CT+ Computers

[Golan2072]

Any thoughts about the points I've raised?

 

[robject]

I think the closer one sticks to what's in print, the more people the solution will appeal to.

Your suggestion to refit LBB2 computers using LBB8 is probably a good solution. Keep as much as possible of LBB2 while still using LBB8 volumes, perhaps?

(I don't have LBB8 myself, so I can't say what the conversion process would be like).

 

[Uncle Bob]

What of LBB2 computers is worth keeping? Only force of habit and willfull ignorance supported it the last twenty-five years.

I've found my LBB8, let me see what can be salvaged.

 

[far-trader]

Well why even bother. If it's realism we want let's also chuck jump drive, manuver drive (the whole field of artificial gravity in fact), and fusion power. Ships will be cheap and small and very very very slow and they won't have any crew. It'll all be robotic AIs exploring the universe on a time scale measured in millenia.

 

[parmasson]

For one thing most computers will be a reasonable size and make a lot more sense.
LBB 8 good sized robot brain
Electronic Circuit Protection increases the weight and cost by x1.5
At TL-12 a low autonomous computer with full voice command looks something like this.
Size 23.4 Liters
Mass 4.85kg (7.275kg with ECP)
Cost Cr 320,250 (Cr 480,375 with ECP)
Storage 30 software units
Power 1kw
Apparent Intelligence: 5 [edit Int6]
Apparent Education: 6 [edit Edu 5]

 

[parmasson]

Network a few of those “brain boxes” (I like t the way that sounds)together and now were are cooking with fusion. All we need is LBB 8. Want more storage? No problem, just buy some more storage. Want a three or four ton computer, can do just buy a mountain of storage.

 

[parmasson]

Act now and I will thrown in a network package worth Cr 2675 for only Cr 2000!
You get:
A master unit, universal brain interface, universal program interface, and a wifi hub with a 5 km range.
(Optimized in a single unit, 5.0kw 4.0kg)

 

[far-trader]

That is another of my pet-peeves, 4kw, FOUR KILOWATTS! Maybe 4 watts, but 4000 watts for the radio! I don't need more than a couple watts of power to broadcast 5km easy. Traveller power consumption ideas have always seemed a bit extreme and that's fine for anti-gravity and jump drives, we have no idea how much energy will be needed but radio is one thing we do have and know, like computers. A 5km radio just does not need that much juice.

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by far-trader:
Well why even bother. If it's realism we want let's also chuck jump drive, manuver drive (the whole field of artificial gravity in fact), and fusion power. Ships will be cheap and small and very very very slow and they won't have any crew. It'll all be robotic AIs exploring the universe on a time scale measured in millenia.

It is'nt realism most of us are after, but slightly better suspension of disbelief; yes, we'd accept a little "handwavium", or a lot of it in that matter; the issue here is that of flavor, and many simply don't like the 1970's computer flavor, even if we accept alot of other 1970's sci-fi concepts.

Oh, and fusion is hard-science; it's scientifically possible (it happens in stars), just a hell of a big engineering problem to turn into a reactor, but we're slowly pacing in that direction.

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by far-trader:
That is another of my pet-peeves, 4kw, FOUR KILOWATTS! Maybe 4 watts, but 4000 watts for the radio! I don't need more than a couple watts of power to broadcast 5km easy. Traveller power consumption ideas have always seemed a bit extreme and that's fine for anti-gravity and jump drives, we have no idea how much energy will be needed but radio is one thing we do have and know, like computers. A 5km radio just does not need that much juice.

I know that Traveller was somewhat realistic and informed (to a degree) when it came to biology, astronomy and military matters; but didn't they have an engineer on the team when they've wrote Striker?

 

[parmasson]

Hey now, 4kw is very reasonable. This network package is built with the finest Vilani miniaturized vacuum tubes available! This isn’t some printed circuit, plastic box, “handle with care” Solie piece of cr*p this is solid reliable technology you can hand down to your children. At four kilograms this network box is built like a tank.

 

[robject]

Clever, Parmassaan. However, your futile attempts to ingratiate yourself to the Isgiirdi will gain you no market share. SolSec will ensure that your product will never see the [muffled noises] [gunshots]...

