Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
History:
Hyperspace travel has been a foundation of galactic civilization for thousands of years, and with it, attempts to improve it. Jump gates gave way to hyperspace beacons which in turn gave way to the modern nav computer. Seeking the next breakthrough navigational technology, Lucerne Labs used its expertise in biomimetic artificial intelligence to create an artificial intelligence that could not only plot sundry navigational courses, but one that could also instinctively "live" and "react" to hyperspace environment much like a wild animal.
The obvious biological model was the purrgil, known for its inherent ability to travel through hyperspace. While programming based on this model allowed the host ship to react to and live within hyperspace, it was quickly discovered that this neural pathway programming was too short-termed focus and ill-suited for interacting with an organic crew. Lucerne Lab researchers led by Azira merged this initial programming with neural pathway programming of a well-known Givin mathematician who was well-known to be able to calculate hyperspace jumps in his head, a not unheard feat for his species. The fusion of such vastly disparate neural pathways, with conflicting feedback loops, gave the newly minted Compass-class Artificial Intelligence troubling teething problems that culminated in the original Compass being lost for days during a test jump. Subsequent improvement and trouble-shooting through extensive simulations produced a working, but imperfect, artificial intelligence that met the Labs's requirements. Unfortunately the cost and potential liability involved in creating the AI have limited its production to only a few experimental for field-testing. It is ultimately hoped that this experience will lead to a truly viable, mass-produced version that will replace standard nav computers, but that development is likely decades away. Until then, the Compass grants its users a handful of minor advantages over others travelling the void.
Use:
Compass AIs typically "take the helm" and control the ship as it travels hyperspace in a manner that is almost indistinguishable to the average person from a ship travelling under the direction of a nav computer supervised by a navigator. In many instances there is little difference in performance between the two, especially over short intersystem jumps. However, Compass comes into its own as it adapts to exceptional circumstances. For example, it can make many small course adjustments over a long journey that can result in faster travel times and less fuel use. Its fine sense of mass shadows, and its ability to react to gravity, can lead to more deft reaction and precise maneuvers, whether it is skimming past an obstacle in hyperspace or sensing the true danger area of a mass shadow.
Personality:
The givin-derived portion of the programming handles most interactions with organics with the typical Givin charm, frequently greeting acquaintances with mathematical equations. Once past that hurtle, Compass AI's tend to remain somewhat cool and aloof in any sort of social interaction. Compass AI's are socially intelligent enough and self-consciousness enough to realize the disjointed nature of their programming (along with neither biological mimetic host's particular attraction to conversation) makes them ill-suited for most small talk: few are interested in the impulsive and unbridled feeling of space like the purrgils, nor the mathematical intricacies typical of many Givin conversations. They readily will engage people in detailed conversations of math, stellar phenomena, and other areas of professional interests where it feels like it has a superior understanding of the topic compared to who it's talking to.
Known Units:
Aurek ("Drake") - [member="Gir Quee"]
Besh - [member="Zark"]
Cresh - Hast Defense Fleet
Dorn - Unassigned (Storage)
Esk - Unassigned (Storage)
Forn - Unassigned (Storage)
Grek - Unassigned (Storage)
- Intent: To provide the Directorate and its allies with an advanced navigational aid
- Image Source: N/A
- Canon Link: N/A
- Restricted Missions: The Wind and the Waves
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
- Model: Compass-class Artificial Intelligence
- Affiliation: Closed-Market
- Modularity: No
- Production: Semi-Unique (7 total)
- Material: Software
- Hybrid purrgil - Givin neural pathways optimized for guiding a starship through hyperspace
- Purrgil pathway optimized for instinctively sensing and processing its surroundings in hyperspace and then reacting to it as necessary
- Givin pathway optimized to solve complex, multi-variable equations needed to navigate through long distances in hyperspace
- Can slightly boost hyperspace speed
- Can increase hyperspace fuel efficiency
- Allows ship to alter course ("turn") while still in hyperspace
- Can allow partial, but not complete, penetration through interdiction fields
- Can guide multiple ships through hyperspace (total meters guided cannot exceed or be equal to that of the host ship)
- Enhanced Perception: Derived mostly from its Purrgil cerebrum neural pathways, Compass's neural-based pathways and programming are designed to quickly and comprehensively process sensory information about its surroundings in hyperspace and react to it. This enhanced perception of gravitational forces and mass shadows allow Compass-guided vessels to safely come closer to mass shadows than ships guided by traditional sensors and nav computers. Some practical effects of this include being able to penetrate slightly further into interdiction fields, slightly faster travel times (as routes can be shorter by getting closer to mass shadows), and the ability to detect some obstacles with enough notice to maneuver around them (such as asteroids being dragged out to create an impromptu interdiction field).
