[Spaceships] Enhanced Computer Network

[munin]

This thread which discussed various aspects of Iain Bank's Culture novels, and various stories by Greg Egan, inspired me to create a new spaceship system. Figured I'd start a new thread.

ENHANCED COMPUTER NETWORK (TL7) [ANY]
Most spacecraft have only a basic computer network (see Control Room), but some are more advanced. This is a computer core or a distributed network which provides greater processing power. Multiple systems can be combined for even greater power – combining ten systems increases effective Complexity by +1. Computer networks are hardened vs. electromagnetic pulse and radiation.

An AI or human mind emulation has a program Complexity equal to (IQ/2)+3, and requires a computer with a Complexity equal to or greater than its program Complexity (for example, an AI with IQ 10 is a C8 program which requires a C8 computer to run). A typical human mind requires 100 TB of storage – minds with massive databanks of information, or centuries of memories, may require more data storage. Large advanced computer networks might run vast virtual realities containing billions of minds (some of whom might occasionally deign to run the ship).

Enhanced Computer Network Table

SM            +4    +5    +6    +7    +8    +9   +10   +11   +12   +13   +14   +15 
Complexity     9     9    10    10    11    11    12    12    13    13    14    14 
Programs       2     6     2     6     2     6     2     6     2     6     2     6 
Storage      10K   30K  100K  300K    1M    3M   10M   30M  100M  300M    1B    3B 
Workspaces     0     0     0     0     0     0     1     3    10    30   100   300 
Cost ($)    200K  600K    2M    6M   20M   60M  200M  600M    2B    6B   20B   60B

Complexity is the computer network’s Complexity. Modify it by -6 at TL7, -4 at TL8, -2 at TL9, +1 at TL11, +2 at TL12.
Programs is the number of programs of the computer's complexity that can run at the same time. Multiply by 10 for Complexity-1 programs, by 100 for Complexity-2 programs, etc.
Storage is the computer network’s data-storage capacity (p. B472). Units are MB at TL7, GB at TL8, TB at TL9, PB at TL10, EB at TL11, and ZB at TL12.

Options
Enhanced Computer Networks may have one or more of the following options. Fast, Genius and Slow cannot be combined.
Compact Quantum (TL9): Uses quantum processing. Complexity +5 for decryption and other programs with large search spaces, Cost ×20.
Fast (TL8): Uses advanced processors. Complexity +1, Cost ×20.
Genius (TL9): Uses cutting-edge processors. Complexity +2, Cost ×500.
High-Capacity (TL7): Can run more programs. Programs ×1.5, Cost ×1.5.
Slow (TL9): Uses inexpensive or older technology. Complexity -1, Storage ×1/10, Cost ×1/20.

[munin]

Design Notes

System statistics for SM+4 to SM+9 systems are derived from computers listed in GURPS Ultra-Tech (p. 22). For example, an Enhanced Computer Network system for an SM+4 ship is a Hardened Mainframe ($200K, 800 pounds) – the remaining 20% of the system’s weight is used to brace the computer components against acceleration. Similarly, an SM+5 system is three Hardened Mainframes, an SM+6 system is a Hardened Macroframe ($2M, 4 tons), an SM+7 system is three Hardened Macroframes, an SM+8 system is a Hardened Megacomputer ($20M, 40 tons), and an SM+9 system is three Hardened Megacomputers. Systems greater than SM+9 simply extend this progression of capabilities.

The Compact Quantum option combines the Compact and Quantum computer options (p. UT23) to avoid changing the system’s weight. The +5 for decryption is described on p. UT47. I decided not to include the FTL computer option because there were some potential Legality Class issues for SM+8 or larger ships that would have been awkward to explain.

Unless you’re dealing with a small/lower-tech system, you can usually just assume you have plenty of data storage. I considered dropping the stat completely since it's not considered for a Control Room's computer network, but decided to leave it in (mostly for TL7 SM+4 mecha builds).

A TL12 Enhanced Computer Network (Genius) for an SM+15 ship costs $30T, is Complexity 18, can run six C18 programs (such as an IQ 30 AI) or 60 billion C8 programs (such as an IQ 10 human mind emulation), and has 3 billion billion TB of data storage.

For more information on computers, see pp. B472, HT19-22, UT21-26.

[gjc8]

Originally Posted by munin

Systems greater than SM+9 simply extend this progression of capabilities.

I'm not sure extrapolating Complexity out like that is appropriate. Program capacity, sure, but (eg) the upper limits on AI intelligence at a given TL may not be easily amenable by simply adding more hardware.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by munin

This thread which discussed various aspects of Iain Bank's Culture novels, and various stories by Greg Egan, inspired me to create a new spaceship system. Figured I'd start a new thread.
[...]

