Vincent Amorason (quitethecharmer) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-11-12 07:48:00

Entry tags:

Codemakers
He'd gotten as far as he could in reasonable confidence. Logic trees, operating parameters, and all the other basic formulas had been set. Vincent knew it was time to call in someone more proficient than he for the rest of the programming. Kristoff had already been lending him aid on the assembly of the prototype swarm, but the Refreshers needed their marching orders, so to speak.

He called Anya Stark.

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quitethecharmer
2010-11-13 09:35 pm UTC (link)

Vincent blinked, then shook his head at himself. "Yes of course, that was stupid of me."

The lab gets his approval as he looks it over, finding an open work-table and laying out the equipment he's brought with him. The model he takes out of his bag is three-legged and stout, looking as if it carries some considerable mass, relative to it's size.

"This is just a basic structural model so far. I haven't built mock-ups of the drilling and ionization devices yet."

He brings up a video on the data tablet he brought with him as well. It's some shot from a nature special with ants forming a protective tunnel around other members of a swarm. "This was the image that cemented the concept in my mind."

A beat. "The curry smells delicious."

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	anyastark 2010-11-13 09:46 pm UTC (link)
	Anya brought another table up from the floor so they could spread the food out. Two chairs came up from the floor as well. "Goddard, please do scan and display schematics," Anya said as she sat down in one of the chairs. "Of course," the AI said. A moment later there was a 3D holographic model of the device. Anya studied it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-11-13 11:12 pm UTC (link)

Vincent plugged in his data drives and spread out blueprints. "This is all I have so far. My brother has been assisting me with the hydraulics and design of the production equipment."

He brings up a 3d animation. "The idea is to create a nanite swarm that can, as precisely and non-destructively as possible, tunnel into the support systems of buildings and create an endoskeleton to give them greater support, without having to do any disassembling. Like adding the steel bars to reinforced concrete, after the concrete has already been set."

He portions himself out some curried beef that makes his somewhat heightened senses cringe, in a good way.

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anyastark
2010-11-13 11:25 pm UTC (link)

Anya grabbed the holographic image and began to remove the outer layers to see the inner workings.

"To reinforce a building or even moderately size structure would require a massive amount of nanites," she said as she studied the designs. "To repair a human body alone takes a lot. Any structure would be off the scale. Unless of course you're just trying to repair a part of a structure."

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quitethecharmer
2010-11-13 11:31 pm UTC (link)

Vincent nods, helping himself to some garlic nan as well. "Modular repair is an option as well. The original hope was to be able to help preserve historical structures like the pyramids, temples, large sculptures, and so forth."

He goes through a few mouthfuls, letting her pick apart the designs so far. "It's not exactly cost-effective, but the idea is to work on things that would be at risk from standard and more time-consuming reconstruction techniques."

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	anyastark 2010-11-13 11:59 pm UTC (link)
	"Not cost effective is a huge understatement," she said. "Nanotechnology isn't exactly cheap and it takes an awful large amount to do anything sizeable." "It's a good idea, but I honestly don't see it being practical on a large scale until the cost comes down." "What part of the code did you need assistance with?" she asked. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-11-14 12:32 am UTC (link)

"Just some major points to avoid the proverbial grey goo scenario, and recognition of what vectors have already been covered. I've already finished most of the base interface software to program the routes in the structures to be followed." Vincent brings that up.

"You spot-checking that would be appreciated as well."

He finishes his first helping of curry as he brings up images of what looks to be a moderately old cottage somewhere in Europe. "I've already picked a field test site after laboratory tests come back positive."

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	anyastark 2010-11-14 01:48 am UTC (link)
	Anya nodded and brought up the code. It scrolled past and she intently watched it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-11-14 02:27 am UTC (link)
	Vincent chewed on his bread as he watched Anya look over his work. He'd never really shown any of his stuff to anyone besides Kristoff and Valeria before. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-11-14 02:57 am UTC (link)
	Anya didn't eat. She was engrossed in a project and that meant she forgot to eat. It was a hazard of being a Stark. After some time she remembered someone else was in the room. "It's a good start. A little rough, but wouldn't take too much to polish it up and make it work a little more efficiently." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-11-14 03:20 am UTC (link)
	Vincent smiles at the praise. "Thank you. If you ever need help with anything mystical, I owe you one." He looks over the schematics, when he seems to think of something. "Hm." He eyes the prototype, gears apparently turning in his head. "I just had an idea.. there may be a use for this project at standard scale, as well as nano." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-11-14 03:22 am UTC (link)
	"Such as?" she asked as she looked for something specific in the code. She didn't remember seeing it, but she wanted to make sure she didn't miss it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-11-14 12:29 pm UTC (link)

"Something a bit more commercial." Vincent takes a light-pen and replicates, then begins editing a holographic mock-up of the model.

