#speed switch sensor

[kalixora]

Bounty pt 3

It had been close to a year since you joined the Autobots, but you rarely engaged in combat unless it was a life-threatening situation. Most of the time, you focused on training the other Autobots and your hounds, teaching them where to improve and honing their skills.

Finally, a critical mission arrived, and Optimus called you for backup against Megatron. You and your hounds swiftly passed through the ground bridge, arriving at the battlefield ahead.

“Sick ’em,” you commanded in Cybertronian, your hounds responding instantly by rushing towards the battlefield. You followed closely behind them, switching your servo to a cannon and narrowing one optic as you focused your aim from a distance, targeting whomever was your vision.

Optimus spotted you—again. His optics flicked in your direction, a brief glance amidst the chaos of the battlefield. But it wasn’t the first time. His gaze had lingered more than once, always circling back to you as if he needed confirmation you were still standing.

You gritted your denta. Focus, Prime. Stop looking at me. He was supposed to be leading, fighting—not checking on you like some fragile protoform.

The sharp, gravelly laughter of Megatron sliced through the noise. Your sensors twitched at the sound, locking onto his massive frame as he charged toward Optimus with terrifying force and speed, like a living missile of rage and war.

The ground trembled with the impact as the two titans clashed, brutal blow after brutal blow. Megatron didn’t let up, pounding relentlessly until Optimus staggered backward, boots scraping the rocky incline. His footing faltered.

“SCRAP—OPTIMUS!” Smokescreen’s shout broke your focus as a flash of blue light burst from his blaster. You turned just in time to see it veer off course—direct hit. The bolt slammed into the side of Optimus’s helmet, sparks flying.

Your spark leapt.

You didn’t think—just reacted. You raised your weapon and fired at Megatron, catching him in the side. It barely slowed him. But then—

A blur of fur and fury. Your hound, the largest of your companions, launched himself onto the Decepticon leader. Claws dug in, jaws snapping as Megatron reeled, crashing into Optimus. Your second shot hit its mark just as they collided, the explosion blasting them both off the ledge.

The terrain groaned. Then crumbled.

The rockface split beneath them, a jagged maw opening up as both warlords—and your hound—plummeted into the shadowed drop below.

Your optics widened. “No—” The word tore from your throat before you were even aware of running.

You sprinted, but Bulkhead tackled you mid-stride, slamming you to the ground. Bumblebee grabbed your arm, holding fast as you writhed beneath them.

“Get off me!” you growled, struggling. “Move!”

But they didn’t.

“It’s too risky,” Bumblebee beeped, his tones strained with panic and restraint.

You glared at them, fury in your optics. “He went down there with them. I have to go!”

Bulkhead’s voice was low, almost apologetic. “And if you go down too, we might lose you.”

The silence that followed was deafening—punctuated only by the distant crashing of falling stone and the haunting echo of the fight lost to the chasm.

⸻

“Lose me?” you scoffed, voice laced with bitter disbelief. “Bulkhead, the war has your sensors scrambled. I will stand with you, yes—but never beside you.”

He froze, expression faltering just for a second. That line cut deeper than your blaster ever could.

“That’s a load of scrap,” he muttered under his breath, barely audible over the hum of static in the comms.

You turned your optics sharply. “Pardon?” your tone sharp as serrated steel. “Speak louder, Autobot.”

Bulkhead’s fist clenched. “That’s a load of SCRAP!” he snapped, voice rising with the weight of everything he couldn’t say until now. “You think you’re the only one who cares? You think you’re the only one who’s lost someone? You act like you’re above all of us—but we bleed too! We fight too!”

Your chassis heaved with restrained rage, but there was a flicker—just a flicker—of something else behind your optics.

“You hold onto that superiority like it’s armor,” Bulkhead continued, breathing heavy, “but all it’s doing is isolating you. We’re not your enemy. We never were.”

Bumblebee’s helm turned back and forth between you both, the tension almost too thick to bear.

You swallowed hard, but your voice came out low, sharp. “I don’t need allies who hesitate. My hound could be dead. Optimus could be dead.”

“You think we don’t know that?” Bulkhead hissed. “You think we don’t feel that weight too? But rushing into a pit blindly doesn’t save anyone—it just gives the Decepticons another corpse to throw on the fire.”

You pushed yourself halfway up, eyes narrowing. “You think this is about you? About your war?” you spat. “I don’t give a damn about your Autobot cause—or Megatron’s chaos. I never have.”

Your voice lowered, fiercer now, raw. “I fight for them. My hounds. The only ones who never lied to me. Never used me. Not like this scrapheap war between you and them.”

Bulkhead opened his mouth, but you cut him off.

“I raised them with my own hands. Pulled them out of scrap piles, oil-starved and spark-flickering. You? You had teams. Bases. Brothers. I had silence and rust and them. And now one of them is down there—maybe dying—because I trusted someone outside of them.”

Your optics flicked, the rage cracking—revealing something else.

“Because he told me there was more,” you admitted, just above a whisper. “That I didn’t have to do this alone. That maybe… maybe there was a place for me beyond the hunter I was built to be.”

Bumblebee shifted, quieting, watching you carefully.

You exhaled, heavy and bitter. “And now I don’t even know if I’ll ever get the chance to tell him that I believed him.”

Bulkhead looked at you differently now. Not as an outsider. Not as a threat. But as someone on the edge of loss. Just like them.

“Then we go after them,” he said quietly, stepping back. “But together.”

—

Below the cliff…

The world had gone silent.

Dust hung thick in the air, illuminated by the flickering embers of stray energon and fractured terrain. A groan rumbled low through the ravine as shifting metal stirred from the wreckage.

Optimus lay half-buried beneath a fallen slab of rock, energon dripping slowly from a tear in his side. His optics flickered—dim, but active. Systems struggling to stabilize.

Across from him, Megatron had fared worse. Smoke curled from the torn plating of his chest, his cannon sparking violently from the impact. But even now, even wounded, his optics burned red.

Between them… was your hound.

Your largest and most loyal beast, his massive form panting with strain as he tried to rise. One leg was bent wrong, crushed beneath fallen stone. But his eyes—bright and unwavering—remained locked on Optimus.

A low growl rumbled from his throat as he stood, protecting the Prime.

Optimus stirred, trying to rise, hand pressed to the wound on his side. “Easy,” he rasped to the hound, voice weak but steady. “You’ve done enough.”

The hound didn’t budge. He stayed between the two leaders, growling low every time Megatron twitched.

Megatron spat a glob of energon to the side. “Still clinging to your pets, Prime?” he sneered, his voice ragged. “How… sentimental.”

But the hound barked sharply—loud, fierce. A warning.

Optimus grunted as he pulled himself upright, plating scraped and dented, energon still leaking from his side. His optics locked on Megatron—worn, weathered… but not defeated.

The hound stayed rooted in place, lips curled, stance ready to lunge if needed.

Megatron shifted, gears grinding as he propped himself against a shattered boulder. “Don’t waste your breath, Prime,” he spat. “I didn’t come here for teamwork.”

Optimus didn’t flinch.

“If we want to make it out of this place,” he said, voice heavy but resolute, “we need to do it together, Megatron.”

The air held still, crackling with silence.

Megatron stared at him, optics unreadable.

“Together?” he repeated with venom. “You’d stand beside me now—after everything?”

Optimus nodded once, his expression unchanging. “Not as allies. Not as enemies. But as survivors. For now.”

Megatron’s optics narrowed. He looked at the hound still guarding Optimus, then up at the rim of the cliff where your shadow had just appeared—fury in your stride, weapon ready, eyes only on your hound.

The Decepticon warlord chuckled darkly, resting his head back against the stone.

“This day grows more absurd by the minute.”

Crumbling edge of the ravine just as Megatron finished his sneer. You didn’t wait. The second your optics locked onto your hound—wounded, growling, standing guard—you jumped.

Bulkhead shouted behind you. Bumblebee beeped in alarm.

But you were already falling.

You hit the ground hard, rolling over shattered stone before landing in a crouch, blaster drawn, eyes locked on Megatron. Your hound turned, limping toward you with a pitiful whine that shattered the fire behind your eyes.

“Easy, girl,” you murmured, rushing to your wounded hound, wrapping an arm around her thick neck. You looked her over, hands shaking. “You stubborn scrap-eater. You held your ground.”

The hound whined again and nuzzled your side, panting.

