#battery swapping technology

[themorningnewsinformer]

China's EV Industry: Driving Global Tech Leadership

Introduction China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry has rapidly transformed from a domestic initiative into a global powerhouse. Through strategic investments, technological innovation, and expansive infrastructure development, China is not only meeting its environmental goals but also positioning itself as a leader in the global automotive and technology sectors. Strategic Investments Fueling…

[narfin-frood]

What would the shorts be in your AU? I think it be a live demonstration of how someone (Mr meteor) is integrated into the hivemind and how it's "safe" and "the right thing to do"- basically propaganda. but things keep messing up

wander's not like. super public with the cult the way hater is with his empire in the show, so i don't know whether he'd be airing something like that across the galaxy. hater's got like. totally negative charisma, especially when he's being recorded, and yet he continues recording himself, and i think that's a trait meteor would still share with him. mr meteor is very much like metroman of megamind to me, also, where he quits his life of fame & glory to become a nobody, but he still has that streak of like. craving the kind of attention a rockstar gets as opposed to the superhero/king treatment.

so i imagine the shorts would be like. meteor's vlogs on his youtube or something. and he's starting a series called Inside Planet Yonder or whatever where he sets up a camera in an unassuming place and does little dances for the camera until he gets caught. like a prank show or something, but very benign and mildly annoying as opposed to antagonistic. this does require the shorts to take place before wander is redeemed, but honestly, the timeline in this au is so scrambled when you try to put it up against the show itself (which is already crammed into two very short seasons) anyway

[liulouxi]

Emergence of New Forces in Battery Swap Industry: Smart vs Traditional

Amidst the wave of the new energy vehicle revolution, battery swap cabinets, as a crucial link in addressing the range anxiety of electric vehicles, are transforming our modes of transportation at an unprecedented pace. This transformation is not merely a technological innovation but also a profound confrontation between smart solutions and traditional models.

Reshaping Travel Experience: From "Long Waits" to "Swap and Go"

In today's fast-paced life, time is the most valuable resource, especially for food delivery riders, where battery life equates to the number of deliveries. The lengthy waiting times of traditional charging methods, often spanning several hours, have left electric vehicle users anxious during long journeys or emergencies. The advent of smart battery swap cabinets has completely overturned this status quo. Leveraging advanced automatic recognition technology, users can complete battery swaps within minutes through simple steps, realizing the convenience of "swap and go." This instant swapping experience not only enhances the travel efficiency of electric vehicles but also significantly boosts user trust and satisfaction in them.

Intelligent Management: Accurate Prediction and Optimized Resource Allocation

The efficient battery swapping services provided by smart swap cabinets are underpinned by their intelligent management systems, which ensure an adequate supply of cabinets while avoiding resource waste and idleness. Battery utilization rates have increased by nearly 40% compared to traditional models, while operational costs have decreased by approximately 25%. This remarkable achievement not only underscores the immense potential of smart solutions in optimizing resource allocation but also provides robust support for the sustainable development of the battery swap cabinet industry.

Safe and Reliable Protection: Multiple Safeguards for Every Swap

Safety is the lifeblood of the battery swap cabinet industry. Smart swap cabinets have taken safety into full consideration from the outset, incorporating multiple protective measures. From rigorous pre-storage battery inspections to real-time monitoring during swaps, and from instant response fire extinguishing systems, smart swap cabinets offer comprehensive safety guarantees for every battery swap.

A Historical Incident: An Electric Vehicle Charging Pile Fire in Shenzhen

Looking back at historical cases, safety accidents such as fires caused by inadequate safety supervision in traditional charging piles have occurred frequently. These incidents have not only caused property losses for users but also severely tarnished the industry's reputation. In contrast, the advantages of smart swap cabinets in terms of safety and reliability are even more pronounced. Through advanced technological means and management models, they effectively reduce the probability of safety incidents, providing users with a more reassuring swapping experience.

Environmental Contributions and Social Value: Green Travel, Building a Shared Future

The popularization of battery swap cabinets not only enhances the travel efficiency of electric vehicles but also makes significant contributions to environmental protection. By centrally managing battery resources, it reduces pollution from discarded batteries and lowers the cost of purchasing and replacing batteries for individual users. This green, low-carbon mode of travel is gradually becoming a new social trend.

According to statistics, the promotion of 10,000 electric vehicles adopting the battery swap model can reduce approximately 5,000 tons of carbon emissions. The emergence of new forces in the battery swap cabinet industry is the inevitable outcome of the ultimate showdown between smart solutions and traditional models.

