TL 15 Ship controls

[DFW]

I came up with this for 2 reasons really. 1) This system is already in development. 2) There is a dearth of TL 15 items in general.


Neural Control Ship Work Station – This is a ship work station control system that replaces manual controls at TL 15. The work stations receive input from a thin head band wore by the crew member. The crew member views holographic screens where choices are visually presented along with the flight, target, astrogation, etc., data. A person must be trained to use this system. (Those trained at TL 15 have this training by default) In addition a user profile is built and stored for each person. This can be carried in a portable format and is used to "tune" a head band. Building a new profile takes 4 hours. For characters who didn't earn their skill ratings at TL 15, they can train to use this system in 40 hours at an appropriate facility. This control system eliminates the penalties for a compact bridge and changes Dex based tasks to Int based for relevant ship tasks.

 

[rust]

A good idea, but it would probably also require a new type of vac suit hel-
met, the normal one is probably not "transparent" for electromagnetic ra-
diation, and the normal communicator built into it would probably not be
able to handle the headband and the usual verbal communication simul-
taneously. For fighter pilots, who probably wear their helmets during the
entire mission, there could perhaps be a special helmet with an integrated
headband.

 

[DFW]

A good idea, but it would probably also require a new type of vac suit hel-
met, the normal one is probably not "transparent" for electromagnetic ra-
diation, and the normal communicator built into it would probably not be
able to handle the headband and the usual verbal communication simul-
taneously. For fighter pilots, who probably wear their helmets during the
entire mission, there could perhaps be a special helmet with an integrated
headband.

Standard mod for TL 15 ship based Vacc Suit helmets.

 

[IanBruntlett]

I do wonder how such an interface will "work" - will it 1) (unlikely) have special spectacles upon which provide HUD-style screens or 2) project HUD-style screens within the brain or 3) Something Else?

As well as operating spacecraft controls, I think this device could be used to augment the brain - e.g. memory improvements implemented as databases either stored in the band or inside the spacecraft's controls.

Also, the Zhodani module may have some interesting ideas that could be implemented using hi-tech equipment.

 

[DFW]

I do wonder how such an interface will "work" - will it 1) (unlikely) have special spectacles upon which provide HUD-style screens or 2) project HUD-style screens within the brain or 3) Something Else?

It has, currently, HUD style screens in front of the user. The user makes choices and it is picked up by the skin contact sensors on the temples of the user.

 

[phavoc]

Would this system be controlled via thoughts, eye movement, verbal commands or a holographic control panel in front of the user that they 'manipulate' with their hands? I'm assuming verbal commands would also be part of the command options (I could envision them doing one thing with the controls while giving verbal commands to the ship at the same time)

I would assume that a compact bridge will still have a manual system interface (screens, controles, etc) in case of ermergency or if the control system in your helmet was damage or inoperative (or possibly jammed by someone onboard)

Nice idea though.

 

[rust]

Would this system be controlled via thoughts, eye movement, verbal commands or a holographic control panel in front of the user that they 'manipulate' with their hands?

The real world devices I am aware of are usually controlled through eye
movements, the control through thoughts currently works only if the per-
son manages to keep focused on the task, which seems difficult to do for
more than a few moments, and impossible when the person is distracted
or in any way harmed - but future systems may well be able to solve this
problem.

Since the systems I know about where developed for handicapped people
in order to enable them to operate other devices, they do not use any ver-
bal commands or hand movements, because they are intended to replace
these methods of communication. A system designed for military purpo-
ses will probably also work with verbal commands, although currently ver-
bal commands and any body movements do not go together well with the
concentration required for the control through thoughts.

 

[phavoc]

I would forsee some sort of family of things. Small ships would be far more automated and subject to voice commands or simple system inputs.

So you might see a noble's 100ton yacht designed to be piloted by someone with no skills - automated and computer-controlled pilot, navigator and engineer. He simply tells the ship where he wants to go and the ship does the actual flying. A TL-15 ship should be able to easily fly by verbal commands.

But you may also find a grizzled trader flying his TL-12 200ton Type-A Free Trader around using manual controls and some automation where necessary. But he does the flying, the landing, etc.

Not that at TL-12 you shouldn't be able to automate the same systems.

From a playing perspective, I think the ref should allow both. Not his fault if the system suffers a massive burnout (curtesy of a small explosive) and that mamby-pamby noble has to figure out how to fly before he crashes into the planet. Plus allowing the players to use their skills means that trader can use his Pilot-4 skills he learned in the Navy to land his ship crippled by pirates. Or try to at least.

 

[Jacqual]

A good idea, but it would probably also require a new type of vac suit hel-
met, the normal one is probably not "transparent" for electromagnetic ra-
diation, and the normal communicator built into it would probably not be
able to handle the headband and the usual verbal communication simul-
taneously. For fighter pilots, who probably wear their helmets during the
entire mission, there could perhaps be a special helmet with an integrated
headband.