Optimus watched you silently, one hand pressed to his wound. He made no move—just looked at you. That same way he always did. Not like a soldier. Not like a Prime.

But like he cared.

“Optimus,” you snapped without looking at him, voice hard. “Are you functional?”

“I will manage,” he replied quietly.

Your eyes flicked to Megatron, who was smirking despite the scorch across his chest.

“Oh good,” you growled. “Then you can both tell me why you had to drag my hound into this.”

Megatron laughed—low and hoarse. “He threw himself in. Loyal little monster.”

You stood slowly, placing yourself fully between the Decepticon and your hound. “Megatron. You’ve seen, better days. Allow me to put you out of your misery now.”

Optimus raised a hand—not to stop you, but to speak.

“There is no point in further bloodshed,” he said. “We need to get out of here before this place buries us.”

You exhaled through your nose, eyes still burning.

“I’m not here for your cause, Prime,” you muttered. “I’m not here for his either. I came for her.” You motioned to your hound. “And maybe I came for you too.”

Optimus looked at you then—not with judgment. But with something gentler. Something that made you want to look away and hold eye contact all at once.

“I know,” he said softly.

You glanced at the shifting rocks overhead. “Then let’s move. Before the whole mountain decides to finish what you two started.”

The climb out was rough—stone crumbled underfoot, and the incline was steep, but none of it mattered. Not with your hound limping beside you and the weight of everything unsaid pressing harder than the terrain.

Bulkhead and Bumblebee met you halfway down the ledge, helping to secure a makeshift line to lift Megatron—unconscious now—and ease him toward a neutral drop zone. The truce held, fragile and temporary. But it held.

You paused partway up the path, optics scanning the injured Prime just a few paces behind. He was silent, focused. But you knew he was hurting—more than just the visible wounds.

You waited until it was just the two of you, with the others ahead tending to your hound and clearing the last section of debris.

“I didn’t ask for this,” you said quietly, still facing the rocks ahead.

Optimus’s voice came gently behind you. “Neither did I.”

You turned slightly, just enough to catch his gaze. “I’m not one of your Autobots. I never was. You know that.”

“I do.”

“I was fine on my own. Me, my hounds. I didn’t need your missions. Your cause. Your speeches.” Your voice cracked slightly—just enough to betray you.

He said nothing.

“I didn’t need… anyone.” You let the words hang in the air, bitter on your tongue. “But then you looked at me like I was worth saving. Like I was… more than a weapon.”

Optimus’s voice dipped lower, calm and honest. “Because you do.”

“Why?” you asked, almost desperately. “Why do you care? I’ve shot at your soldiers. I’ve walked away when I could’ve helped. I’ve made it very clear I’m not one of you.”

“Because I see you,” he said, stepping closer. “Not the bounty hunter. Not the threat. You. The one who chose compassion in a world that taught you not to. The one who fights like she’s alone, but still puts herself between danger and those she loves.”

You didn’t realize you were holding your breath.

“Even when you push others away,” he added, “you’re still fighting for something bigger than yourself. You just haven’t let yourself admit it yet.”

Your hands clenched at your sides. You wanted to refute him. Wanted to push him away again. But the words didn’t come.

Because deep down… you knew he was right.

“I’ve been alone a long time, Prime,” you whispered, barely audible. “It’s safer that way.”

“I know,” he said, and his voice softened like something precious breaking open. “But you don’t have to be anymore.”

Your hound pressed her head gently against your leg again, and you blinked back something you hadn’t felt in a long time.

Warmth.

Not just survival. Not duty. But family. Another kind of family,

And this time, you didn’t pull away.

“I’m not joining your war,” you said, voice steady but quiet. His servo extended to yours—quiet, steady, open.

You stared at it.

The metal was worn, scratched from battle and time, streaked with dried energon and dust. Not the hand of a myth. Not some perfect symbol of hope.

Just a mech who had seen too much. Lost too much. Survived it anyway.

Your gaze lifted to his optics. They weren’t blazing with command or conviction like they were in battle. They were calm. Soft. Patient.

He didn’t pressure you.

He just… waited.

Your hand hovered in the space between you, uncertainty rattling your spark. You didn’t do this. You didn’t reach. You survived. You endured. You trusted only the things you raised with your own hands—your hounds, your weapons, your instincts.

But something about this…

Something about him..

You slowly placed your servo into his.

His digits closed around yours—gentle, but solid. The contact was warm. Not physically, maybe, but it felt warm. Grounding. Steady in a way the world rarely was.

And just for a second… you let yourself feel it.

Not weakness.

Not surrender.

Just connection.

He looked at you, optics searching yours.

“You are not defined by what you’ve walked away from,” Optimus said, his voice low. “You are defined by what you choose to walk toward.”

Your grip tightened, just slightly. “Then maybe… maybe I’ll walk a little further with you.”

A flicker of something—relief?—moved behind his gaze.

You stood in silence for a moment, together. No longer enemies. Not quite allies. But something that mattered more.

[ya-zz]

Ramattra x Reader

Uhhh, happy new year I guess. Have some angst to start the year off right?? This was supposed to be a drabble but uh... yeah no... I got a lil carried away as per usual. Enjoy, or don't, I won't hold it against you. Word Count: 1053

His systems had been on the fritz for the last few days, his fingers twitching at his sides, garbled static in silence and his vocaliser cutting off whenever he spoke. Ramattra's system provided errors each and every day, his mind reeling with red alerts and dangers, coolant unable to push through at the speed it needed and his fans would stop and start without warning.

He needed an upgrade, but trying to get them for his model was hard, almost impossible. The only way to get parts was to find an old R-7000 unit and take them apart - if only they weren't seized by the government after the uprising...

For as long as he knew, he was the only R-7000 unit left roaming freely - to an extent.

He kept what he could away from you, the parts he could actually hide were hidden from you. Whenever you commented on the static or the stutter in his voice, he'd pass it off a bad charge or that he was still waiting a spare to arrive through "completely legal" routes.

Time had passed and he was still in pain, but it was getting worse. Most nights he would sit at his desk with his hands clasped over his head as he silently screams, images of his past coming back to haunt him.

Struggling to pump coolant, struggling for cold air, his mind would shut off and his screams would die down until his static would fade into the silence.

A broken glass and a snapped holopad would lay on the floor the next morning when his systems rebooted. He hadn't realised that he was still moving during his shut down, his anger had spiked before he collapsed back down onto the chair... and that worried him.

He was losing control.

Ramattra kept his distance from you, isolating himself within his office in the shared apartment. Whenever he heard you knock on the door, he'd hide away in the shadows, fearing that if you were to enter, that you would hate him for the things he had done.

He admired your consistency, but when you stood at his door one afternoon, hand raised, he waited.

But no knock came. He stared at the door, watching you through the heat sensor within his optics. He waited as you stood there before walking away and he saw the weight that had been building up on your shoulders.

All this time, all the secrecy, he had been hurting you without realising it. It wouldn't be long until you packed up and left and he hoped to the Iris that you wouldn't leave him, not yet.

As the days went by and the tension only grew, his mind was crumbling. He was breaking down and there wasn't much else he could do.

Meanwhile, you were just living your days as if he was just a stranger in the apartment. You heard the clattering of tools each night, the muttering as you passed the door. Some nights whilst you tried to sleep, you would hear his door open and part of you hoped that he would come crawl back into bed with you, but that never happened.

Ramattra didn't want to hurt you. If his mind continued to break, if his hands kept twitching, he did not want you to be on the other end of that.

But when you had entered his office one night, placing a blanket over his shoulders, his mind switched back on but his vision was black. He had no control over his body.

There was no warning, there was no sound. He stands from his seat, giving you no time to react before his hands wrap around your neck.

Wide eyes stare back at him, your hands coming up to try and pry him away but his grip doesn't relent, squeezing tighter as static rises.

Between the garbled mess of static and your own sputtering and crying, you can just pick out his words.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up-" Over and over and over.

Ramattra doesn't let go despite your attempts at speaking to him. He can't hear you, his mind reeling, replaying trauma and nightmares over and under errors that never seemed to go away.

Only when something snaps, when your body finally stops struggling, does he finally let go, letting your body drop to the floor before he collapses himself beside you.

When he finally reboots minutes later and he sees your body laying next to him, the blood that was dripping from your nose staining your lips, he scrambles back against the wall but no matter what he seems to do, he can't remember how or why.

His chest rises and falls quickly, his fans whirring loudly and he panics. His hands tremble, his systems bringing warnings over your body.