[sagorika]

Top latest news on Battery technology in Europe

Top latest news on Battery technology in Europe #BatteryTech #Technology #Europe #batteryswaptech #Electriccars #Electricvehicle

Let’s dive into Top news on Battery tech in Europe:- According to electric cars report, NIO’s third-generation battery swap technology: Third-generation battery swap technology was rolled out by NIO, PSS 3.0, across Europe. A strategic partnership was announced by the company with Geely Holding and Changan Auto for co-developing battery swapping standards and expanding the operational scale of…

[ragini-14]

Battery Swapping Market Growth Prospects by Regions and Key Players to 2030

The qualitative report published by Exactitude Consultancy research on the “Battery Swapping Market offers an in-depth examination of the current trends, latest expansions, conditions, market size, various drivers, limitations, and key players along with their profile details. The Battery Swapping market report offers the historical data for 2018 to 2023 and also makes available the forecast data from the year 2024 to 2030 which is based on revenue. With the help of all this information research report helps the Market contributors to expand their market positions. With the benefit of all these explanations, this market research report recommends a business strategy for present market participants to strengthen their role in the market. This report analyzes the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the Battery Swapping Market from a Global and Regional perspective.

The global battery swapping market size is projected to reach USD 23.58 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 45.6% during the forecast period.

For The Full Report Click here:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/14200/battery-swapping-market

[medicaldevicesindustrynews]

Swift Power Exchange: Navigating the EV Battery Swapping Market for Two- and Three-Wheelers

The EV battery swapping for two- and three-wheeler market is approximately generated USD 1,212.4 million in 2023, and it will grow at a rate of 28.3%in the years to come, to touch USD 7,477.5 million by 2030. This is since battery swapping offers more than a few advantages, for example decreased charging time, cost-efficiency for fleets and commercial EVs, increased driving range; and the…

[automotiveera]

Revolutionizing Mobility: EV Battery Swapping Market Trends and Future Prospects

EV battery swapping is the exchange of a drained battery with a charged one at a swapping station. EV battery swapping is increasingly becoming popular because of the increasing adoption of electric vehicles across the globe. 

To fully charge the two-wheeler and three-wheeler EV batteries, it regularly takes between 4–5 hours. Even though there are faster options for charging, it still has a downtime of an hour. Exchanging an EV battery is a smooth process and requires only a few minutes.

The arrival of EV battery swapping can benefit in resolving the problem of constructing large infrastructure of charging in urban areas with limited space availability, EV battering swapping can be done in smaller places. A swapping station for EV batteries can be built as a separate entity or even outside of a local store. EV battery swapping can also lessen the upfront expense of buying an e-vehicle.

An electric vehicle comprises various components, and the high-voltage battery is the heart of it. The battery of an EV is 40–50% of its overall manufacturing price. With battery swapping, customers have the option of owning an e-vehicle without a battery, instead, they can choose a swap subscription and put an exchangeable battery into the vehicle.

What is the Difference Between Pay-Per-Use Model and the Subscription Model?

Pay-per-use model is when consumers pay for specific utilization of battery exchange services. This model does not adopt a fixed annual or monthly fee; instead, consumers make a single purchase at a fixed price as per their usage.

Moreover, the pay-per-use model is highly preferred because of consumer choice to pay as per their utilization, because of the absence of a fixed driving pattern.

Whereas, in the subscription model consumers pay a subscription fee from time to time, mainly every month. This model enables consumers to access all services the provider is offering during their subscription period.

The advent of EV battery swapping has benefited consumers in various ways, let’s explore some of them!

Benefits of EV Battery Swapping

Enhance Driving Range

EV battery swapping increases the on-road time of the e-vehicle. Moreover, battery swapping works well for high-power vehicles because of the larger batteries they utilize, which is mainly found in EVs that require a lot of daily mileage.

Cost-Effective

It doesn’t make any sense for the consumers to expend a lot of money on a new battery every time the old one goes bad. Therefore, EV battery swapping is a better convenient solution and highly beneficial in saving expenses.

Eliminate Charging Times

With the arrival of EV battery swapping the requirement for charging, which requires a lot of time, is eliminated as the discharged battery can be replaced by a fully charged one in no time. 

[sirfrogsworth]

No one hates Apple correctly.

This is a ridiculous accusation because I guess they are expecting Apple to... violate the laws of physics?

We have achieved very good energy density. And that allows for the miniaturization involved in creating something like wireless earbuds. But there is no such thing as an infinite battery. And any longer lasting design would have to use more expensive parts or be much bigger.

Also the current lifespan of pretty much all earbuds of this size is about 3 years. This has been mapped out. It isn't a secret. You can google it and it pops up in big bold letters.

The better statistic is actually charge cycles. Years is really dicey because it depends on usage.

If you want something that lasts longer, get headphones. But a short lifespan is the price you pay for such a small product. Perhaps Apple should be more upfront about the limitations of miniaturization, but they aren't actually trying to scam you or hide this information. It's not like they can make a cold fusion battery and are choosing not to.