Sir Parmassaan, on behalf of Makhidkarun, we welcome you to the Imperial Trade Association. Your booth is ready. A servant will be by shortly to bring you refreshments. Some solar-boiled argu, perhaps, and some naa on the side?

 

[parmasson]

Thank you robject. You seem to have a red spot there on your jacket.

Here is what you can do with your new Makhidkarun T-12/JM65 (tech level/URP code)
With 30 storage units your lone ship’s computer could have
Maneuver-1
Jump2-2
Maneuver/evade-3
Nav-1
Predtict3-1
Auto/evade-1
Return fire-1
Anti missle-2
Ecm-3
Gunner interact-1
Selective-3-1
Multi-target3-2
Launch-1
Anti missile-2
Library-4
Book 8 programs
Communications1-2
Ship’s boat1-2

Even if you don’t install Emotion Simulation this is a complex computer that can perform multiple tasks. Make the maximum number of programs it can run at any time as easy as Edu+Int. This computer utilizes both conventional parallel and synaptic processing/storage so it can learn and make judgments based on its instructions.
Low Autonomous:The robot (computer) can take independent action without direct commands and is able to understand simple inferences. Commands no longer need to be as explicit and it may be able to figure out what you meant (perhaps on a throw of 8+). The robot can improve the skill level of its applications on its own.
Hell have specialist computers! Install one in engineering and stock it up with Engineering-5, Electronics-5, Mechanical-5, Naval Architect-3, Maneuver-1, Jump-2, Engineering library-2, Robot operation-2 and Gravitics-5.
Network it to an engineering slave robot and bingo!

 

[robject]

Quite right. Those computers are quite powerful at quite a low price. As an aside, at what point does this become moot?

Or, put another way, when does it not make sense to have a redundant set of specialist computers installed at every ship component?

 

[parmasson]

You can have as much processing power as you can afford or steal.

I am convinced. All computers IMTU will now be robot brains from Book 8. Just that simple
Don’t know why I never though of it before.

 

[robject]

On an earlier post, one of these computers cost a paltry Cr2500 or so. Are they really that cheap?

How much would one of these critters with Engineering-1 cost? Engineering-6?

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by Parmasson:
Thank you robject. You seem to have a red spot there on your jacket.

Here is what you can do with your new Makhidkarun T-12/JM65 (tech level/URP code)
With 30 storage units your lone ship’s computer could have
Maneuver-1
Jump2-2
Maneuver/evade-3
Nav-1
Predtict3-1
Auto/evade-1
Return fire-1
Anti missle-2
Ecm-3
Gunner interact-1
Selective-3-1
Multi-target3-2
Launch-1
Anti missile-2
Library-4

So you say that the LBB2 storage and "system resources" (proccessing) units are equal to the LBB8 ones?

Once this will be verified, I'll make several ship-brains of my own, mostly produced by the IMTU corporations Martian Mechanics and SolNet.

SolNet specializes in high-end cutting-edge designs, some of which are practically TL13 (MTU is TL12 in most respects except for cutting edge electronics/computers and biotech). Its competitor Martian Mechanics specializes in general-market ones, though they can still be quite high-tech.

As a bonus, here is the Martian Mechanics logo:

 

[parmasson]

Makhidkarun T-12/JM65
Size 23.4 Liters
Mass 4.85kg (7.275kg with ECP)
Cost Cr 320,250 (Cr 480,375 with ECP)
Storage 30 software units
Power 1kw
Apparent Intelligence: 6
Apparent Education: 5
Engineering -1
T-12/JM65 S.I.(Standard Imperial) Synaptic/Parallel Operating System Included.
Keep in mind that this O/S upgrades itself over time and may need harmonizing every few years.
Engineering-1 T-12 Software is Cr 400
Engineering-6 T-12 will set you back Cr 2,400
Network box Cr 2,000
Main computer with ECP Cr 480,375
Total before installation Cr 484,775

If you want more storage, ten more units of ECP protected memory will cost just
Cr 3,750 (5l/.75kg)

 

[parmasson]

Do not buy that red planet Terrajunk! Buy Makhidkarun! Solid and dependable.
You don’t want to be out in deep space when your OS crashes.

 

[parmasson]

So you say that the LBB2 storage and "system resources" (proccessing) units are equal to the LBB8 ones?

I don’t recall book 8 saying they were any different. So since LBB 8 does not make a distinction neither do I.