If only he could remember the last few hours, if only he could turn back time; you wouldn't be laying there lifeless on his office floor.

He kneels forward, bringing a hand up to caress your cheek, thumb brushing just under your eye as he wipes away the drying tear. You're going cold. There was no bringing you back.

There's no bringing you back.

Ramattra screams, this time the static breaking as his vocaliser tries to keep up with the frequency. He tries to think but with his mind on the verge of collapsing, nothing but the image of your body floods his vision.

His hands move forward, pulling your body close to his chest as he mutters apologies over and over in hopes that something, anything, could bring you back, but your heart had stopped.

There's no bringing you back.

The omnic doesn't know what to do so he sits there with you in his arms, his back pressed against the wall and oil leaking down his faceplate.

He regrets his actions, he should've left, he should've fixed this before it got out of hand... but he didn't...

He continues to tremble, his optics scanning over your features, praying to the Iris that there was something he could do but the damage has already been done. Ramattra cries for the first time, his emotions finally breaking through.

Regret. Guilt.

It all builds up and there was nowhere to go.

You're not coming back and he only has himself to blame.

—

KOFI

[seat-safety-switch]

When someone tells you that they put their ducks in a row, don't listen to them. Waterfowl, and ducks in particular, are nearly impossible to align. Even if you only have two ducks – which is hardly anything to brag about – the axis formed by placing them side by side will last about five minutes before they're running off to eat snails in your yard.

Hello, I'm Seat Safety Switch, and this is Cosmos. We found the rights to the show at a garage sale. Even though the owner tried to chase us down on foot to get them back when he realized what happened, it turns out that Medium-Sized Mike's wheezing 3-speed-auto first-gen Dodge Neon was still much faster than a middle-aged dude wearing Vibrams who didn't pay enough attention to ominous folders marked "PBS Legal" before selling them for fifty cents.

In this, our spaceship of the imagination, we will soon visit: ducks. Humanity has long lived aside these quacking nightmares, but we don't know what makes them tick. Even accomplished biologists and veterinarians have looked inside them and written what I am assured is the equivalent to a Haynes manual, but we still don't know why ducks do what they do. The only thing we do know? Motherfuckers hate being in rows.

Some think that it's because of the magnetic sensors in their bills, which also force them into sleep mode when you accidentally bump them against the phone in your pocket when you're trying to steal their bread from the pond. Others believe that the ducks are merely more understanding than most animals of their true lack of purpose in the disordered chaos of the universe. Perhaps we'll never know. The one thing we do know is that anyone who tells you that they cleaned their garage up is a total liar. I guarantee you that if you go over there right now, and open up any of their cupboards, a ton of hoarded tools and paint will fall out. Ducks. Don't trust 'em.

[boxboxblog]

How Do F1 Cars Work?: Braking, Cooling, Sensors

I never know how to start these posts. Let's dive in.

Braking and Cooling

Brakes are an incredibly important part of any car, but most especially in F1. With the speed and power the cars have a sensitive, sturdy, and strong braking system must exist. In the case of modern cars, F1 uses an extremely efficient and durable carbon-carbon disc brake system. This allows the car to screech to a halt in a split-second, and allows drivers to use their speedy reaction times to the best of their ability. When the driver steps on the brake pedal, it compresses two master brake cylinders, one for the front wheels and one for the rear, which generate fluid pressure.

For the front tires, the fluid pressure is delivered directly to the front brake calipers (part that houses brake pads and pistons). Inside each caliper, six pistons clamp pads against the disc and it is this friction that slows the car down. For the rear tires it is a bit different.

At the rear, the car can brake by three separate sources: friction from the brakes, resistance from the spinning engine (engine braking) and electrical braking that results from harvesting energy from the MGU-K . Although the driver can adjust each of these on his steering wheel, when he presses the brake pedal, the three systems work together via the Brake By Wire (BBW) system.

When the driver presses the pedal, the fluid pressure generated in the rear braking circuit is picked up by an electronic pressure sensor. The signal from this sensor represents the overall rear braking demand from the driver and is passed to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) where it is turned into a series of commands to brake the rear of the car. The ECU distributes its efforts to the three systems according to the the set up of the car and this is altered by the way that the driver has adjusted the switch settings on the steering wheel. This is what teams mean when they say changing the setting on the car.

Going hand-in-hand with braking, cooling is another important part of the car, especially for brakes. Basically, there is a series of systems that cools the power unit, brakes, and electronics. If the car overheats, it can lead to damage and lack of performance. There are a few ways to cool. Radiators cool the engine and hybrid system. Intercooler cools the air that the turbocharger compresses before it enters the engine. Brake cooling ducts bring air to the brakes in order to stop them from overheating.

2. Electronics and Sensors

So i'm sure many of you have looked at the steering wheel and been baffled that this thing that looks like a Nintendo Switch steers that car. The F1 steering wheel is incredibly complex and has a variety of buttons, screens, and knobs. For example, on the steering wheel is an area for strat settings, where their plans for all eventualities are mapped out. There is also a rotary knob for MGU-K settings, where drivers can switch around when faced with possible failures. The menu allows drivers control over every setting in the car. Beyond that there is the pit lane speed button, gear change buttons, race start button, energy recovery button, and brake balance knob, among others. It really tells you how much drivers do in a race beyond racing.

Other than the steering wheel, there is also the telemetry, over 300 sensors which gathers race data and sends it back to engineers on the pit wall. This way, engineers can either remotely alter settings and strat, or advise the driver on what to do.  F1 uses a customized mesh wireless network system based on WiMax 802.16 at each racetrack. The sensors record data, which is then temporarily stored in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which controls functions like engine performance and power steering. That sensor data then travels wirelessly to a centralized location managed by F1. F1 then sends the data to the relevant team, of course very securely. Teams then use a system called Advanced Telemetry Linked Acquisition System (ATLAS) to view and analyze sensor data.

The final pretty important electronic devices on an F1 car is the many many cameras. The most recognizable camera is found in the "T" structure that sits atop of every F1 car. It gives viewers that top-down, forward facing view used often by broadcasters. this is also how viewers often distinguish between cars of the same team. One driver will have a yellow camera, the other has black. The two nose cameras provides a view of the front wing and low circuit. The 360 camera is on top of the chassis and provides a wide view of the race track, and everything else around the car. The driver facing camera is pointed directly at the driver and helps keep track of how they are doing, and in the event of the crash helps marshals and rescuers figure out the best way to help. The two rear cameras are settled on a rear facing structure, and allows the pit wall to see what is going on directly behind the driver and advise. Beyond these ones, drivers also have cameras inside their helmets, showing exactly what they see. Can't get away with much in an F1 car.

3. How They Work Together

So, we now know the basics of most parts of the car. But these parts all must work together before that car will go anywhere. How do they do it?

One of the more obvious relationships is between aerodynamics and power. The better the aerodynamics, the more usable the power is. They also work in tandem around different parts of the track. On corners the aerodynamics keep the car stable while the power peters off. On straights the power keeps the car boosted. Suspension and tires are also very connected. It is the suspension that keeps the tires on the ground. A good suspension will also mean that the tires are easier to manage, something any driver knows is highly important. Brakes and ERS are also connected because the brakes help recover ERS, pretty simply. Also the cooling system works with most of teh car, cooling engine, tires, and brakes. The biggest connection is probably between all the sensors on the car. They are connected to every single part, and even a small bit of damage can destroy them. The non-sensor components have to accommodate for the sensors and work perfectly with them in order for proper data to be sent back.

The ultimate goal of engineers is to create a car that works in harmony all together. The integration of the engine to the chassis is highly important. There have been cars that the parts were fantastic on their own, but the minute they were put together stopped working completely. Its why teams that produce their own engines have such a leg up over non-manufacturers. Its also why sometimes you will see a car that is running poorly until one small thing is changed, and then suddenly its brand new. Car harmony really is terribly important.

Alright, done! While I covered most of the important stuff, as always if there is any particular part of the car anyone wants me to dive deeper into, please let me know.

Cheers,

-B

[grogumaximus]

As a performance engineer, he is the man who keeps an eye on all the data in a complex world like Formula 1 and leaves no stone unturned to see how to get even more speed out of the RB20. “For example, I can see how the tires behave individually, how high the temperature of the brakes is and how the hybrid systems of the engine behave,” says Hart in the Red Bull hospitality area.