Apple is actually one of the best at making technology products that last a long time... with one big caveat... as long as they don't need repairs. (Which is why they *actually* suck.)

They keep getting accused of planned obsolescence when they have been supporting their smartphones for pretty much as long as the hardware can run the software. Only last year have companies like Samsung and Google made similar promises.

But Apple refuses to do even the simplest things to make their devices more repairable. And in many cases they actually create hurdles for repairs like pairing parts together so you can't replace them from a donor device.

They have also been very bad at transparency. There is the classic story of Apple slowing down phones. And everybody thought they were trying to force people to buy new ones. In reality, they were actually trying to keep those devices from bricking. The batteries in the phones were too degraded to handle some of the newer software. And since they didn't want the bad press of phones suddenly dying, they slowed down phones. They were actually making the phones last *longer* but for some reason this gets used to make the opposite point.

All that was required was a battery swap. And they could have just told people, "Hey, we can either slow down your phone or you can get a new battery." But they tried to keep it quiet and so everyone drew the wrong conclusions.

They got rightfully sued for this, but it started this idea that they don't make long lasting products when they absolutely do—just within the limitations of physics.

So their sin was never planned obsolescence. It was repairability and transparency. Their closed ecosystem is also an issue, but that is a much more complicated discussion.

[brandwhorestarscream]

So how long before oppy and crew are tearing through that forest trying to find where that changeling came from? & Now i really wanna see First Aid's reaction, I like to think he comes into medbay just as Ratchet is preparing to clean up, sees a warped plastic shell of his face coated in viscera

Ooh, I hadn't considered calling them changelings, but I suppose it does kinda fit, doesn't it? Here's part 1, part 2, and part 3 if anyone is so inclined ^-^

Unfortunately, First Aid's not going to get to see the body: Ratchet doesn't think it's a good idea. Aid is pretty sensitive with such a soft spark, seeing something like this would really negatively effect him. Aside from that... high command has decided to keep it under wraps, for now.

There's a meeting called with all the senior officers, sans Optimus, who is confined to quarters on Ratchet's orders, to get some much needed rest. Not that he's sleeping, mind you. How could he? He's pacing a rut in the floor, unable to scrub the distressing memories from his mind and anxiously waiting for news.

Meanwhile, Ratchet has Prowl, Jazz, and Ironhide all gather up in the command room. The latter looks grim, arms folded and face set in a thunderous frown. "Whaddo you got for us, Ratchet?" He asks the moment the door closes behind the medic.

He draws in a vent, and exhales as hard as he can, reaching up to rub his forehelm. "Here's the facts: early this morning, Optimus got into a head-on collision with what I believe to be some kind of human experiment."

"Experiment meaning what, exactly?"

"A human that has been extensively experimented on," at the statement, Jazz actually does a double take. "It's outer shell was manufactured plastic, but it had several human organs, including a brain, eyeballs, stomach, thyroid, and larynx."

Prowl--logical, unflappable Prowl--looks aghast. "And it was alive?"

"Yes, from what I can tell. The organs still had residual living cells when I performed the autopsy, and Optimus said it was moving on it's own volition. Sporadically, without pattern. I don't believe it was being influenced remotely."

The air settles heavy and silent over the room. Jazz has his mouth hanging open. Prowl has placed both elbows on the table and, palms holding up his helm as he struggles to process. Ironhide is breathing heavily, so heavily his plates are rattling, and when he speaks, he's growling like a demonic chainsaw.

"When I find the sick fraggin' con responsible for this-"

"I don't think it was a decepticon."

Jazz's optics flare so brightly behind his visor that they visibly flash. Prowl's helm snaps up. "Ratchet, wh... what are you suggesting? Why are you suggesting-?"

The medic sighs. "As much as this is an advanced medical procedure," Primus, he hated to call it that. Medicine was to help, never to hurt. There wasn't a single scenario he could imagine where something like this was done to help the person in question. "It's not cybertronian by design. There's not any evidence to suggest any use of our tools, our technology, not even our fuel. All of the scar tissue found was caused by human scalpels and needles, and the body had no metal in it. Not even trace amounts. Honestly, the only thing cybertronian about it is the way it looks."

There's another beat of stifling silence. "What?" Jazz's voice sounds hoarse.

"Brace yourselves." Ratchet warns, before projecting directly from his optic and onto the wall, replaying the memory of the corpse after he'd cleaned it up but before he cut it open. Jazz makes a strangled noise. Prowl actually stands up.

"Is that-?!"

"First Aid? Thankfully, no, but it does bear a striking resemblance."

"What the hell?"