"I'm not exactly enamored with mining, but he same principles should apply. Tunneling, followed by cooperatively creating bracing structures. Much more stable than the usual timbers and whatnot."

He replaces the precision drill with a stronger boring structure, and adds a secondary trio of legs, making the drone symmetrical from above and below.

"Ionization from the penetration apparatus to create partially fused surfaces around the tunnel walls, and the drones can interlock with one another to form the archways, then disconnect when the project is completed."

He turns to Anya and shrugs. "Just a thought that came to me."

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	anyastark 2010-11-14 01:00 pm UTC (link)
	"It's an interesting idea," she said. "Though I'm far from being an expert in mining and mining techniques. Obviously the code would have to be specifically written for each application," she said. "Which shouldn't be too hard once the base is done." "Have you written a kill code into this?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-11-14 01:06 pm UTC (link)

Vincent nods, opening a folder labeled 'Ragnarok'. "Three general scenarios. A mass-freeze code that will lock down all units in case of a general malfunction, and mass 'brick' code to render the units inert, while still hopefully saving the chassis for re-use. Fairly standard."

He brings up a code design that looks significantly less complete. "Now this, on the other hand, still needs a lot of work. A more precise kill sequence, that in the event of a single unit, or a small number of them, going rogue, the others will turn on it. An extra measure of protection in case anything should happen to compromise communication from the user."

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	anyastark 2010-11-14 01:18 pm UTC (link)
	Anya could see the attraction of such a program, but she could also see the potential for something going horribly wrong with it. Anya nodded. "Never hurts to play it safe. You know, if you have these ideas drafted up, I could pass them along to my father. He could take a look and see where things go from there." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-11-14 01:24 pm UTC (link)

Vincent raises an eyebrow. "I'm not sure... your father has better lawyers on retainer than the Fantastic Four does. I'd hate to end up losing my intellectual rights to these."

He laughs and waves a hand. "Sure. That'd be great. I'm sure your father could offer some excellent insight on this project."

He sets the displayed schematics to automatically scroll, the various models and plans gently rotating in mid-air. "I want to make something that can help people." He looks over the work in progress with something close to reverence.

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	anyastark 2010-11-14 01:29 pm UTC (link)
	"You wouldn't lose your rights to the project," Anya assured him. "But I think he would be interested and could help you develop the idea more." "It's always a good goal. I've been working on my own project as well." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-11-14 01:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh?" Vincent smiles, sitting back to enjoy some more curry. "What is tickling Anya Stark's fancy currently?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-11-14 01:59 pm UTC (link)
	"I've been working on zero point energy lately," she answered. "Been adapting it to everyday use. Most of the stuff in this building runs on it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-11-14 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent nods. "An impressive project. What are the yield and cost-efficiency like? Are you fully independent from the city's power grid?" He pauses tilting his head. "My inner cynic may be rearing it's head, but for you, I'd imagine the legal battles to get such technology past the interest groups and to the public would far outweigh the difficulty of the design." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

anyastark
2010-11-15 12:14 am UTC (link)

"Cost is of course high at the moment since the technology is so new, but given time it will come down. Right now it's the backup systems and the computers in the lab. If the public grid goes down, we won't lose the computers. My car completely runs on it."

She shrugged.

"There will be opposition from the oil companies, but I don't see why the public wouldn't welcome clean practically unlimited energy. Of course handling the oil companies will be left to those who can deal with it, but in the end I think it would be welcomed."

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	quitethecharmer 2010-11-15 12:46 am UTC (link)
	He nods again, smiling. "Good luck with it. I'm glad to see someone pushing to get their innovations into the public sector." He shrugs. "It's an issue that the Richards' and I haven't always seen eye to eye on." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-11-15 01:01 am UTC (link)
	Anya blinked. "While I know Reed and Kristoff don't patent and distribute stuff like weapons and the really dangerous stuff, but they do patent a lot of stuff and sell it to companies for distribution. It brings in a lot of money for Reed and Kristoff." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-11-15 01:04 am UTC (link)

"True, but a lot of those patents get sat on." He gives a lopsided smile.

"I guess I'm just not satisfied that there isn't a flying car in every garage and food replicators in every kitchen. I favor more aggressive distribution of technology.

That's why I'm happy someone within Stark Industries itself is working towards something like you are." He gives her a more earnest grin.

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anyastark, 2010-11-15 01:16 am UTC

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quitethecharmer, 2010-11-15 07:40 pm UTC

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