Together with Lambiase, Michael Manning and David Mart, he is part of the regular group of engineers around world champion Verstappen.

“And GP is the one who talks to Max during sessions, so he has to filter all our information and assess what he finds relevant to pass on to Max. And then as a driver he now has an enormous library of experience. Max is ultimately the best sensor. He senses what he is up against and can make it very clear whether he wants to try something different and what exactly. He is very direct and knows what he wants. There is no room for politics or bullshit.”

In order to be able to empathize with Lambiase's work, Hart occasionally takes his position as race engineer, as was the case on Friday during both training sessions in Imola. Hart explains how a weekend is broadly divided.

“First we have to make sure that the car behaves as we expected. Then we look at how we can get more out of the speed over one lap. Where do we lose time in the bends, does Max feel limited somewhere at the beginning or at the end of such a bend? We then look at the longer runs and how we can protect ourselves against possible dangers.”

With the help of his engineer, a driver can adjust the necessary things on his steering wheel, for example when it comes to the brake balance or the differential. As far as Verstappen and Red Bull are concerned, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last year is a good example of this. For Verstappen, that race in Baku was the turning point in the season.

“In those first four races, Checo (teammate Sergio Pérez, ed.) and Max were close together. But in terms of setup and the tools he uses, Max has gone in a completely different direction since that race in Baku. He has twelve so-called switch positions that he can use. He tested many of them in Baku, while normally you use two or three in a weekend. Max learned a lot then, and so did we."

Since that race in Baku, more than a year ago, Verstappen has not won only three races. While the Dutchman himself is almost never completely satisfied with how a race weekend is going, this also appears to apply to his engineers.

“Coincidentally, we were still talking about it together on Thursday evening. We as engineers are a bit like the goalkeepers in football. It's only when we make a big mistake that it becomes noticeable. We have to keep pushing to see if we can improve anything in areas where we are not yet performing optimally. And even if we are faster than the rest in every corner, we are still not satisfied and we look at where we have left something behind. Everything worked great in China, and then in Miami with the same car we didn't have the speed. And then afterwards you can understand so well why that is, here in Imola there is a completely different asphalt, the conditions are different and the tire compounds are also different.”

Given the immense pressure and expectations, Hart considers Verstappen's victory in 2021 in front of his own audience in Zandvoort as his personal highlight. The Englishman started working as Alex Albon's performance engineer in 2020 before being transferred to Verstappen the following year.

“With Alex we mainly looked at how we could close the gap with Max with the same material. With Max you look less at the other side of the garage. His experience, not only in Formula 1 but also with other cars, helps us. Actually, after a racing weekend I am also a kind of translator. In the debrief Max tells us what his limitations were. Drivers speak their own language. We then look at his words with the people in the factory in combination with the collected data.”

And yes, Verstappen may be the most important sensor, but he also sometimes has to rely on the information from his engineers on the pit wall and in the garage. They now have the complete overview.

“Especially in races where we play the longer game ,” says Hart. “We can see what the lap times of the other drivers are and how the different tires are worn. For example, if we say that Max needs to change something on his handlebars, he may well think: the balance is now just right. But then we have to prepare for later in the race. If you wait until the front tires are on, you will be too late. We always have to think one step ahead, otherwise you go too slowly.”

[usafphantom2]

The SR-71 Detection of Missile Lock-On

I was reading through an old Air and Space magazine article from 2015 where they interviewed Jerry Crew. He was an RSO that was trained in the simulator and in the classroom by my father Richard” Butch “Sheffield. Dad trained most of the RSO‘s while he was also still flying the SR-71. He was a very busy man.

When a missile locks onto an SR-71, the aircraft's systems, including radar warning receivers, detect the threat. The Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO), seated in the back, plays a crucial role in monitoring these systems, as mentioned in National Air and Space Museum SR-71 page. The SR-71 was equipped with electronic countermeasures (ECM) like the AN/ALQ-131, which could jam radar signals, as noted in The National Interest SR-71 countermeasures article. This detection allows the crew to respond before the missile can effectively engage. Jerry said in the article that on his first mission over North Vietnam, July 26, 1968. His pilot was Tony Bevacqua.

Turning inbound from our first sensor run, I noticed the “R” light on my electronic counter. Measure panel was illuminated a North Vietnam SAM site was tracking us on its radar. What I didn’t expect was illumination of the “M” light followed closely by the “L” light!

This meant that the North Vietnam had actually fired one or more SAMs at us.

This news couldn’t have occurred at a worse time. We had just started our sensor take and evasive action was not an option.

Tony asked how long ago was it launched and I replied about five seconds. The time of the missile launch was important. We were told countless times by our intelligence expert that the SA – 2 missile total flight time was only 58 seconds in other words if nothing happened by then we were probably safe! My immediate duty was to turn off the ECM jammer. The purpose of our jammer was confused the missile prior to launch. Tony asked again how long ago did the missile launch Tony asked two more times by then the sensor run and the risk to our Blackbird was over !

Wow! This was my Dad‘s job for eight years. He told me every time he went up in the Blackbird. It was thrilling, but he never mentioned that it could be this scary.

Evasive Action: Acceleration and Speed

The standard evasive action, as described in Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was to accelerate further, leveraging the SR-71's ability to reach speeds over 2,000 mph (Mach 3.2). This speed, combined with its high altitude, made it nearly impossible for missiles of the era to catch up. The aircraft's design, with Pratt & Whitney J58 engines, allowed it to sustain these speeds, as detailed in Smithsonian Institution SR-71 page.

Why Speed and Altitude Worked

Missiles like the Soviet SA-2 and SA-5 had limited speed and altitude capabilities compared to the SR-71. As noted in Coffee or Die SR-71 outrunning missiles, by the time a SAM could be launched and reach the SR-71's altitude, the aircraft was often already out of range. The SR-71's low radar cross-section, enhanced by radar-absorbent iron-ferrite paint on its chines, further reduced detection time, as mentioned in The National Interest SR-71 countermeasures article. This combination gave SAM sites a very short window to acquire and track the aircraft, often too brief to launch effectively.

Role of Electronic Countermeasures

While speed was the primary defense, ECM played a supporting role. The AN/ALQ-131 system could jam acquisition and targeting radar. If a missile was launched, the RSO might switch off the ECM to prevent the missile from homing, relying instead on acceleration. This strategy was crucial during missions where multiple SAM sites were active, as seen in accounts from Air Zoo SR-71 Spy-Posium. This is some of the information that the new.GROK found

Linda Sheffield

@Habubrats via X

[rhiannswork]

Hello ! I hope you're well! request for tasm!peter parker x reader :)

It's nighttime and Reader has a nightmare about her own death or something, and wakes up in a panic. Reader decides to go to her boyfriend Peter's even though he's not home, to at least feel safe in his bed. She goes back to sleep at his place. And some time later there's a fire or something at her place, and Peter panics when he hears that her building is on fire. Hours later he goes home depressed and dejected that he hasn't seen her, doesn't know if she's safe. And he sees her on his bed.

Sorry if this is too precise ahah feel free to change it to your liking!

safe and sound || p. parker ( tasm )

an: i loved this request so much. this fic might seem rushed tho, so sorry!!!!

warnings: nightmare, burning building, breaking and entering ??, umm anxiety, blood. lmk if i missed smth

it was the middle of the night, you woke up on the couch. you don’t remember falling asleep there but then again, you were ready to fall asleep anywhere really once you gotten home from work.

you sluggishly walked back into your room, your eyes were steadily adjusting to the darkness. you had noticed someone laying in your bed, somebody who looked just like you.

your breath hitched, as you quickly turned the light on. they were completely lifeless, blood slowly pouring from their mouth. you eyed a big stain of blood on the duvet. you walked over, taking a closer look.

it was you, that was you lying in that bed. how could that be possible? you didn’t get that much time to dwell on the thought as you had been grabbed by your hair.

you took a glance at your vanity mirror as you say a tall, red, glowing figure before being flung into a corner. the figure began to grow brighter until it was red.

you felt suffocated at this moment, you didn’t know what to do. you couldn’t really move, all you could do is lay there and feel life leave your body to become vacant.

that’s when you shot up out of bed, gasping for air. you looked around your room, no glowing figure, no blood… must’ve been a nightmare.

you had a bad feeling in your gut, you didn’t want to go back to sleep, not like you could anyway. you grabbed your phone from the ground, only to realize that you phone was dead.

you got out of bed and ran over to the light switch, turning it on quicker than the actual speed of light. you packed an overnight bag, you put your toiletries in a dark blue jansport bag. along with a casual outfit.

you went to go grab your keychain, which held peters house keys on it. you decided to go there, so he could comfort you at this hour. to be honest, he was the only one that you wanted to be comforted by.

you had driven far from your apartment, going to peters home. you passed by a couple of fire trucks headed the opposite way, not paying any mind. you couldn’t take your mind off the nightmare.

you finally made it to peters home, the garage lights began beaming as the sensors spotted you. you crept up to the door and unlocked it.

the house was clean and very perfected, you were guessing aunt may had just dropped by. she cleans up every time she visits. you removed your shoes before walking any further into the house.