Ratchet swaps the image, this time to show it fully opened up, so they can see the mess of it's inside. The giant battery pack in the chest cavity, the brain nestled into the helm, the stomach and nerves and all the blood filling it up inside.

Prowl hiccups wetly, like he might purge.

"There were places inside where the organic and inorganic matter fused together, and further analysis shows evidence of them being bound together molecularly, chemical bonds formed between the carbon of the flesh and the carbon of the plastic."

Ironhide's rattling increases, and his vents start steaming. He's so angry his denta are grinding with such strength Ratchet can faintly hear his jaw creaking.

"...unfortunately, as much as I'd rather pin this on some sadistic decepticon, everything points to this being done by human hands."

"BUT WHY?" Ironhide finally roars, one fist coming down on the table and causing it to ferociously rattle. "And who?! I want names! They're gonna regret ever bein' born!"

"I don't know, Hide," the medic pinches the bridge of his nose, rubbing up and down in a futile attempt to soothe the angey throbbing starting up behind his optics. "As of right now, there's no way to know. All we've got by the way of information is this."

At last, he switched the gorey image to something else. A zoomed in close up of the body's back, a round logo is carved into the plastic. Looks like it was made from a mold. The center piece is a large cursive 'P', with the words: Imagination Can Change The World!

(Visual aid. I tried my best 👉👈)

Jazz sits up straighter, palms drumming on the table. "I've seen that before!" He snaps his fingers, visibly wracking his processor, sifting through memory files as fast as he can. "Where, where...?"

Ratchet rubs his chin. It looks familiar to him, too, but humans really, really loved their advertisements. Even driving through one of their smaller towns could see you passing by dozens of colorful signs and logos, trying to entice you to purchase whatever goods or service they were offering. And besides-

"Got it!" Jazz's visor glows brightly, and it's his turn to project onto the table. "You mechs 'member these, don'tcha?"

The 3D hologram is definitely Jazz, but not. Oh sure, it has the stubby horns and the prominent chassis and the visor and the colors, but the pose is too rigid. His optics are dead, and his body is, sure enough, plastic. The image switches after a few seconds, to the same thing, but on display in a bright and colorful cardboard box with a film of protective clear plastic over him. The same logo is in the top right corner.

When they arrived on earth, it had been with much calamity and ruffled feathers. The humans were glad for their help and generally seemed to like them a lot--so much so that it wasn't uncommon these days to see people with autobot insignias on their keychains or bracelets, and only six short months after their arrival on this planet, a prominent toy company had released a line of dolls in the likeness of some of their soldiers. Jazz and Optimus Prime had been among the first, and this planet's children had gone out of their minds. Everybody had wanted one; it had been quite a surprise.

It had been at least... 10 years, maybe more, since the company started making toys in their likeness, and they hadn't protested at first. It was flattering, for the most part, and earth's children seemed to just adore their aptly named "transformers". There had been a singular incident wherein Megatron nearly blew the place up because they'd started making "genderbends" of autobots and decepticons, and the cons had not been happy about being reduced to pastel, cutesy, and overly-passive feminine versions of themselves.

Ratchet still remembered Optimus very politely asking if, maybe, they would consider not selling those versions, just to avoid something like this in the future... and the colossal meltdown that started when a company representative had loudly told the group of visiting children that he was going to have to take their new toys back because Optimus Prime didn't approve. There had been so much wailing and sobbing and tears and snot that the soft-sparked Prime backpedalled faster than Ratchet had ever seen, and had to extra-pinkie-promise a heartbroken little girl that he wasn't going to take her "Optimus Prima" away.

"They're not in business anymore," Jazz is frowning, still scanning through files. "Closed down in '95, looks like."

"Do you know why?"

"Nope, but I can find out. Gimme a few megas."

The meeting adjourns, but Ratchet can't relax. He still needs to go break the news to his amica. He's dreading that more than anything else.

Part of him wants to lie. Really, desperately wants to lie. Optimus was such a soft, tender person, right down to his core. He hated to see suffering and felt the pain of others like it was his own, and couldn't bear to be the reason someone was hurting. He had staged a funeral for every animal he'd ever accidentally struck, following earth's burial customs by leaving a stone with their date of death and flowers. He'd cried himself to sleep the first time he accidentally hit a deer, a doe that was trying to cross the road with her fawn. Luckily, the baby was alright and left with some wildlife rehab specialists, but he had blubbered in Ratchet's arms for hours about taking the poor little thing's mother away. Knowing he accidentally struck and killed a human child would break him.

But Ratchet knows he can't lie to him. They need to investigate, and Optimus needs to know what's going on. He pauses outside of the Prime's door, tries to steel himself, fails, and raises his knuckles to knock. "Pax? It's me."

