, and maybe even easier to program - so they're ideal for new colonies that need a defense force fast." He paused. "Of course, because their programming is so simple, they're easy to fool and easy to take down, too."
He waved the image away.
"Another example. The FENRIS mech. They're equipped with extra sensory equipment--" One wave of his omni-tool, and the image displayed some details on that equipment. "They are supposed to replace the class drug-sniffing dog, but they're also equipped with defensive measures just in case. Again, though, their simplistic programming means they're not always as effective as they could be, and they're easy to hack into."
If you were Kaidan, anyway, or a quarian.
"That's just a few ways mechs can be designed and used to be effective support tools," Kaidan continued. "These are relatively simple. No AI, and only rudimentary VI. Imagine a computer on legs with a set of hands and a short script plugged into its processor." Beat. "Actually, a lot of the programs used in mechs like this evolved from the discipline of programming behavior for characters in computer games."
He waved the schematic away.
"But that's all for today," he said. "If you want, you can come over and check some of the construction schematics--" They'd been censored to keep the kids from building anything quite like a LOKI, though, "--and otherwise you're free to start working on your drone. If you need any help, you know where to find me."
The classroom had been appropriately outfitted with the materials and gadgets required. He figured most of these kids knew their way around. "You're allowed to help each other out," he added.
Then he took a breath, and dove right in. "We discovered mass effect physics... just a couple of decades ago. Until that point, we thought FTL - faster than light - travel was completely impossible, never mind a lot of the tricks in space craft maneuvering and biotics that we know today. In fact, my people are using mass effect fields in a wide range of ways these days."
He smiled briefly. "Essentially, we rely on a substance called element zero. Eezo's rare, but it's worth getting, because it has an interesting quirk: if exposed to a current, it can change mass. A positive current increases mass, a negative current decreases it. Basically, we can make things heavier or lighter... and that way, we affect gravity, because gravity is the force exerted by any body dependent on its mass. So you can see why it's very useful."
He activated his omni-tool by running his hand over his other arm. "One area in which we employ mass effect fields is production," he said, "creating alloys, for example. Which brings me to the topic of mechs - some of you would know 'em as plain robots. We use mechs for a variety of jobs, like running security or helping us doing the heavy lifting."
A few presses of the button, and an image appeared. "This is a LOKI mech. It's designed to resemble humans - though not too closely. You might've heard about the uncanny valley effect, which inspired designers to stay away from trying to build too human-like bots. Anyway, LOKI mechs are there to run guard duty or security."
"They're simple, easy to build, and they can handle a whole variety of tasks. Not just that, but they're easy to network, and maybe even easier to program - so they're ideal for new colonies that need a defense force fast." He paused. "Of course, because their programming is so simple, they're easy to fool and easy to take down, too."
He waved the image away.
"Another example. The FENRIS mech. They're equipped with extra sensory equipment--" One wave of his omni-tool, and the image displayed some details on that equipment. "They are supposed to replace the class drug-sniffing dog, but they're also equipped with defensive measures just in case. Again, though, their simplistic programming means they're not always as effective as they could be, and they're easy to hack into."
If you were Kaidan, anyway, or a quarian.
"That's just a few ways mechs can be designed and used to be effective support tools," Kaidan continued. "These are relatively simple. No AI, and only rudimentary VI. Imagine a computer on legs with a set of hands and a short script plugged into its processor." Beat. "Actually, a lot of the programs used in mechs like this evolved from the discipline of programming behavior for characters in computer games."
He waved the schematic away.
"But that's all for today," he said. "If you want, you can come over and check some of the construction schematics--" They'd been censored to keep the kids from building anything quite like a LOKI, though, "--and otherwise you're free to start working on your drone. If you need any help, you know where to find me."
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Listen to the Lecture
Poke at the Schematics
Re: Poke at the Schematics
He wondered if they were close to what Xavin had at home, and felt a catch in his chest as he realized again it might be a very long time, if ever, before he could ask.
Work on Your Drone!
Talk to the TA
Re: Talk to the TA
He also had Ace-the-wolf-puppy with him, who seemed about as invested in the process. Every so often, Topher would nod toward a wire or a scrap of paper he'd jotted something down on, and Ace would retrieve it for him.
It was pretty convenient, actually. Hmm. Maybe he should get a real dog.
Talk to Commander Alenko
OOC
So look at the hero in the Liverpool rain
I'll stick by you forever, and do it in vain
You travel the houses, soothing the pain
Putting a smile on my face once again
So look at the heroes in the Liverpool rain
Rain, rain, rain
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