“peter?” you whispered, walking to the back, hoping you hear some sort of response. “peter.” you spoke sternly.

no response.

you went to his room, the first thing you noticed was peter not being there. the window was opened slightly, the cool midnight air flowing throughout the room.

nonetheless, you removed your hoodie and laid the packed bag on the floor. you laid down in the bed, picking up the faint cologne on the pillows. it didn’t take you long to fall asleep, even without peter, the comfort of his room and bedding soothed you.

meanwhile, peter had been swinging to the opposite side of town. he had heard on the police radio that he kept on his nightstand. he carried the radio with you,

he got there as fast as he could, he spotted a crowd of people. he had began walking around, trying to find your beautiful eyes and yet he never met them.

‘it’s spider-man!’ ‘hey, it’s the bug boy!’ he nodded, making his way through. he webbed up to the balcony of the apartment building.

he didn’t pay attention to the fire slowly seeping through his suit. “y/n!” he yelled. “y/n?!” he yelled louder. he specifically went down to your level. “jesus christ…” he muttered, watching the floor practically come apart.

he felt the cracking under his own feet, he tried to speed his way through the building, rushing to saftey.

he was freaking out, he called you repeatedly. it went straight to voicemail every time. he couldn’t bare to swing his way home. he had to process the last twenty minutes. he had lost you, it felt like a piece of him was taken away.

after a while, he made it back home. he took off his suit as soon as entered his home. he needed to remove that restricting suit. it was all burned and completed with holes.

he stumbled his way to his bedroom in defeat. he didn’t know what to do. he just wanted to curl up in his bed, never to leave it again.

peter opened the door to his room, the darkness surrounding him. he looked toward his bed, he noticed the lump in the bed, a familiar one.

he slowly walked over to the bed, he saw the beautiful locks he thought he’d never see again. he felt the weight come off his shoulders, you were here, safe and sound.

he crawled into bed, like he intended to do minutes before, only this time, you would be found in his arms, held closely to his chest.

[things-about-cars-in-posts]

what do you like about cars?

I think you knew, upon asking this, that I could only ever have answered with either an ironic one-liner or a dozen-part novel. And unfortunately, this is already the second line, so novel it is. So then, without any further ado than the literal half year that’s gone by since this was asked, let's go.

1. Engineering matters

At the end of last year (aka when I started writing this, yikes) my dear old iPhone 6S moved on to a new home because it simply wasn't keeping up with me anymore. (And again, I was using an iPhone 6S in 2023. If I say a phone is too slow, it's too slow.) I had plenty of criteria for the replacement: a smallish screen not overboard on resolution, ideally a physical media control button and/or vibration toggle, repairability, a FUCKING AUX JACK... Something like the Sony Xperia 10, whose only real issue is marketing so trash you've only just now learned Sony never stopped making phones.

And yet...

This fancy wallpapers-sporting foldable is a Motorola RAZR 5G, a phone whose too-big screen already broke (though at the edge due to adhesive issues) and those who dared try warn repairing it will be as hard as phone repairs get. Why the fuck did I buy this? Well, because it has something more important than the aux jack, proper sizing, and good cameras: it made me go “That’s so cool!”, and when’s the last time a phone made you say that? It's the cusp of a new technology, and whether it becomes the future of phones, a future of phones, or just a weird footnote, it is an island of interesting in a sea of boring. And sadly, even this island is rapidly sinking. The drive for new form factors has already boiled down to the same two phones and their evolution is sinking into the usual millimetric proportion tweaking, camera rearranging, touchscreen expanding, case material switching, fingerprint sensor moving, and spec improvements not even manufacturers can come up with use cases for. I mean, seriously, how does the iPhone 15 differ from a software-updated iPhone X (which is apparently not pronounced "x", so I guess the iPhone Twitter)? Nothing is new. Nothing is tackled differently. The user experience does not differ. And why should it, when iPhone users will get a new one out of habit anyway and many are so tech illiterate moving a button could hospitalize them? Five generation newer and 150% faster are numbers you basically have to trust, because they don't make a difference that matters.

But in cars? 150% faster will matter alright. Even just looking at it. Cars are a visceral experience to even witness, let alone ride in or drive, and the frantic engineering pursuits for performance and overall capability actually have impactful real world implications beyond "some pockets will bulge 1mm less". And their engineering involves so many fields that there’s always a breakthrough going on somewhere - which leads to another reason their engineering is so interesting: there’s simply so much of it that anyone interested in engineering will find something for them, no matter their level or sector of expertise! Interested in mechanics? Well, obviously you’ll have a field day! Aerodynamics? Don't even get me started! Electronics? You're getting more goods by the year! It spread from engine management to safety assists to infotainment to ergonomic adjustments to even suspension and aerodynamics! Sound design? Even just working on the way engines sound is a profession of its own, let alone making these barrels of metal and glass propelling themselves at triple digit speeds through hundreds of explosions a second things you can comfortably have a conversation in - and that's not even mentioning horns and chimes! Hi-Fi? We’ve spent most of a century trying to get concert hall sound from a tiny tin can where everyone sits off-center and everything bumps and shakes around and you have maybe room for two components* a third the normal size and speakers can only be in a handful of places you wouldn’t want them which may well be the next room over**!

And this is just engineering.

*Like everything in the car world, there are exceptions to that

**For those unfamiliar, subwoofers, the speakers dedicated to, indeed, sub-bass, due to their frequent humongousness are often installed in the trunk.

[stevebattle]

ET-2 (1980) by Lour Control, Schaumberge, Illinois. "The ET-2 (Experimental Transmobile with 2 drive motors) consists of a three level frame powered by two separately driven wheels and balanced by a free caster. The lower level contains the drive motors and gearbox, a 32 amp-hour 12V motocycle battery, and two driver electronics boards. The upper levels are available for the installation of user equipment. … The ET-2 may be operated under computer control using only four TTL command lines. Each motor has two control bits, one to turn it on and another to set its direction (by a reversing relay). The driver boards provide the amplification necessary to convert from TTL logic levels to the 12 volt power for the motors and relays. Control of motor speed is obtained by varying the duty cycle (the percentage of time the bit is on) of a low frequency (10-20Hz) square wave signal applied to the motor's drive bit. … ET 2 provides a number of contact sensor switches that can easily be interfaced to the SUPERKIM. These contact sensors, equipped with metal "feelers," can be mounted around the base of the ET-2 to sense contact with an obstacle by means of a switch closure." – SUPERKIM Meets ET-2, Robotics Age, Fall 1980 & May/June 1981.

[oshlet]

Customised variant of the Lohan-Scott 'Dope' Light Mech. Modifications tend towards making it easier to repair in-field and being more robust overall: The large head unit which contains a laser has been switched for a smaller, better armoured replacement, and the forward camera has been removed entirely, with an analogue periscope in its place. Main armament is a 4-aperture converging laser rifle. For anti-armour combat, all four lasers fire simultaneously while for soft targets, they're instead ripple-fired to increase fire-rate. At the right shoulder sits a 2x5 grenade launcher loaded with 'Sink' munitions - air bursting grenades with a mixed payload of hot smoke and reflective strips, capable of confounding radar, visual and infrared sensors while also disrupting laser fire. The left shoulder is fitted with a high-frequency deflector shield, capable of redirecting lower mass, supersonic projectiles - namely cannon rounds or anti-tank missiles. The energy draw of such a system is immense, so it can only be activated for short periods. Furthermore, it has limits with regards to especially high-energy impacts like railguns and is utterly useless against lower-speed kinetics like melee weapons.