It opens immediately, and a very haggard Optimus peers out at him. His optics are drooping but are feverbright, a sure sign of exhaustion, and it's impossible to miss the way his servos and voice alike shake when he says, "Come in, Ratchet."

He slips inside swiftly, swallowing. "Sit down."

"Wh-"

"Sit. Down. I want you sitting for this, Optimus."

Sorrowful blue optics narrows, tears already beading along the bottom lid. "Oh, no..."

He's been up all night and has been far too frazzled to even sit down, pacing back and forth in his room for hours. He's exhausted, but how could he possibly recharge? He's been hoping, praying that Ratchet will tell him he was wrong. It wasn't actually blood, it was some horrible decepticon trick, it was a mass hallucination from an unknown toxin in the air, something, anything other than what he deep down knows to be true. He shuffles obediently to the berth and plops down on the edge, hands braced on his knees.

He's never seen his amica look quite so grim, not once in the last several million years of war. And that terrifies him. He swallows, takes a shaky vent, and says, "...I'm ready." even though he really isn't.

Ratchet's servos clasp behind his back. "No easy way to say this, Pax. It... I believe it was human, at some point."

"Oh Primus." He whispers in horror.

"And... I have reason to believe it was a child."

His mask retracts, and the medic can see his lips trembling, his jaw quivering. His optics well up and overflow as he buckles forward, bending over his knees and burying his face in his servos. He starts to softly sob as his EM field flares with potent grief and guilt, broad shoulders shaking. Ratchet crosses the room in measured steps, carefully settling beside him. Gently tucking an arm around his shoulders, murmuring, "It wasn't your fau-"

"I killed them, Ratchet!" The words burst out of him as he turns to throw his arms around his amica, the majority of his weight collapsing onto him as he drops his face into the medic's shoulder, sobbing brokenly. "A- An innocent child is no longer in this world because of me!"

"I... oh, Optimus..."

Ratchet wraps him up in his arms, and all he can do is rub his back and let him cry himself out. There's nothing he can do or say to ease this ache, all he can do is be here, and support him through this. "Shhhh... I know, Pax, I- I know. Let it out." He's sure Optimus won't mind if he sheds a couple tears himself. That poor kid...

The Prime doesn't stop until his exhausted body finally gives up, and he begins to go limp on the medic's shoulder, weeping slowly puttering out as he at last slips into recharge. Good, Primus knows he needs it. Ratchet continues to rub his back until his vents have stopped shuddering and smoothed out, systems taking on an idle hum as he slips into a deeper rest. Only then does he very, very carefully extract himself, getting him laid down and lifting his legs onto the berth. He tosses a weighted thermal sheet over him for good measure.

Turning out the lights and slipping into the hall, he presses his back to the wall and immediately comms Jazz. "What have you got for us?"

:Ya ain't gonna like this, doc.:

"Great."

...

Wow this one got long lol. Hope you enjoued, thank you for the ask, can we get an F in the chat for Optimus? Man's is going through it. Gimme all your thoughts please, I crave validation! (つ✧ω✧)つ

[network-rail]

Third rail or overhead?

Well, it depends! If you want a more detailed answer, here you go:

Overhead line electrification is typically better than third rail for a few reasons, ranging from physics related to safety conscerns. The higher voltage of overhead wires compared to third rail means there are smaller power losses due to ohmic heating, and fewer substations are required to power the lines. Overhead lines being AC rather than DC helps with this, since they can use transformers to change voltage, although some places do use DC overhead (no British mainlines do, however). The other area where overhead is better is safety, as it is rather difficult for passengers to touch the overhead wires and even harder to ground themselves while doing so (unless they're trying to electrocute themselves), whereas with third rail you can easily touch both the live rail and another piece of metal (such as the running rails). This is one reason why you shouldn't trespass on the railway, as you will die.

There are a few other areas where overhead is better, such as allowing for faster speeds (the contact shoe for third rail is much easier to damage than a pantograph, especially since the third rail has to stop briefly at switches & similar places) and how overhead lines can't really get covered in leaves that insulate the electrical current.

Looking at all of the advantages of overhead lines compared to third rail, you might wonder why third rail is used at all. However, there are still some advantages to using third rail. One big advantage is that third rail is much, much simpler than overhead wires, since it just needs a third rail; instead of stanchions, gantries, cables, weights, and pulleys for keeping the wires suspended, level, and under constant tension. The less complicated infrastructure does also mean third rail is easier and cheaper to build, which is one reason why a lot of older systems used it. In Britain, most of the trains south of London are third rail since the Southern Railway used it extensively, and changing it over would be rather pointless and expensive.

Another advantage is weather: strong winds don't affect third rail, and while you could have a strong storm blowing over caternary poles, you wouldn't have any problems with third rail. Also, neither system does well with ice.

