Artificial Intelligence Question

[dgguy2006]

Has AI in ST (say in the 25th century) progressed to the point of being able to automate some/most of the shipboard systems on a smaller vessel (such as the Defiant Class)?

I am toying with adapting the capabilities of the EMH to be able to handle routine flight operations, and calling it the APH (Automated Pilot Hologram).

Has this already been done? I have not watched much of the Voyager series, and don't know if they developed something similar.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[Unicron]

Voyager's EMH did gain a considerable amount of advancement when it came to running some automated systems, though he might be considered something of a unique case. I tend to think that Trek computers definitely have that capacity, although it's not clear to what extent (and would probably depend on the nature of the vessel). I do think a holographic matrix like that used for the EMHs could be adapted the way you're envisioning, but I'm not sure whether such a system would be common enough to be considered a valid replacement/substitute for a living officer.

 

[SWHouston]

In almost all of the Series from TOS to TNG and VOY, The Doctor, Data, and other Synthetic/Automated Personnel Units, (Electro-Mechanical/Holographic/Isomorphic/Bio-Mechanical) have interacted with the Crew, repaired broken equipment, ran the Ship and made cognitive decisions about themselves and successfully interfaced with senescent lifeforms, and each other.

IF one decided to build enough of these, it would be quite possible to replace a whole crew, and in VOY, there were instances of whole crews being Synthetic.

Great idea from a monetary point of view, but, probably would provide a rather dry plot. They're too reliable (or they should be) !

Have a good Day !
S.W.

 

[Timo]

The EMH was the computer of the Voyager, or one manifestation thereof. If the computer could manifest complex sentience through the EMH, it could no doubt manifest it through all sorts of other systems as well. I guess the technology is already there, and has been for decades if not centuries; it's a question of whether the technology is allowed to take control.

The EMH did take control of itself for all practical purposes - he even declared himself "Emergency Command Hologram" once! So the Voyager pretty much sailed herself, although graciously accepted whatever help the ship's crew could provide... But it shouldn't have been much of a problem to replace Torres with an Emergency Engineering Hologram, or with a robust robot that wouldn't go offline at the first enemy hit and would in fact outlive Torres and the rest.

Probably Starfleet and the Federation have long ago made a decision to ban starship computers from taking such control. There could be a block in their programming or construction that makes them self-destruct if they attempt overtly ambitious expressions of their sentience. Or at least makes them back down from such.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[SWHouston]

A very reasonable theory Timo, though there is no canon to provide us with any clear programming restrictions of Synthetics, other than Torres limiting the Doctor, to keep him from "messing" around with his program. http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Darkling_(episode)

Excuse me for dumping all those classes into one title "Synthetics", but all the way from Harry Mudd's bunch, Data, through Dejaren and the EMH Mark II, the STrek history is replete with screwups from these handy Heros.

Data couldn't keep onboard and operating. Any stray RF signal from his Father or Lore would send him off to find them. Electrical discharges would drop him like a rock. Lore and Lal were failures, and The Doctor couldn't keep his photonic fingers off his Personality routines, and on and on. That would include hearing "Stars and Stripes" over the intercom, but, only when one ask for it !

With that kind of construction history, it is not beyond a reasonable assumption, that there would be restrictions placed on these guys. We can't seem to make one/a model, that works with any reliability, most of the time.

However dgguy, don't let this squash any creative thinking that may be lingering in you. Sounds like you need to move over to Fan Fic, and get something going. WOW, a completely Synthetic Crew, think of the possibilities ! Create special/unique personalities, situations which a Synthetic could only handle, more.
Could be the next version of Star Trek ! Don't give up on this !

Have a good Day !
S.W.

 

[The Librarian]

Excuse me for dumping all those classes into one title "Synthetics", but all the way from Harry Mudd's bunch, Data, through Dejaren and the EMH Mark II, the STrek history is replete with screwups from these handy Heros.

Data couldn't keep onboard and operating. Any stray RF signal from his Father or Lore would send him off to find them. Electrical discharges would drop him like a rock. Lore and Lal were failures, and The Doctor couldn't keep his photonic fingers off his Personality routines, and on and on. That would include hearing "Stars and Stripes" over the intercom, but, only when one ask for it !

With that kind of construction history, it is not beyond a reasonable assumption, that there would be restrictions placed on these guys. We can't seem to make one/a model, that works with any reliability, most of the time.

On the other hand, all those meatbags keep getting possessed by energy beings, brainwashed, replaced with clones, and going insane.

 

[SWHouston]

HA HA HA, nobody's perfect !

Like "The Queen" pointed out, imprefection breeds imprefection !

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Has AI in ST (say in the 25th century) progressed to the point of being able to automate some/most of the shipboard systems on a smaller vessel (such as the Defiant Class)?

I am toying with adapting the capabilities of the EMH to be able to handle routine flight operations, and calling it the APH (Automated Pilot Hologram).

Has this already been done?

Yes. To death, as a matter of fact.

Daystrom did it in the 23rd century with M5. The Woden--which M5 destroyed--was likewise automated.

Spock managed to program the ship's helm to fly the entire vessel in "The Menagerie" and Kirk did something similar for the REST of the ship's systems in The Search for Spock.

I figure by the 24th century it would be about as complicated as installing seatbelts on a shuttlecraft. There's probably some logical reason why they rarely do so.

 

[SWHouston]

We revel in anthropomorphizing Dogs, Cats, Computers that go beep, and Androids that are vulnerable.

The Producers, Writers and Directors, know SO well, how "dripping with forgiveness" we are, watching to nurture these vulnerables through their growth period, see their mistakes, and let them continue, because it's VERY good script.

However, there's a limit on how much they can "present" those vulnerabilities. Growth is expected, like we saw in Data, but, how far can one project that, it's a dangerous plight at least. Too much, would immunize us to those warm and yummy feelings, when we see acts of Loyalty and conscience demonstrated.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

We revel in anthropomorphizing Dogs, Cats, Computers that go beep, and Androids that are vulnerable.

The Producers, Writers and Directors, know SO well, how "dripping with forgiveness" we are, watching to nurture these vulnerables through their growth period, see their mistakes, and let them continue, because it's VERY good script.

However, there's a limit on how much they can "present" those vulnerabilities. Growth is expected, like we saw in Data, but, how far can one project that, it's a dangerous plight at least. Too much, would immunize us to those warm and yummy feelings, when we see acts of Loyalty and conscience demonstrated.

 

[ngc7293]

I've seen this in someone's play by e-mail game before. Don't forget that Voyager's Doctor had a device from the 26th century that allowed him to move about the ship and elsewhere. Even if something was made in the 25th century it would likely be more of a back pack or something as hefty (certainly not an arm band). I remember in Voyager there was a Holoship where the Doctor ran across a bunch of Holo-slaves. Any ship was going to have a Holographic person in charge would need emitters all around the ship.

 

[Timo]

...But that would be more easily done than said. In "Killing Game", emitters were liberally sown all over the ship just so that the Hirogen could have more fun. And it wasn't too difficult to install some outside the ship in "Basics", either.

Timo Saloniemi