Originally posted by /profile/173-bug924411/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="173" href="/profile/173-bug924411/">@Bug924411 Name: Arachnid Automatons Description: A bronze, six-legged, two-armed automaton, with a body size of two feet by three feet, and leg span of four feet fully extended. Abilities: -Small enough to crawl through tight and compact spaces. -Programmable through punch cards to perform various tasks, such as directional movement, patrol, searching, and more. -Front-facing pincers allow it to manipulate it's surroundings. -Able to create it's own energy through steam power, generated by a self-contained steam engine heated via core fragment (pictured above). Conditional abilities: -Due to it's robotic anatomy, parts can be interchanged, mainly it's front pincers. Common modular components include picks, dustbins, brushes, containers, drills, mallets, pavers, and more. -Some are able to have their legs modulated as well, with a few modifications allowing them to climb structures, run faster, and even jump. Limitations: -Due to being constructed out of bronze, they are susceptible to oxidation, especially around areas in close proximity to the sea. Maintenance is required to keep them from oxidizing to the point of dysfunction. -As with any technology, they are subject to wearing down, whether it be by time or damage. Finding what is damaged or worn within it's intricate workings can prove to be an extremely difficult task, and is only to be handled by someone experienced with Arachnid automatons, lest it be permanently damaged. -Water must be refilled inside the automaton, as the supply of steam is not limitless. Without a refill, the automatons can run from 15-20 minutes. -The core fragment within usually needs to be extracted and reheated/replaced daily. Conditional limitations: -If enough damage is caused to the automaton, the core fragment inside may become dislodged, falling into the waters surrounding it. This can lead to small explosions that usually result in metal shrapnel and dislodged parts shooting outward. -Many cogs and springs are usually visible on the exterior, whether it be the gear of a leg, or one of the wheels of the analytical engine. While they can be covered with additional metal armor, most automatons do not have this feature. If something were to lodge itself within these mechanisms, damage and/or limb/function failure could result. Things as minor as a foot not working, to disasters such as internal explosions that cause parts to sometimes fly out can result. How does it work: Arachnid "Spider" Automatons function using two common Arachnid technologies: steam engines, and analytical engines. The steam engine is the most visible of the two. The dome that is present on the automatons consists of four hollow metal struts, surrounded by glass. The dome can be temporarily removed via repair tools. Water is poured into a basin just under the core fragment, which allows it to be quickly converted into steam. Once the evaporation process is completed, the steam travels upwards inside the dome, and funnels into a circular grate that directs the steam through the four hollow struts. The high-pressure steam eventually reaches four small steam engines just below the endings of the struts. The exhaust steam is directed to external vents found on the back. The kinetic energy produced by these pistons are translated to the limbs as directed by the analytical engine. The analytical engine is able to be programmed through various punch cards, with the slots under a movable panel located on the front of the automaton (visible in the picture above, the vertical section with the four decorative rivets. The panel can be pulled down to access the slots.) The automatons often come with a wide array of punch cards stored wherever they are commonly used. For instance, at post offices they will have punch cards that direct the automaton to a select address, while at sanitation buildings they will have punch cards directing the automaton to search through a select street for any trash that is left behind. While the automatons are unable to see, they are able to sense things in their surroundings, their legs and pincers tipped with sensors that tell the analytical engine how far it is in accordance to the body, it's relative hardness, and if it is movable or immovable. Flavor text: "A revolutionary invention crafted by genius Portia inventors, the 'Arachnid Automaton' has assisted the Arachnid people in a variety of fields! It cleans up our trash, delivers our mail, and keeps our brave miners safe! The Royal Inventor's Society continues to deliver the greatest inventions known to Arachnid kind every day, and work tirelessly to improve their current designs! Who knows, perhaps they will one day be big enough to carry us to work, strong enough to fight our wars, or even gain sentience! Nobody knows for sure quite yet, as the RIS always says, 'Knowledge comes with time'!" -Maratus Albus, Chamber OfficialReferenced Technologies: Core Fragments Attainability: [Semi-Open] You probably won't have one unless you work in a position that allows you to utilize them, such as being on an Arachnid colony or mine. Alternatively, you have the possibility of buying them, but given that you likely won't know how to repair them, won't have the necessary punch cards, and/or have better automated robots more readily available to you, it wouldn't make much sense for any race other than the Arachnids to use them.Tags: [Industrial] [Racial]