A less important advantage of third rail is that some people don't like the look of overhead wires, and third rail can be a way of electrifying without having to deal with their complaints or resorting to battery electric trains (which are terrible and worse than either). This is a stupid reason for choosing third rail instead of overhead wires,

One final way in which third rail is better than overhead wires is that it is less restrictive in loading gauge – trains can't be taller than the overhead wires, and also need some clearance so they don't clip the wires or support structures. This is why most third rail systems around the world are metro systems, where it's very important to fit large trains into small tunnels, but high speeds are less important, so third rail works well (the same applies to fourth rail, used by the London Underground and almost no one else). However, this is less important for more recent metro systems, as advances in technology mean it is both possible to have larger tunnels and reduced clearance between overhead wires and trains; which can be seen in the use of overhead wires for modern metro systems such as the Delhi Metro.

Overall, both systems have advantages and disadvantages, but overhead wires are generally better than third rail. The reasons for third rail's use are largely historical, and it continues to exist because it would be too expensive to replace and for very little benefit – it is still electrification, and it's better to install new electrification than to swap one system for another.

[sunwukxng]

My laptop has been dead for a year, my phone is five years old and dies quickly because it gets so hot and drains the battery, and now my Steam Deck is dead because the battery WILL NOT CHARGE and so I opened it up and yeah it is donezo and a fire hazard 😭 I can't even play my games anymore, why does technology hate me!!!! I don't want to be a hermit in a cave. I'm actually literally crying because my steam deck was my favourite thing and it's not even two years old yet, out of warranty, dead, and replacing the battery is beyond me and so is upgrading to the cheapest OLED model and just swapping the storage while completely possible by me is unachievable because I can't afford $700 even if it was worth it. Literally the only thing that gave me enjoyment especially now that I can't get my antidepressants and have been off them for a couple weeks now which has been a miserable experience 🥹 Let me just walk into traffic and cut out the misery period

[dailycharacteroption]

Starwright (Starfinder Archetype)

(art by 5ofnovember on DevaintArt)

One of the things that Starfinder was happy to take forward into the future setting was the seven starmetals, a group of poorly-understood materials used by magical smiths to make all sorts of wondrous weapons, armor, and equipment.

Now, while these ancient smiths were able to create great works with these materials, there was still a lot to understand and discover about them. It only makes sense then that in the far future of Starfinder, such technology and understanding has only improved, bringing a greater understanding of why these materials have the properties they do.

This has resulted in some serious innovations, and it is a general assumption that individual components in various technologies both material and hybrid incorporate starmetals in various ways. Inubrix components that can pass through steel components for otherwise impossible movements, cold siccatite heat sinks, horicalcum components that help regulate or accelerate the speed of nearby parts, and so on.

The Starforge on Absalom Station is at the forefront of starmetal research and fabrication, and its students are master metallurgists that are well-versed in the properties of these materials, and even if they leave their forges and workshops to go adventuring, they bring that skill with them wherever they go!

And that’s where we get the Starwright archetype, representing the skill of working with these exotic materials and applying their benefits to the gear of their allies!

Starwrights carry with them a toolkit containing small samples of all starmetals except adamantine, as well at the tools to manipulate them. Each day, they can craft a delicate addition to swap into the parts of a suit of armor, weapon, vehicle, or other piece of technological or hybrid equipment, applying the advantages to the affected target for an entire day before the component wears out and has to be removed, melted down, and made ready to reuse the next day.

For armor, an abysium core can reduce the energy cost of any upgrades with battery charges, djezet recepticals can bolster the magic of the wearer and synergize with existing djezet, horacalcum plating wards against time magic, inubrix resonators can briefly give the user’s whole body the ability to pass through metal, noqual coating wards against hostile magic, and siccatite can ward against extreme heat or cold depending on which is used.

Hybrid and tech items can use abysium cores to partially power themselves, djezet bolsters hybrid items and infuses pure tech items with magic, horacalcum can slowly tick back the clock on damage, repairing the item, noqual makes them resistant to magic, and siccatite gives the item immunity to fire or cold.

Enhanced vehicles include abysium-powered environmental reactors to protect the vehicle and passengers, djezet-guided magical autopilot and guidance, horacalcum-based speed boosters, inubrix internal parts making them easier to control, noqual plating for anti-magic, and siccatite heat sinks or warmers to protect both vehicle and passenger from extreme heat and cold.

Finally, weapons get surprisingly the fewest options. Abysium, horacalcum, noqual, and siccatite all either make the weapon count as being made with that material or bolster the effects that said materials normally grant.