[stefanelectric]

Low Voltage Relays Explained: Types, Functions, and Applications

In the complex world of electrical systems, relays play a crucial role in ensuring safety, efficiency, and automation. Among these, low voltage relays stand out as versatile components that manage and protect circuits operating below 1000 volts. Whether in industrial automation, residential power distribution, or commercial infrastructure, these devices act as the nerve center of electrical control and protection.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down what low voltage relays are, explore their types, explain their functions, and highlight their diverse applications across industries.

What Are Low Voltage Relays?

A low voltage relay is an electrically operated switch that uses a small control voltage (typically below 1000V AC or DC) to switch larger electrical loads on and off. These relays act as intermediaries between control circuits and power circuits, providing isolation, control, and protection.

Unlike manual switches, relays automate the process of circuit management, responding to electrical signals, fault conditions, or system commands without human intervention.

Types of Low Voltage Relays

Low voltage relays come in several forms, each tailored to specific tasks within an electrical system. Here are the main types:

1. Electromechanical Relays (EMRs)

· Use a coil and a movable armature to open or close contacts.

· Provide physical isolation between input and output.

· Common in traditional control panels and basic automation.

2. Solid-State Relays (SSRs)

· Use semiconductors (like thyristors or triacs) instead of mechanical contacts.

· Offer silent operation, faster switching, and longer lifespan.

· Ideal for high-speed applications and environments requiring low maintenance.

3. Overload Relays

· Specifically designed to protect motors and equipment from sustained overcurrent.

· Available as thermal overload relays (using bimetallic strips) or electronic overload relays (using sensors and processors).

4. Time Delay Relays

Provide a deliberate time lag between the relay receiving a signal and switching.

Used in motor control circuits, lighting systems, and sequential operations.

5. Overcurrent and Short-Circuit Relays

· Detect and react to current exceeding preset thresholds.

· Essential for system protection against faults and overloads.

6. Voltage Monitoring Relays

· Monitor voltage levels and trip when voltages fall below or rise above safe limits.

· Protect sensitive devices from under voltage and overvoltage conditions.

Functions of Low Voltage Relays

Low voltage relays serve multiple vital functions in electrical systems:

1. Switching and Control

Relays control the opening and closing of power circuits in response to low voltage signals from controllers, timers, or sensors. This enables remote and automated control of large electrical loads.

2. Protection

Relays detect abnormal conditions like overloads, overcurrent, under voltage, and phase failures. When such conditions arise, they disconnect the affected circuit to prevent equipment damage or fire hazards.

3. Isolation

They electrically isolate control circuits (usually low voltage, low current) from power circuits (high voltage, high current), ensuring safety and reducing interference.

4. Signal Amplification

A small control signal (from a PLC, sensor, or microcontroller) can trigger a relay to switch much larger loads, effectively amplifying the control power.

5. Automation and Sequencing

In complex systems, relays help sequence operations by ensuring that processes occur in the correct order and at the right time intervals.

Applications of Low Voltage Relays

Low voltage relays are the backbone of automation and protection in various industries. Here are some key application areas:

Industrial Automation

· Control of motors, pumps, conveyor belts, and production lines.

· Use in programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and distributed control systems (DCS).

Power Distribution Systems

· Protect electrical panels from overload and short circuits.

· Monitor voltage and current levels in distribution boards.

Building Automation

· Lighting control systems.

· HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems.

· Elevator and escalator controls.

Renewable Energy Systems

· Manage and protect solar inverters, battery banks, and wind turbines.

· Automatically disconnect faulty sections to prevent system-wide failures.

Data Centers and IT Infrastructure

· Ensure stable power supply to servers and networking equipment.

· Protect sensitive electronics from voltage fluctuations.

Transportation

· Railways, metros, and automotive applications for control and safety circuits.

Home Appliances

· Found in washing machines, microwave ovens, and HVAC units to automate functions and provide protection.

Advantages of Using Low Voltage Relays

· Enhanced Safety: Isolate control and power circuits, reducing electrical shock risks.

· Automation Ready: Easily integrated into automated systems for smarter operation.

· Cost-Effective Protection: Safeguard expensive equipment from damage due to electrical faults.

· Versatile: Available in many forms to suit different voltage levels, currents, and response times.

· Reduced Maintenance: Especially with solid-state relays, which have no moving parts.

Future Trends: Smart Relays and IoT Integration

As industries move toward smart grids and Industry 4.0, low voltage relays are also evolving:

· Digital relays offer programmable settings, self-testing, and event recording.

· IoT-enabled relays can send status updates and alerts to centralized monitoring systems.

· Energy-efficient designs reduce power consumption while providing reliable protection.

Conclusion

Low voltage relays are indispensable in modern electrical engineering, seamlessly combining protection, control, and automation. From safeguarding your home appliances to managing the power in a sprawling industrial plant, these devices ensure that electrical systems run smoothly and safely.

Understanding the different types, functions, and applications of low voltage relays empowers system designers, engineers, and even DIY enthusiasts to build safer and more efficient electrical setups.

As technology advances, the role of these small but mighty devices will only grow, driving the future of safe, smart, and automated power systems.

[staringdownabarrel]

You know what other ship I think doesn't get enough credit? The Nebula-class. Lemme give you some reasons.

I think the only other canonical ship that has a similar amount of variants is the Miranda-class, but it came out a century earlier. I think at one point someone went through the copy and paste fleet from PIC's Et in Arcadia Ego, Pt. II and found the Inquiry-class had a pretty large number of variants in that fleet as well, so there could be a similar number there, too.

Still, the Nebula-class has a huge number of variants, especially given it doesn't ever get a very heavy focus. You know, the initially shown variants had the slackjaw deflector dish, and the Phoenix had the sensor pod while the Sutherland had the tactical pod. Later on in DS9, when they switched from physical models to CGI ones, they all had the oval deflector dish like the Galaxy-class had, and some of the ones in the far background of shots had a third nacelle as the superstructure.

So by default, it's a class that could be pretty easy to write stories around. You could have stuff where this particular ship is meant for this particular role but it's caught out because it's forced to do something else, or there could be some rarely talked about niche benefit to having this setup that's suddenly really useful.

There's also not really that many drawbacks to it, either. It probably has a pretty similar amount of internal space to the Galaxy-class. The saucer section and the engineering section are the same size, and while it doesn't have the neck, it does have the superstructure to make up for it.

Because of that, the Nebula- and Galaxy-classes probably have a pretty similar crew compliment. Memory Alpha says the Nebula's crew compliment is only 750, but to be honest, that seems kinda low for a ship that size? I know crew compliments get smaller as time goes on (the Intrepid-class is a similar size to the Constitution, but Voyager had a crew of 140-160 vs. the Enterprise's 203-430), but these are contemporary classes, and the Nebula-class may have come out earlier than the Galaxy.

I think the actual crew compliment probably would be more like 900 or so. I know in canon the Enterprise-D has 1,014 people onboard, but it's never really clear how many are civilians. 900-ish Starfleet officers seems like a good number because it divides evenly into three and four shifts (300 on duty at a time for a three shift rotation, 225 at a time for a four shift one), and it is known that not everyone onboard had a civilian family with them, too. You could explain away the difference by saying that a Nebula-class didn't have families onboard, or at least that this particular one didn't.

So while there are some benefits to the different variants, it'd be tempered by the fact that just about everything you'd want to do with a Galaxy-class is probably also possible with the Nebula. It'd have a lot of the same recreational facilities, a lot of the same scientific capabilities (and maybe more, with the sensor pod variant), and so on.

I think there'd still be some edge cases where maybe the standard sensors' resolution just isn't enough to do this one thing, or maybe because the top speed of a Nebula-class is just a little bit lower, they can't run from something. However, I think those would probably most be the edge cases.

The one drawback I can kinda see there being is that maybe it's more difficult for the saucer to separate because the superstructure is right there. I don't think it'd be impossible because most ships are designed to be able to do that, even if the Galaxy-class is the only one that's ever shown to do it. I think the actual trouble for the Nebula-class would be that most captains would only do it under extenuating circumstances because it's so difficult to put it back together afterwards or because of the danger of operating large objects in tight spaces like that.

I can see the original slackjaw deflector being a drawback too, given it was replaced. Maybe from an in-universe perspective, the problem was that it required a certain inconvenient power drainage, or that it couldn't change frequencies fast enough to deal with someone guessing the shield frequency or something like that. You don't see this style of deflector dish on other ships, so maybe there was some niche benefit to it but it just never performed as well as people at Utopia Planitia hoped it would.

So there's a lot of room where a ship of this class could be used to tell stories that just aren't possible with other ships, due to it having a unique configuration and possibly some unique capabilities, depending on the variant.

