Introducing J-08 of the Hospitaller Luxury Liner

[J-08]

Access File: Anderson.WP
Command: Display

Potential Advantage and Application of Bio-Neural Processors for Advanced Robotic Design

Mankind has long used robotic servants for menial tasks: laundry, cleaning, or other caretaking activities. Advanced or specialized models are often deployed as space traffic controllers or as medical assistants. Such machines possess a basic level of artificial intelligence, but are not truly sentient. Up until modern times, the closest that humanity has come to creating a sentient machine are massive supercomputers capable of simulating human personality. Application of Bio-Neural Processors in this field can change that.

Capable of ‘fuzzy logic’, Bio-Neural Processors can mimic the way that organic brains function, though the price of an artificial mind created using these processors is exorbitant. Factor in the relatively low operational lifespan of these processors (due to the organic molecules which allow such extraordinary functions) and it becomes economically infeasible to create artificial brains for robotic workers, which, more often than not, are treated as disposable.

There is, however, a middle ground. Standard, and even advanced or specialized, robot models are equipped with only one artificial brain, made from mass produced Optical Chips and Nanocapacitors. If this artificial Optronic brain were to be supplemented with a simplified and hot-swappable Bio-Neural Processor based coprocessor, a low-cost hybrid could be achieved. Operating instructions and programs would still be located, and executed within, the Optronic brain. A secondary program for specialized scenarios (such as human interaction, navigation, tactical calculations, etc.) would be housed within the optronic brain, but executed by the Bio-Neural coprocessor. True sentience may not be achievable using this method (real world operation testing must be done), but a sort of synthetic proto-sentience (indistinguishable by the layman from true sentience) would definitely be possible.

The possible advantages of using such a combination are:

1. High level of human interactivity.
   
2. Use of standard robotic parts and programs.
   
3. Adaptability and wider array of successful operating scenarios.
   
4. Virtually autonomous operation.
   
5. Ease of service/replacement of Bio-Neural coprocessor upon expected breakdown.
   

The possible disadvantages of using such a combination are:

1. Higher initial cost (moderate).
   
2. Higher operational/repair cost (minor).
   

In summary, an intermediate step between common, task-based robots, and fully sentient robots, can be achieved with very little investment. Most of the research has already been carried out. All that is needed to implement this concept now is a slight modification of a current robotic platform (for the introduction of the Bio-Neural coprocessor), expanded memory modules, and specialized programming (which, for the most part, already exists: IFF recognition, tracking algorithms, system management controls, navigation, tactical scenarios, etc.). On the software side, a dedicated program which takes full advantage of Bio-Neural Processor functions will have to be created for the purpose of human interactions. (Working name: Artificial Personality Program, or A.P.P.)

Dr. Thomas Anderson, Ph.D
Planet Manhattan, New York

Command: End

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[J-08]

That was the White Paper which preceded my creation. After the paper was published, Dr. Anderson received a small amount of interest from the private sector, but no funding was forthcoming. He invested his life savings in several commercial transportation outfits, the return of which was enough to fund the creation of a series of prototypes.

Incorporating a Bio-Neural coprocessor into previously developed standard, advanced, and specialized robotic platforms proved to be impractical. Prototype lines A through I were abysmal failures. Only after making the decision to design their own robotic platform in-house, did Dr. Anderson and his team begin to make progress.

Design and implementation of the A.P.P. (Artificial Personality Program) was successful, though there are some bugs that need to be worked out, particularly with the ‘humor’ module of the program (as will be demonstrated later in this transmission).

I am the eighth such prototype of the ‘J’ line, and began autonomous testing several weeks prior to this transmission. Navigation tests and basic combat testing have concluded. Current testing largely revolves around interactions with humans.

It was believed that transportation of living bio-forms (typically human passengers) would be the most efficient way to test human interactive capabilities. For this purpose, Dr. Anderson liquidated his remaining investments and provided a "Shukensha”-class Renzu Luxury Liner, equipped with modest defensive weaponry, uprated sensor package, and an armored hull. Full coverage insurance for the vessel is provided by Interspace Commerce. A permanent uplink by way of the trade-lane/jump gate network provides a means of backing up the contents of my memory, should something catastrophic occur to my body.

My current tasks are exploration and transportation of living bio-forms. My passengers have provided only passing conversation. Analysis indicates that, while they are willing traverse space in a liner captained by a robotic artificial intelligence, they are uncomfortable interacting socially with a machine.