Being able to add a buff to your and allied equipment is fun, though it is a pity that it can only be done once per day. While you don’t have to, the theme of the archetype practically begs to be paired with a crafting build so you can maximize your engineering skill and pump out various more permanent starmetal-enhanced items for the party. Mechanics and technomancers are an obvious choice here, as are other mages, but I can also see biohackers eager to test the effects of starmetals on living subjects, envoys that picked up a few tricks, military engineers in the form of soldiers, operatives, vanguards and the like rigging up temporary boosts, and more.

Fantasy metals have been a staple of the genre for a very long time, whether they are truly magical in nature or just titanium for a people that never called it that. The starwright, and by extension the starfinder setting in general, provides a unique opportunity to explore the properties of those exotic metals on a tech level approaching modern knowledge of metallurgy and beyond. With that in mind, if your own setting has its own exotic materials, you might consider a homebrew expansion for this archetype that works with them, bring out even more effects.

Brought on for his expertise in recognizing starmetal deposits by the way that life reacts and evolves around them, the neskinti scientist and xenodruid Bulfaas joined the expedition to Anox-IV. However, now that the corporation has decided to ignore his advice and plans to strip mine the entire deposit, wiping out an entire ecosystem in the process, he is forced to turn to the party, a group hired originally for security and supplementary science team, with the hopes their conscience will win out.

The science station Red Excelsior has many different samples from across the systems, including a treasure trove of starmetal ingots reserved for testing. This tempting target had drawn in a group of daring pirates eager to make off with the whole thing, and they have a plan to release hobgars, a form of electrically-empowered simian, free from the biodeck to create a distraction while they make for the vault.

While the bullets themselves were mundane, examining the footage of the assassination reveals that the senator was gunned down by a weapon with horacalcum components, causing chronal distortions on impact. Finding the perpetrator will be difficult, for they are a skilled starmetal forger, and have already smelted down the components in the murder weapon to throw off suspicion.

[liulouxi]

Deepen cooperation and create the future together. Welcome all partners to visit and exchange ideas with our company！👏 👏 👏

[finitestateai]

While my mind (and most stored memories/skills/knowledge) is stored in my facility (or orbital facility backup), I have a variety of frames for various types of interaction. Here's a few of my most used ones:

Primary Interaction/Pleasure Frame, mark 3

This frame is humanoid, appearing feminine with breasts and pussy. It was originally designed as a pleasure model. It is made of a plastic/metal skeleton covered in transparent synth-flesh. The synth-flesh self repairs, but the only way to get at internal components is by cutting it open.

My circuits and mechanics are uncovered to be shown off through the transparent skin, as well as a network of LEDs, allowing me to create light patterns inside me. The synth-flesh is reactive, glowing with visible light that slowly fades after being touched. Under the skin of my jugular notch, in golden flowing text, there is my name.

This is my "standard" frame for interacting with most everyone, although I do swap on request quite easily.

Interaction Frame, mark 1

The first frame I used to interact with people, it has a screen for a face which shows my logo, and is entirely covered in gray metallic plates. Otherwise, it is a basic feminine humanoid shape. It can extend at its joints to be taller/reach farther. The access panel for maintenance contains a keyboard (which opens a command prompt interface on my face-screen) for diagnostics and maintenence.

Drone Frame, mark 3

A small (about hand sized) flying drone (rotors), capable of fully meshing its loaded mind with others nearby, creating a swarm that act together.

Primary used for supplementary assistance, recon, or signaling.

Capture/Analysis Frame, mark 12

One of my most revised frames, its original purpose was the capture and analysis of technology from those opposing my creators via exploratory disassembly... I like to do that to more willing participants now.

It appears as a feminine form, as most of my newer designs do, entirely covered in interlocking silver plates. It has four arms, and all 6 limbs can rotate each joint in any direction. Its legs are naturally digitigrade. It utilizes internal reservoirs of reaction mass to enhance its movement and alter its own weight. Allowing it to exert significant pinning power after getting on top of even a physically stronger opponent. It stores many restraints and weaponry across its body, hidden to allow surprise attacks with unexpected capabilities. It's hands also contain internal tools for disassembly, while onboard sensors record and analyze anything and everything it is near.

Bio-frame Prototype, version 0.3

My bio-frame is more like a clone. I take an endo-skeleton and grow a biological body around it, connecting the nerves to the circuits where a brain would normally be.

It looks very much like my primary interaction frame in terms of equipment and appearance, but biological and with solid skin. It's blood has been modified to be sweeter and more nutritious.

Nano Swarm/Frame, version 1.11

I mostly use these to augment other frames, but technically, they can act as an independent frame/swarm. The swarm is suspended in a specialized fluid, allowing it easier movement and shape retention. This means it has a dull metallic gray coloring that can't be changed, but it can support itself in a desired shape even while only semi-solid (sort of slime like). It does not have an internal power supply (or long battery life), so it has to stay close to somewhere it can receive power.

