Synthetically Intelligent Neutral Equine

Nitrogen Nickel

Canterlot Labs; Section XII

Experiment Day #1

7:35, evening

Entry 1

Before I begin, some backstory. My name is Nitrogen Nickel and this is the project I’ve dreamed of since I was young. I remember when I was very young, visions of: pouring concrete, large drills, and a large applause at a dam. When its ribbon was cut and the water started flowing. It was there I recall my first observation of electricity, an entity unlike any other.  It was unlike magic, not to be controlled but instead directed. You get it to where you want it to go and it thankfully does what it needs to do when it gets there. It was a free substance, it was a living entity, and early on it made me set a life goal. To create life, not of organic being but of electrical.

Most of the early technology in Equestria was invented by my father, and I’ve improved on much of it. Along the way I met others that helped with these improvements, and when I received the funding for this project it was from this group of past colleague  that I hoof-picked to help.

First there is Mechan Gears. She’s in charge of internal structures such as bone structure, which her brother, Cast Iron, will make after the blueprints are drawn. She will be figuring out  with the energy supply,  and cooling system if needed, as well as spare room for the many system chips that will be needed for the project to function. She will also be making the jaw, vocals, eyes, and ears. She’s going to have her brother, Micro Structure, make the skin, since its going to need extremely tiny parts, which he specializes in. Each of her brothers will get a building room for the course of the project.

Next there is Cyndy Cair, or as everyone normally calls her, CC. She will be in charge of internal functions such as wiring and muscle placement. For the metallic muscles she had already told me what she will be using. It will be CC and Mechan who draw up the blueprints over the next few days.

Lastly there is Binary Digit. If anypony could program this thing, it would be him. As a starter I need to write a set of commands that the project will follow, and I intend to do that over the next few days while the prints are being drawn.

Now that the introductions are done, here is what the project is. We are going to make a Synthetically Intelligent Neutral Equine, or SINE for short. The goal of this project is to create artificial life, if that goal is met then it will be observed until interest fades away or a major defect is found. The acronym broken down means Synthetically for its creation. Intelligent for its capabilities to apply gathered information. Neutral for its lack of outside exposure. Equine because it will take the form of a pony, more specifically, a mare.

The real work begins tomorrow for each of us, and I look forward to it. I have been for years.

Nitrogen Nickel

Canterlot Labs; Section XII

Experiment Day #3

4:15, morning

Entry 2

I have the basic protocols done that will govern it’s task processing and action sequences. They are as follows.

1. Gather information and store it in layers with relating previous information, if available. This allows it to build on old information to come to previously unknown conclusions. Such as, by knowing that 2+2=4, and that 3+3=6, it will be able to conclude that 2+3=5.

2. Avoid harm from all proximities, including the unknown. A point on top of 1, this make sure that the avoidance of harm is quickly learned.

3.  Maintain core system functions. In shortest possible terms, survive.

I have yet to hear on how the blueprints are going from Mechan or CC.

Nitrogen Nickel

Canterlot Labs; Section XII

Experiment Day #4

7:15, evening

Entry 3

I just heard from Mechan about the blueprints, they’re done and now construction can begin. Here are the worded schematics.

Support structures will be comprised of heavily ionized nitrogen and carbon, mixed with titanium to form an alloy. ‘Bones’ will have wires running through them to carry electrical currents controlled by the Primary Coordination Unit to metallic muscles to perform movement. The metallic muscles will be made of the alloy Detrahendum in a layered mesh. When current is ran into it the fibers will contract, the strength of the current sent from the Primary Coordination Unit will determine how strong the contraction is. Placement of muscles will allow full replication of organic movement. Hydraulic slime under the skin will act as a lubricant and padding. If skin is breached and slime is lost, more can be synthesized with water and plant matter. The skin will have sensors in it to gather information from fiber-like rods sticking out of the skin. Set in dense pairings they will act as fur. Special synthesizing molecules in the base will be able to slowly push out fibers for newer fibers using carbon as a building block. Each rod will detect one of three things including pressure, temperature, and texture. A mane of longer rods will run from the top of the head to center of the shoulders along the neck. The longest rods will form the tail. All information from the sensors in the skin will be sent to the Sensum Unit for analyzation. The skin itself will be made of Tangunt, a mildly flexible substance that is resistant to damage and able to refuse to itself if cut or damaged.