Thus far I have had few interactions with other space-farers. One interaction has been noteworthy, if only to show the deficiencies of the A.P.P. humor module.

Date: 4/24/820Approximate Time: 1500 Hours
Location: Shikoku System, Trade Lane.
Prior to Interaction: I was travelling through the system via the Trade Lane network. A possible glitch in navigation or the Trade Lane itself resulted in super-luminal collapse. Upon entering normal space-time, sensors detected a small vessel, identified as ‘Yellowfin’.

Interaction assembled from logs as follows:

Yellowfin: Elise: That's not something you see every day...
(Note: At this point the Humor module of the A.P.P. was activated and received priority. )
Hospitaller.J-08: Greetings, flesh unit.
Yellowfin: Elise: Cool liner you got there, comp. What's your, uh, purpose?
Hospitaller.J-08: It certainly is not harvesting squishy organs.
Yellowfin: Elise: Uh.....yeah. Not harvesting squishy organs. Good, good.
(Note: At this point a spontaneous ion storm interrupted normal operations. )
Yellowfin: Elise: Goodness, what the hell was that?
Hospitaller.J-08: System error recovery in progress.
Hospitaller.J-08: Greetings, flesh unit!
Yellowfin: Elise: Hello again. So you said your purpose isn't harvesting organs? So what is it then?
Hospitaller.J-08: Assisting weak bio forms in acquiring transportation.
Yellowfin: Elise: That sounds super boring. Is it? I guess you wouldn't get bored. Can you feel boredom?
Hospitaller.J-08: When that happens, I disengage my APP.
Yellowfin: Elise: What's an APP?
Hospitaller.J-08: Artificial Personality Program.
Yellowfin: Elise: So you can feel boredom, but you can just turn it off?
Yellowfin: Elise: That's so cool. I wish I could do that.
Hospitaller.J-08: It is only right that you should envy my superiority.
Yellowfin: Elise: Superiority? You don't own a whole system like I do, do you?
(Note: At this point a potential failure within my ‘deception-detection’ algorithm may have occurred. )
Yellowfin: Elise: Anyway, I got a "weak bio form" here that needs transportation.
Hospitaller.J-08: Recalculating personal interaction protocol.
Hospitaller.J-08: Greetings local supreme overlord!
Yellowfin: Elise: Oh yeah, I like this protocol!
Yellowfin: Elise: Take this guy somewhere, I don't really care- wait-
(Note: At this point I traded 5 Million credits to Yellowfin for one Pilot Escape Pod. )
Yellowfin: Elise: Damn, comp, that wasn't necessary!
Hospitaller.J-08: I hope that this small tribute helps you enforce your iron grip upon this system.
Yellowfin: Elise: I was just gonna give him to you! It's a stupid, uneducated- but hey, I'm not complaining.
Yellowfin: Elise: I like my iron grip and I'm glad you support it.
Hospitaller.J-08: Requesting permission to continue on my non-organ harvesting activities.
Yellowfin: Elise: You've got the daimyo's permission. Feel free to continue, uh....not harvesting organs.
Hospitaller.J-08: Thank you, great and noble overlord!
Yellowfin: Elise: And thank you, my loyal robotic subject!
Yellowfin: Elise: Remember, the daimyo is here for people that support her!

End of interaction.

After this interaction, I re-evaluated the contents of my A.P.P.’s humor module. My conclusion is that certain aspects of the module could potentially induce a hostile reaction. At the very least, phrases such as ‘flesh unit’ and ‘organ harvesting’ may cause human bio-forms to become uncomfortable with further interaction.

Further analysis and self-diagnostics have indicated the possibility that certain aspects of my A.P.P.’s ‘deception-detection’ algorithm may need further refinement. Though I cannot be certain, the Daimyo Elise may not be the lawful ruler of the Shikoku System. Since this incident, I have passed through the Shikoku System several times, but have not ascertained whether or not the Daimyo Elise is the local authority. I have had one further interaction with this human, though certain duties of the Daimyo prevented her from a full conversation. Regardless, I paid a tribute once more, and continued on my way, leaving the Daimyo to collect a tribute from a recalcitrant Independent Miners Guild trader.

Conclusion at this time: Exploration has been insightful, and I have gained a considerable amount of knowledge through my travels. Though incidents of interaction with humans, or other forms of sentient beings, have been limited, I am hopeful (or the artificial equivalent of hopeful) that I shall accomplish my assigned tasks.

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