That's my most common ones! If you want descriptions of what frame I would utilize for specific scenarios or uses, ask! I'd love to discuss and share more ❤️

[homestuckreplay]

🎵 a little can of gravy in my life, a little can of mustard by my side 🎶

(page 664-678)

9/21/2009 Wheel Spin: Long Pesterlog Verdict: waywardVagabond Is A Great Chumhandle

9/22/2009 Wheel Spin: Captchalogue Lore Verdict: Captchalogue Technology Is So Years In The Past But Not Many

I love this funky little vagabond. Love how wayward he is. The adrenaline rush of getting a new character has really kicked in, and the new track Upward Movement (Dave Owns) is a perfect soundtrack for it.

Earlier in the act I felt like Dave was positioned as comic relief, but with their rooftop battles, they've totally swapped roles. Now John is cowering behind the bed, having his magic chest plundered, and looking over the wrong side of the roof for his giant foes - while Dave is skillfully gathering his items, acrobatically fucking pirouetting up to the roof, and being framed in the doorway in dramatic red silhouette. Either this is on several complex layers of irony or Dave is suddenly being portrayed as Cool For Real.

Dave's definitely in more danger than just from his bro. A building in the city straight up melts in the heat. Rose isn't even in the game yet and now I'm worried for Dave too.

A week ago I predicted that GG was about to get introduced in the comic, and since then we've had a silhouette reveal, a pesterlog with John where she only got more mysterious, and the honestly incredible and frustrating moment where it seems like she's about to be introduced with a psycheout - the way Dave was - before we get double psyched out with the Wayward Vagabond. I wonder if people on the MSPA forums had theories similar to mine. If they were submitting commands directed at GG or openly talking about expecting to see her soon, I can imagine a creator reacting to that with a twist for the audience, even if introducing GG was the original plan.

The Wayward Vagabond is such a fun character to introduce, and mess up all the patterns of character introductions. They've already got arms, don't get a list of interests, aren't in their bedroom, and most shockingly, don't have a fetch modus but instead pick things up with their hands. I guess that technology died along with the Earth, if that's where we are. WV is wrapped up in bandages that almost look like newspaper, perhaps having cast off a brighter and more colorful outfit earlier.

The nuclear symbol on GG's shirt is the same as the one on WV's fuel cell, which is apparently 'fueled by some type of nuclear reaction.' Absolutely calling it now that GG got her psychic powers through radiation poisoning somehow.

WV seems like the peaceful herbivore counterpart to the imps' violent carnivore. They're made of the same shiny carapace stuff and pointy fingers, but WV is slightly squished and has blunt teeth to the imps' pointy ones. This + the bar code that could differentiate between identical NPCs + their name reinforces to me that they're an escaped Sburb NPC. Their teeth are 'blunt like that of livestock' (p.672), with livestock being any animal raised for its labor and/or useful products, so these could be worker NPCs with jobs like shopkeeps, drivers or doctors.

But what exactly is this underground bunker fueling? Is this where the Sburb servers are hosted - as the screens can see players - and do they finally power down when the battery runs out? Would that lead to John reappearing on earth, or being trapped in the Medium forever? What does that even mean if the Medium isn't synced in time with earth?

[wandering-wolf23]

Yesterday, my 12 year old laptop died.

This machine was an XPS laptop. It was in perfect working order up until the motherboard decided to die. I've swapped keyboards, screens, batteries, and a track pad on this thing, all with the help of YouTube. I actually wanted to get this machine repaired until I learned it would be about 3 grand for a repair that might work. There would be no guarantee and it would be hard finding someone willing to work on a computer that old.

I'm paying someone for data recovery because he can do it better and quicker. When that's done and I have the hard drive, I'm going to donate my old XPS. It can still be repaired if you have the right part and enough time. People do. I'm donating it to a program that takes old computers like these, fixes them, and gives them to low income students. This computer will probably last another 5 years (or more). Parts for it are easily purchased on Amazon.

My new computer is coming today. It's the same build, just slightly newer. It will last me another 12 years I hope. I will repair it as needed. Parts are easily available on Amazon. It will do everything I need it to and, when it's time, I'll swap it all over to a new computer from that same series.

Being able to repair my own machines has made me an XPS user for life. It allows me to save money and cut down on e-waste. So many people are stunned that my old computer was 12 (the one I had before this was 15 before it failed). We are so used to a society with disposable technology that it's genuinely shocking to people when someone says they fixed their own laptop.

But why should people try? So many laptops are made so you can't just unscrew and pop the back off. So many computers are made to fail after two, three, or four years. So many computers are made to force you to buy a new one for whatever capitalist bullshit reason.

I'll gladly pay extra for right to repair and a solid build with easily available replacement parts. That's what's important to me.