My other defense of the Nebula-class is that I just think it looks cool. I don't have a well reasoned defense of this except that when I first saw The Wounded, my initial response to seeing it was, "Yeah, that's a good starship right there." So I guess it got the little staringdownabarrel stamp of approval back then, and it still does now.

[toaster-boi]

mecha is inseparable from fighter jets. there's a reason mech operators are called pilots and hardly anything else.

strapped to a chair rigged to blast itself out of the machine at the pull of a lever. a control stick in each hand, feet slotted into yet more controls. screens and instruments covering the panel in front of you. a helmet displaying all sorts of information, from altitude, to speed, to weapon readouts onto a heavily tinted visor.

a hose connecting your mouth to an oxygen supply with just enough room for a microphone. a full-body suit meant to keep you from passing out during maneuvers and from getting radiation sickness from the altitude you're fighting at.

dancing with death at unfathomable speeds with the most advanced weapons systems humanity can produce.

but one thing i haven't seen from fighter jets is mechs piloted by two people, who each control different systems.

there's "drifting" in Pacific Rim, but that's effectively splitting the sensory load of piloting between two brains. there's whatever the fuck Darling in the Franxx does, but i'm not touching that because i don't want to. combiners like Voltron or Megazords aren't really what i'm getting at.

i want to see a mech piloted by two people in tandem. pilot up front, weapons systems officer in the back. pilot fully immersed in the controls, pulling triggers, tracking individual targets. WSO flipping switches, tuning sensors, talking to command. watching the pilot's back. taking over controls in a desperate attempt to save their pilot when shit gets bad.

pilot plugged into a form-fitting control rig, reading the subtlest of inputs straight from their strained, damaged nerve endings. backseater plugged into a neural sensory interface, blending the machine's observational capabilities with their own senses.

one rendering anything in front of them a burning heap of slag with horrifyingly deliberate movements, but unable to handle the full burden of their machine;

one holding on for dear life, marking targets for certain death, but unable to pull the trigger themselves. desperately trying not to pass out when the pilot pulls crushingly high-G maneuvers.

the pilot is dead without someone in the back seat. the systems operator is dead without someone in the front.

two nervous systems becoming one: a mind that controls the body, and a body that controls the mind. only separated by the chassis between the crude, almost suicidal projectiles command calls "ejection seats." so inseparable you'd never think there was more than one person inside without seeing for yourself.

but perhaps it's better if you don't.

[boxboxblog]

Explaining F1 Language pt 1

I use a lot of jargon in my posts, so I hope this is informative.

DRS = Drag Reduction System. It is a flap on the rear wing that opens and closes to reduce drag, It is only available in DRS zones of a race track and if your car is within 1 second of the car in front of you.

Chicane = Series of sharp corners, usually in opposite directions (think 'S' shaped), used to slow cars down and encourage overtakes.

Dirty Air = Disrupted, rough, hot air that drivers get when they are behind another car. It makes the car go slower and heat up faster.

Clean Air = Fresh cool air that a car with no one in front gets. Less drag and helps keep car cool.

Halo = Titanium arch that crosses over drivers head, used for safety.

Pole Position = Starting the race in the first position

Pit Wall = A wall where engineers analyze data from sensors in car, watch race, and advise driver. Only a drivers specific race engineer is allowed to talk to them. Team principals are also there.

Points Position = 10th place and up

WDC = World Drivers Championship. The driver with the most points wins.

WCC = World Constructers Championship. the team with the most overall points wins

Straights = The non curved part of a race track, where basic speed is most important

Street Circuit = A race track built over city streets. Often very sharp corners and thin tracks. Examples include Monaco, Singapore, and Baku.

Classic Circuit = A built track that remains, often more typical of older track styles. Often have long straights, wide tracks, and rounded corners.

Undercut = A strat where a driver pits earlier than whoever they are racing against in order to use fresher tires to set a quick lap time and overtake their rival before they exit their own pit stop.

Overcut = Opposite of undercut, where a driver stays out longer than their rival in an attempt to gain time up on them. The goal is that when they pit they come out ahead of their rival due to the gap they create.

The Racing Line = The perfect line for a driver to follow that gets them around the circuit the fastest. Most drivers follow the same line one after the other. There is an outside line and inside line on corners.

Marbles = Small bits of rubber that come off of tires and accumulate off of the racing line. Can reduce grip if driven over.

Dirty Side = Part of track where marbles, dirt, and debris gathers

Clean Side = Usually the racing line, where there are no marbles, debris, or dirt.

Parc Fermé = Area where cars are placed after qualifying and the race. Teams are not allowed to make any changes to their car once they enter this area.

Flat Spot = Flat area on tires caused by aggressive braking. Cause vibrations which means they are to be avoided as much as possible.

Lock-up = When a driver brakes to hard, it causes one or more wheels to stop rotating. Often leads to tire damage or missing a corner.

Blistering = damage to the surface of the tire caused by excessive heat. The tire rubber heats up and peels off. Can lead to bad tire performance.

Graining = When small parts of rubber detach and and reattach to the tire, creating an uneven surface. This reduces grip and often occurs when tire temp is off.

Box = Term used by race engineers to call driver into pit

Push Lap = You'll hear 'push, push' a lot, which essentially means drive aggressive and at max speed.

Mode Push = Engineer tells driver to switch to higher engine mode

Lift and Coast = Fuel or tire saving technique where driver lifts off of throttle early before corner and coasts before braking.

Delta Time = Target lap time during a safety car to ensure they are within allowed speed but keeping up with strat

Oversteer = When the the rear of the car loses traction and slides out in corner, the driver has to correct with opposite steering input. This is oversteer. Overcorrecting can lead to a spin.

Understeer = When the front of the car loses grip, causing the car to continue straight instead of turning, a driver must adjust steering or braking to compensate. This is understeer.

Lifting the Throttle = Slightly reducing pressure to accelerator, often used during fuel management or tire conservation.

Bottoming = When a car's chassis or floor hits the track. Often causes sparks.

Power Unit = Combo of Internal Combustion Engine and Hybrid Energy Recovery Systems (simply, the engine though its more complex then that)

Stint = A period of racing between pit stops. For example a car will go on a 15 lap stint, then pit, then a 30 lap stint after.

Tyre Deg = short for Tyre degradation, when the wear makes the tire (and car) lose performance

Safety Car = Slow car out out to force drivers to slow down when there is debris or a crash on the track. Drivers are not allowed to overtake when the safety car is out.

Virtual Safety Car = System used when they do not want to deploy safety car because incident will be cleaned up quickly. Same rules as safety car.

Brake Bias = Distribution of barking force between front and rear wheels. Can be adjusted to help balance, especially in wet weather.

Quali= The day before a race, drivers aim to set a time and make their place on the lineup order. There is Q1, Q2, and Q3. Only top ten make it to Q3 and attempt for pole.

Purple Sector = Fastest sector time set by any driver during a session.

Track Evolution = The way a circuit's grip improves during a race weekend. Effected by rubber build-up, debris cleaning, temperature, weather, time, and surface type. Big part of strategy.

Out Lap = Lap immediately after leaving the pits during qualifying. Used to warm up tires.

In Lap = Lap where driver is heading for the pits

Flying Lap = a fast lap in qualifying when the driver is trying to set a time

Formation Lap = Lap right before race start where drivers can warm tires and help track evolve

Tear-Off = A thin plastic sheet on driver's helmet that can be peeled away mid race to get rid of dirt and debris. Drivers have several.

Scrubbed Tires = Tires that have been used briefly but still have lost of life. Can be an advantage because they are slightly worn.

Overtake = When a car gets by another car

Recovery Lap = Lap after an incident or pit stop where the driver focuses on getting back into race rhythm and warming tires.

There will be a part 2, I ran out of words. Oops.

Cheers,

-B

[rin-and-jade]

'Tis My Cue?: A Post on (system) Triggers | PART 2

Here's a little warm up. Anyone knows the answer for 2 + 2 ? It's 4, right. But you didn't think on how you get the answer, you just knew. Another one, you were on recess and time's up, so you calmly go back to your work/class and stopped kidding around. How did you learn this signal? Yeah... talk about that, Boss.

--

Yippie--part two is here! IF you haven't read the first, here is the link. The first trigger post is more focused on trauma based, fight and flight response,, the second one will truly delve on the process and how triggers affect switches even deeper.. discussing how the subconscious plays a role on making this possible.

