11-08-2010, 10:49 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: [Spaceships] Fusion Rockets
If human level informorphs are possible in the near future. In THS that's a given, but it is not in all possible futures even harshly realistic ones.
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11-08-2010, 11:15 AM | #12 |
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Re: [Spaceships] Fusion Rockets
Yes, if human level infomorphs are possible then a large server with teleoperated robots would seem to be more useful at first glance. However in order to perform every role a (trans)human would be capable of an enormous variety of specialized machines would be required, or else incredibly complex machines that are as generally capable as a (trans)human. Whether all those specialized machines or the tools required to reconfigure them would be less resource intensive than a habitat for organic beings is legitimately up for debate. I happen to believe that the support infrastructure for machine based life that can match the capabilities of organic life would be essentially the same. Given the choice of engineering an entire set of species in a different medium or modifying a selection of pre-existing species, I'll avoid re-inventing the wheel. Why would a society of machines need less resources than a society of organics? It's taken as a simple fact but without an example of human-equivalent machine based life to compare to it's just a guess. It's even possible that a machine with the capabilities of a human would require MORE resources, especially when reproductive capability is taken into account.
"Man is the best computer we can put aboard a spacecraft... and the only one that can be mass produced with unskilled labor." ~Werner von Braun |
11-08-2010, 01:46 PM | #13 | |||||
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Florida
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Re: [Spaceships] Fusion Rockets
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While it is only my opinion, it is an opinion that is supported by our current space exploration programs. The most advanced spacecraft, all spacecraft used beyond LEO and by far the most numerous spacecraft are all unmanned... controlled by onboard computers and directed by humans (who are all using computers). Advancements in our space industry for now at least, seem directly tied to our technology (computing in particualr) and cost efficiency. Quote:
I agree there will be a maintenence cost associated with the robotic element, but it will utalize the same maintenence facilities required to keep the fundamental technology of the colony/ship running. Cost is only for the increased maintenence capacity required, not the intial overhead. Adding humans will require completely new life-support and food production systems, which will also require their own maintenence. Quote:
Quote:
In addition you can cut out not simply life-support systems, but habitats as well. The main server room requires far less resources than all the habitats and agricultural area needed for organics. Quote:
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