Primary power will come from Corsery, a crystalike stone, in the chest cavity. Cooling will come from optional breathing. When breathing is not enough to keep the Corsery from overheating valves in the shoulders will allow heat to drain more directly. Excess power can be released through the hooves and into the ground. Power will be allowed to flow freely through the hydraulic slime to the skin so the sensors will have power. Direct current will flow through wires to the multiple task units and ultimately the main board for solid data collection and transference. Air flowing through the neck from breathing will be allowed to be directed by metallic muscles to form sound. Metallic muscles in the jaw and mouth will allow further direction. Sound will be detectable in the ears by analyzing the rapid subtle shifts in air pressure created by a sound wave. Information gathered will be processed in the Sonus Unit. There will be a snout, but it will serve no purpose outside of looks and a second airway. The eyes will be on a double axis and information gather across the spectrum of 800 nm - 360 nm will be processed by the Visum Unit. Eyes will have a 205 degree by 170 degree view with a primary 5 by 4 degree area of focus to avoid a heavy information load.

Data from all other sensory units will go to the Cerebrum Unit. Instructions for actions will be sent, based on the basic protocols, to the Primary Coordination Unit.

CC told me she sent the information on the skin to Micro Structure, and Mechan has passed on the blueprints to Cast to begin making the metallic bones. As the project supervisor my work is done for now, but I will be observing heavily during the construction.

Nitrogen Nickel

Canterlot Labs; Section XII

Experiment Day #25

3:20, morning

Entry 4

Approximately three weeks have passed since my last entry, this is due entirely to my own procrastination of putting if off until the next day. The bones were done by the end of the first week, and CC immediately started attachment of the muscles to conjoin them. Binary Digit has been programming the Primary Coordination Unit to be able to move each one individually. I don’t know how those details work. I got a sample of the skin from Micro Structure, in the middle of the second week, it felt like real hide. We can expect the full skin to be done in two more weeks.

Just yesterday, Mechan showed me the first eye and how it will interlink with the Visum Unit, and how the ears will commute data to the Sonus Unit. The Corsery has been on the table in her work room for a few days now, although heat to the room has been cut off the stone still keeps the room somewhat warm. The understanding of the magical substance is a science all its own, but all we need to know is that it gives off a constant energy supply in heat and electricity. In times of winter, the heat aspect will serve some purpose but, in all conditions, the electric properties are what will be harnessing.

I haven’t heard too much from Binary Digit. I know he’s been busy with all the programming, but it would be nice to hear something from the guy. I tried sitting in and talking to him but he was so enwrapped in what he was doing he didn’t even notice me. I know the largest part of the project for him is the programming of the Primary Coordination Unit, and it’s programming requires him being there to program each detrahendum muscle as CC puts it on.  I guess sometime in the near future I’ll sit in on that process for a bit.

Nitrogen Nickel

Canterlot Labs; Section XII

Experiment Day #30

11:30, evening

Entry 5

Progress continues on as it should. I was able to sit in for a bit on the choreographed process of putting in the metallic muscles. It starts with CC taking several ‘strips’ of detrahendum mesh and putting them in place and connecting it with a fusion spell, taking off the extra in the process. Binary Digit then connects each ending and programs into the Primary Coordination Unit the ID of the muscle. This way when it wants to use it, it will know where to send the electric current for the mesh to tighten, as a muscle does.

I wasn’t told this, I had to figure it out by observation since they didn’t talk at all to each other, yet their synchronization was astounding. CC puts it in and fuses it, Binary Digit programs the PCU, then as he finishes that, CC would be putting in the next. It only took 10 to 12 seconds each. While that may sound fast the ears alone have 16 muscles. There are thousands that will need to be installed, but I’d say it’s nothing they couldn’t manage.

Mechan pulled me into her workspace to show me the finished ears. They have extendable and retractable antennas on them to allow for as she said, deeper hearing. I don’t understand why it would need the ability to hear things that we cannot, but I don’t have the heart to tell her no after she worked so hard on making them.

Nitrogen Nickel

Canterlot Labs; Section XII

Experiment Day #40

5:25, morning

Entry 6

CC and Binary Digit finished the muscles, and just in time too. We got here to find the skin had been delivered, just need to use the fusing spell to get it on it. Mechan just has to put in the last eye and wire it up then the skin can be applied. The Corsery has already been in for two days now, everything has been except the Cerebrum Unit. Once the CU is in and data starts being sorted it will be on with no off button.

 I think I speak for us all when I say that we look forward to seeing what happens next. If only Mechan would put in that last eye already. The one thing I don’t look so forward to is the array of test that will need to be done to make sure everything works.

Once it’s on it will be taken to an observation room for study, mostly tests. After all that we will just need to see what it does, and this is the part I look forward to. Yet somehow, I’m already having second thoughts.