- Mathematical Genius: Compass's conscious and higher-functioning self, derived from the pathways of the Givin cerebellum, are well-suited for solving and juggling multiple complex equations with multiple variables, such as astronavigation. This makes Compass exceeding capable as a navigator. With enough warning and input from its purrgil-derived half, this allows Compass the ability to change course within hyperspace, like many high-end navigation computers. Compass also excels at predicting the movement of celestial objects in space that could interfere with the host ship's ability to jump, such as rogue asteroids and nebulae. It can also solve and formulate solutions to other navigation related concerns, such as modulating speed for optimal fuel efficiency while skimming near a nebula or understanding local gravitational forces produced by several starships travelling in close proximity to each other in hyperspace. Compass can be applied to solving other mathematical concerns, but it is not any more effective than most widely available softwares or computing systems.
- Power Draw: Compass requires a not insignificant amount of process power to function, meaning it needs the system resources of a most a ship or a wide series of computers which can distribute itself through to support its tasks. In practical terms, this means that the host ship most be over 800 meters or the ship must be designed or modified to hold a large computer that is capable of supporting Compass.
- Fragmented Identity: Since Compass is an artificial chimera of both purrgil and givin neural pathways, each of which can be dominant thinking process depending on the situation, Compass is not psychologically stable or always entirely coherent, especially when it is switching tasks. It is not uncommon for Compass to experience lagging when switching to and from particularly arduous tasks. This inherent fragmentation also makes it even more susceptible to damage or malfunctions caused by hacking or electromagnetic attacks compared to other computer programs.
History:
Hyperspace travel has been a foundation of galactic civilization for thousands of years, and with it, attempts to improve it. Jump gates gave way to hyperspace beacons which in turn gave way to the modern nav computer. Seeking the next breakthrough navigational technology, Lucerne Labs used its expertise in biomimetic artificial intelligence to create an artificial intelligence that could not only plot sundry navigational courses, but one that could also instinctively "live" and "react" to hyperspace environment much like a wild animal.
The obvious biological model was the purrgil, known for its inherent ability to travel through hyperspace. While programming based on this model allowed the host ship to react to and live within hyperspace, it was quickly discovered that this neural pathway programming was too short-termed focus and ill-suited for interacting with an organic crew. Lucerne Lab researchers led by Azira merged this initial programming with neural pathway programming of a well-known Givin mathematician who was well-known to be able to calculate hyperspace jumps in his head, a not unheard feat for his species. The fusion of such vastly disparate neural pathways, with conflicting feedback loops, gave the newly minted Compass-class Artificial Intelligence troubling teething problems that culminated in the original Compass being lost for days during a test jump. Subsequent improvement and trouble-shooting through extensive simulations produced a working, but imperfect, artificial intelligence that met the Labs's requirements. Unfortunately the cost and potential liability involved in creating the AI have limited its production to only a few experimental for field-testing. It is ultimately hoped that this experience will lead to a truly viable, mass-produced version that will replace standard nav computers, but that development is likely decades away. Until then, the Compass grants its users a handful of minor advantages over others travelling the void.
Use:
Compass AIs typically "take the helm" and control the ship as it travels hyperspace in a manner that is almost indistinguishable to the average person from a ship travelling under the direction of a nav computer supervised by a navigator. In many instances there is little difference in performance between the two, especially over short intersystem jumps. However, Compass comes into its own as it adapts to exceptional circumstances. For example, it can make many small course adjustments over a long journey that can result in faster travel times and less fuel use. Its fine sense of mass shadows, and its ability to react to gravity, can lead to more deft reaction and precise maneuvers, whether it is skimming past an obstacle in hyperspace or sensing the true danger area of a mass shadow.
Personality:
The givin-derived portion of the programming handles most interactions with organics with the typical Givin charm, frequently greeting acquaintances with mathematical equations. Once past that hurtle, Compass AI's tend to remain somewhat cool and aloof in any sort of social interaction. Compass AI's are socially intelligent enough and self-consciousness enough to realize the disjointed nature of their programming (along with neither biological mimetic host's particular attraction to conversation) makes them ill-suited for most small talk: few are interested in the impulsive and unbridled feeling of space like the purrgils, nor the mathematical intricacies typical of many Givin conversations. They readily will engage people in detailed conversations of math, stellar phenomena, and other areas of professional interests where it feels like it has a superior understanding of the topic compared to who it's talking to.
Known Units:
Aurek ("Drake") - [member="Gir Quee"]
Besh - [member="Zark"]
Cresh - Hast Defense Fleet
Dorn - Unassigned (Storage)
Esk - Unassigned (Storage)
Forn - Unassigned (Storage)
Grek - Unassigned (Storage)
