CT robot PCs

[Frankymole]

I have just aquired a copy of LBB8: Robots, and I am simply stunned at the absolescnece of the technology in this supplement...

The Processors are still huge and terribly slow when compared to modern day computers, and the transmissions are idiotically huge (Anyone seen QRIO or Asimo; perfect examples of Late TL7/early TL8 anthropomorphic robots. In five years they will look primitive by comparison. The Japanese will have a fully functioning human robot that can function as a construction assitant in two years that wil be able to lift up to 100kg, and run at a speed of 20kph...

Did they? By 2008 - or even by 2015? Stuff like balance still seems a huge problem and the RL anthropomorphic are still slow and unwieldy, and remember that LBB8 covers reliability. Less reliable robots at lower TLs are possible but not economical.

 

[Patron Zero]

I've always seen robots in the role of 'tools' or support equipment rather than possible PCs or NPCs per say.

That said, the PCs IMTU with ships equipped-staffed by 'droids' and drones were able to inter-act with such by voice command or 'remote' device allowing real-time 'conversations'.

 

[WistfulD]

Did they? By 2008 - or even by 2015? Stuff like balance still seems a huge problem and the RL anthropomorphic are still slow and unwieldy, and remember that LBB8 covers reliability. Less reliable robots at lower TLs are possible but not economical.

Every "just around the corner" pronouncement on robots always ends up being too optimistic. Object and environmental recognition has consistently been more of a computational challenge than was expected. They are making great strides (pun intended) in dynamic balance. The US army has its headless horse creature prototype which keeps making it onto youtube. Still, things that can move themselves within a changing environment, adapt to changing situations (or perhaps getting up after falling down), and keep the processor that does all that calculating inside of said body is still a challenge that keeps things at the prototype stage. Whenever I see a "we are X years away from" in this field, I multiply by 3-5.

 

[Frankymole]

Maybe they don't need to walk: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/guardbot-u...-balls-that-can-swim-roll-any-terrain-1488489

 

[WistfulD]

Certainly a possibility, and this highlights that the whole object and surrounding recognition has made, er, non-leaps and non-strides (rolls and tumbles?).