....could you indicate the parts that aren't verbatim from Ultra-Tech?

[munin]

Originally Posted by gjc8

...the upper limits on AI intelligence at a given TL may not be easily amenable by simply adding more hardware.

I could live with that if true, since I can still have my billions-minds VRs. The only thing I can find supporting a limit on complexity is the Software Cost Table (p. UT25) which lists some software complexities as unavailable at certain TLs. But there's no explanation for why they are unavailable and it's also not clear whether no limits are listed for TL11-12 because there are no limits or because the table just stopped (it is possible to build a RAW computer with a complexity greater than 15 where the table stops -- a TL12^ FTL Genius Megacomputer is C16 -- so maybe it just stopped).

But assuming an upper limit on complexity at the megacomputer scale sets an upper limit on AI IQ in the mid-20s. I prefer the option to build planet-minds (IQ 60ish), etc.

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

....could you indicate the parts that aren't verbatim from Ultra-Tech?

Except possibly for the extrapolation issue discussed above, I think it's all pretty RAW if that's what you mean (I don't think there are any passages quoted verbatim from Ultra-Tech, though the modifiers listed under Complexity are verbatim from Spaceships and the first line of the description was adapted from the Comm/Sensor Array system).

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by munin

But assuming an upper limit on complexity at the megacomputer scale sets an upper limit on AI IQ in the mid-20s. I prefer the option to build planet-minds (IQ 60ish), etc.


Except possibly for the extrapolation issue discussed above, I think it's all pretty RAW if that's what you mean (I don't think there are any passages quoted verbatim from Ultra-Tech, though the modifiers listed under Complexity are verbatim from Spaceships and the first line of the description was adapted from the Comm/Sensor Array system).

Verbatim may have been a poor choice, but it would be important to know what is taken from UT since some of it will be flexible due to the change in emphasis from personal gear to ship and station systems, but for the most part it will not be changeable due to backward compatibility. However, it has emerged that a certain amount of UT computer tech is just not right, and deviation in has been contemplated for the future of the TS line, which is probably more to the liking of Culture fans.

For instance, Ghost mind emulations are not (or should not be) IQ limited by the hardware; people of all different IQs use about the same number of neurons with the same number of connections, and even animals' neurophysiology isn't that different for comparable brain and body masses. What innate factors really limit smartness are anyone's guess.

Shadows are an interesting case because current neural network science suggests that they are universal approximators and given sufficient inputs, outputs, and cases to learn from, can be trained to mimic any behavior in a finite time. Of course, a billion years is a finite time, too. Breaking things down into millions of scanable parts helps, but you can easily get a emergent, trained data set considerably larger than the rules that originally generated the behavior to be modeled. However, the computer can train itself based on the input and output data when the actual rules are not available, and can do it for free 24/7 instead of insisting on a coffee break every other day like a human programmer.

[cultureulterior]

Originally Posted by munin

Figured I'd start a new thread.

And it's awesome.

By the way, a compilation of new starships systems would be useful- personally I'm thinking about making the flying car from the Back to the Future [1], and I'm having to- literally- reinvent the wheel!

[1] Since if it had people in spacesuits in the seats, it would be a great starship lander.

[Snoman314]

Awesome. I was just thinking about this yesterday as well after reading the same thread you mentioned. I was wondering how many complexity levels more than a control system a dedicated computer system should be, but I like your solution of taking the stats from ultratech. The numbers even come out the same as I was considering, but with a great justification!
Some of the larger systems do seem a little extreme in terms of how high the complexity goes, but I suppose one could always put an arbitrary cap on complexity if they they think it will break their game, and just say that at a certain point only capacity is increased.
So yeah, love your work.

[gjc8]

Originally Posted by munin

But assuming an upper limit on complexity at the megacomputer scale sets an upper limit on AI IQ in the mid-20s. I prefer the option to build planet-minds (IQ 60ish), etc.

It's probably an option that varies by universe. If you want to allow it, OK.

The alternative is that huge computers run their IQ 20+ AI programs hundreds or millions of times faster than a human mind. This gives an advantage in itself, and allows allows the mind to potentially reach very high skill levels and even IQ by improvement through study, over a short (to a human) timescale.

[munin]

Hmm. You know, I was under the belief that a Complexity N program running on a Complexity N+1 computer was automatically running 10 times faster than it would on a Complexity N computer, but now I can't find a statement to that effect. Was that just in my head?

Originally Posted by cultureulterior

...I'm having to- literally- reinvent the wheel!...

Free Equipment (GURPS Spaceships, p. 10). All winged spacecraft get retractable wheels for free. You can probably get them for free if you're contragravity or something else similar too.