Standard mod for TL 15 ship based Vacc Suit helmets.

Wouldn't that just be a property of a TL 15 vacc suit helmet, with the storage of the profile.

 

[rust]

@ phavoc:

Yep, and I also think that the noble's "skills" might well be sufficient to
operate his ship around high tech planets with all the automatic landing
aids a well equipped Imperial starport provides, but that the trader's pi-
loting skill would be required to land his ship on that remote frontier co-
lony's Type X "starport" with a radio beacon as the only landing aid.

 

[DFW]

Would this system be controlled via thoughts, eye movement, verbal commands or a holographic control panel in front of the user that they 'manipulate' with their hands? I'm assuming verbal commands would also be part of the command options (I could envision them doing one thing with the controls while giving verbal commands to the ship at the same time)

The system I modeled it after uses thoughts. Yes, verbal would be part of any bridge system from ~ TL 10 & >.

I would assume that a compact bridge will still have a manual system interface (screens, controles, etc) in case of ermergency or if the control system in your helmet was damage or inoperative (or possibly jammed by someone onboard)

Nice idea though.

Yes, you always should have that to fall back on.

 

[Solomani666]

Excellent Idea.

The only change I would make would be to use an Int or Dex characteristic similar to the Melee Str or Dex characteristic.

No reason to penalize persons whose brains are mapped for coordinated tasks. In fact it makes more sense not to.

.

 

[DFW]

Excellent Idea.

The only change I would make would be to use an Int or Dex characteristic similar to the Melee Str or Dex characteristic.
.

?? Not sure what you mean. One can't use physical Dex with this rig. It is 100% mental, Int based. No physical controls. Of course, one could use the back up manual controls (like lower TL ships) but, you'd lose the ability to ignore compact bridge penalty...

 

[rust]

This is an example of a very basic real world system, and it is indeed
somewhat similar to Perry Rhodan's SERT technology, just without the
need for psionic talent:

http://www.intendix.com/

 

[Nuclear Fridge Magnet]

This makes me think of the 'pseudo-AI' systems employed by the human-built starships of Julian May's Galactic Mileau stories. A misanthropic starship commander operated alone with massive automation of his transport ship; the various functions - sensors, communications, etc - gave him verbal reports, and he issued orders via the intercom. The systems were 'smart' enough to obey him.

Of course, when he made a (massively) bad judgement call, it came around to ruin his career. The systems weren't programmed to question his orders...

 

[Solomani666]

Excellent Idea.

The only change I would make would be to use an Int or Dex characteristic similar to the Melee Str or Dex characteristic.
.

?? Not sure what you mean. One can't use physical Dex with this rig. It is 100% mental, Int based. No physical controls. Of course, one could use the back up manual controls (like lower TL ships) but, you'd lose the ability to ignore compact bridge penalty...

I am talking about neural pathways that guide coordination. If you are familiar with shooting a free throw basketball you can actually 'Practice' by imagining yourself to throw free throws. I have actually done this and it works.

If you are an experienced gunner, you can imagine yourself shooting lasers at an incoming missile and actually improve your skill.

Motor/coordination pathways reside in the brain and no amount of intelligence is going to give a user, regardless of his intelligence, the ability to shoot down a missile with a turret without the appropriate brain skill mapping or the appropriate coordination/dexterity mapping in his or her brain, period.

The brain knows little distinction between imagination and the physical universe.

The Dexterity trait lies within the brain. Some braniack nerd with a high IQ and a head piece is not going to out tail-gun a person with the same skill and a high dexterity.

Computer augmentation aside, all you have done is eliminate the 'manual' part from the dexterity equation, and not substituted dexterity for intelligence.

You might want to go back either to the Dex or Int bonus or simply add ad +1 or +2 modifier.


.

 

[GypsyComet]

Similar systems that work with a limited population would be the Brainships of McCaffery and the gestalt sensor operators in Poul Anderson's "The Avatar".

 

[DFW]

I am talking about neural pathways that guide coordination. If you are familiar with shooting a free throw basketball you can actually 'Practice' by imagining yourself to throw free throws. I have actually done this and it works.

Yes, I see what you are saying. No, this uses a different area of the brain. I've used a proto-type and it definitely uses different pathways, unrelated to physical control of the body. Higher IQ types were quicker at control than athletic types.

 

[rust]

No, this uses a different area of the brain. I've used a proto-type and it definitely uses different pathways, unrelated to physical control of the body.

It is the same with the systems I know, in fact they are often used becau-
se the parts of the brain responsible for the normal physical activities do
no longer function.

 

[DFW]

No, this uses a different area of the brain. I've used a proto-type and it definitely uses different pathways, unrelated to physical control of the body.

It is the same with the systems I know, in fact they are often used becau-
se the parts of the brain responsible for the normal physical activities do
no longer function.

Yes, probably the same underlying tech. The one I used was for piloting & air to air combat and you could think words and the rig would ID the word also.