TLDR section: Fast Pass Available! Scroll most bottom.

No need for introductions, right?

We already knew that triggers means sparking a fuse--particularly an emotional reaction, which part one explained in-depth. In addition, triggers can also evoke certain memories and actions that were previously learnt.

The types, followed by previous terms, that are most often successful in triggering parts are: Dynamites (thoughts), Landmines (environments), and Grenades (interoception)

Here on, we will only focus on this specific kind of trigger, why they're often strong to evoke a reaction that causes a switch, and short elaboration on the process of shifting through different states of alters.

Bare in mind that these triggers, although usually most successful on facilitating switches, will not mean you would have a 100% guarantee at all times.

The other meaning of a trigger

Outside of the common usage of this word which is often used to create warnings (abbreviation like TW) that is used to prevent negative thoughts from resurfacing, 'trigger' in this today's context resembles closer to a program or a code.

Like alright, i know some of ya'll are game nerds,, this is no different than a minecraft sculk sensor with some redstone contraption.

So, trigger in this context would specifically refer to how you're able to execute or adapt to a necessary task or rules you adhere. A cue, like a 100 meter runner, relies on listening that resembles a bang. In more practical usage, this also can be specific words, environments, or even some favorite words that causes a response. A learnt one.

Now, while all three type of "bombs" have different cues that pulls an alter out, they all still generate the same response that leads to a switch. Just that some are more obvious/external, or more hidden/internal.

So.. how does this work again?

One example: you're a host doing daily chores, a familiar figure suddenly entered your peripheral vision.. it's the one you associate with the most negative experiences at the past.

This encounter generates a copious amount of discomfort alone, which made you wary and unsure how to go by,, high chances, you were expected to endure and hide any negative reactions.

As you slowly begin to worry, the trigger had worked, you then coped by dissociating and everything starts to get fuzzy. Any existing alters who had more resilience or took on a protective role often notice that something is wrong, and so, the trigger was the cue to your brain to start fronting another alter that is more adept on a certain situation.

In conclusion, the process looked like this:

New stimuli -> processes and identify the object/situation -> attempts to react to the stimulus in an appropriate manner -> brain regions associated with priority and behavior are involved -> which brings out the specific alter that is made for a task

Nonetheless, it is an adaption for any person, though for systems,, the speed and awareness to recognize external threats and switching with designated alters varies widely.

Boogie traps?!

Right.. i never explained that how your brain identify triggers like. They don't.

What?!..

Yeah silly... it can't see or hear, it can only know if it is similar to the past, no matter what the relevance seems to be. This is how false alarms happen. False what again? Well, try explaining why you have an alter stranded outside at front that has nothing to do with its current role or proficiency.

Oddly enough, this can also happen if you deviate from your conscious state of being aware of the external world and think of something, or daydream, that may have any subtle cues an alter is familiar with,, good luck being spawned by accident, guys.

...

Im still on topic. Do you know that the efficacy of triggers heavy depend on two things? Yes, the intensity and dissociative-factor.

Why these two? I'd say, the easiest way to explain this is how Intensity helps your brain gauge how serious or urgent the matter is to start adapting with another facet (or parts, in system's pov). While the D-factor is what suppresses your fear response from the 'salience network' which gives way for your 'central executive network', the one that controls priority and task switching, to bring out an alter that is necessary for a task at hand.

Because, if you were not to get knocked out to a dissociative haze, your salience network, which acts as a threat radar, would immediately slam the danger button that activates your 'ventral attention network' which is often related to upkeeping with tasks that require high cognitive/attention demands; The common situation a system would experience: Front stuck.

If you were to not be clutched in a front stuck, it would mean your D-factor suppressed the danger sense from your salience network, creating a catanotic state instead.

If you are seeking for front stuck information, i had a post on my tags, #jeducates or this link instead.

Last words

That's all to it on the second part--oh, and the reason why this is possible is going back to the basics:

Alters are made up of compartmentalized memories, and those who held a specific experience to the situation, will recognize the cue that helps them react appropriately. It is just benign (co-conscious) until a familiar cue caused that whole brain process to perform a switch,, now that's what a trigger is.

--

Oh man, i hope this didn't flop as bad. But what do you guys think? There's so much about triggers and switches that i still can't elaborate due to how advanced and many more studying you guys need in required to fully comprehend it, so i tried to compile this as simple as i could.

Although, i hope this alone is still informative, we've went through the basics on the first part, so this is only for explaining the internal process that people often cannot put to words.

I also intend to release another educative post about phantom limbs by mid-November, please look forward to it if you're interested!

TLDR SECTION

Triggers as Signals: Beyond trauma-based responses, triggers are cues or signals that our brain has learned to respond to, often through past experiences. Some cues, such as specific environments, thoughts, or body sensations, can quickly facilitate a switch to another alter who’s better suited to handle a given situation.

Examples of Triggers: The post focuses on the three most effective types for triggering parts in DID:

Dynamite (Internal triggers like thoughts)

Landmines (External triggers from environments)

Grenades (Physiological triggers like heart rate or pain) Each trigger type has its own way of initiating a switch, often activating a specific alter to manage the experience.

Trigger Process: The process looks something like this:

New stimulus -> Brain registers and identifies it -> Appropriate response begins -> Specific brain regions assess the priority of the reaction -> Triggered alter takes over as needed.

False Alarms & Accidental Switching: Sometimes, “false alarms” occur, where cues remind the brain of past experiences and cause an unnecessary switch, even when the alter’s role doesn’t fit the present situation.

Intensity & Dissociative Factor (D-Factor): Trigger effectiveness depends on two factors:

Intensity: How urgent the brain perceives the stimulus to be.

Dissociative Factor (D-Factor): The degree of dissociation that helps suppress fear and allows the brain’s executive functions to bring out a part who can handle the situation effectively.

How This Affects Switching: When dissociation lowers the "salience network" (our inner alarm system), the brain activates the "central executive network" to manage task-switching, often leading to a co-conscious or full switch. If the brain instead signals high danger, it may create a front-stuck situation where switching becomes harder. If the brain suppresses the danger, it would instead bring you into catatonia.

Final Note: This is a deeper look into triggers beyond trauma. The brain’s use of learned cues to help switch and adapt keeps each alter equipped to handle their own tasks.

- c

[enjoythesilentworld]

Simon's Month - Revolution

day 11 @youngroyals-events

The Space AU no one asked for.

read below or on ao3 (900, G).

“Begin countdown, Captain Wille!”

“Yes, Sergeant!” Wille salutes. “Beginning countdown. 10… 9… 8…”

Simon flips a few switches on the board, brow furrowed in concentration. Under his breath, he mumbles, “Hatch doors secured, Sergeant.” 

“6… 5… 4…”

“Well done. Thank you, Major Simon,” Sergeant nods approvingly, securing her seatbelt. “Prepare for takeoff, crew!”

“All engines are online,” Simon calls, just as Wille finishes his countdown. “Could you count any slower?”

“3… 2… Thrusters go!” Wille shouts, ignoring Simon’s comment and typing away at the keypad by his left hand. Over on his side, Simon pushes the forward thruster handle. Into her ear piece, Sergeant communicates with home base. 

“Liftoff confirmed,” she announces after a moment. All three continue to brace against the rattle of the ship. 

Wille has to raise his voice over the noise. “Exiting the atmosphere, Sergeant.” 

“Good, Captain Wille. Major, mission report.” 

While Wille manages the rotation control joystick and keeps an eye on their speed, Major Simon rattles off their mission. 

“Headed for the Moon, ma’am. We’ll complete one revolution in the natural satellite’s orbit, before breaking off and using the Earth’s gravity to slingshot us around the other side of the planet, lining us up for an easy reentry.” 

“Two revolutions.”

Simon turns to Captain. “What?” 

“We’re doing two revolutions,” Wille says, eyes locked on the screen before him. 

“Uh, no. I’m pretty sure I remember correctly,” Simon sasses. “Who did Sergeant ask for a mission report?” 

“Captain! Major! Enough. I won’t have you two messing up my mission,” Sergeant cuts in, glaring at the both of them. “We’re doing one revolution, then we’re going in to land.” 

“But, Sergeant,” Wille gasps, “that wasn’t in the mission plan. Does base know about this?” 

Simon sucks his teeth. “If Sergeant says we’re landing, we’re landing, Captain.” 

“Base answers to me,” Sergeant affirms, eyes scanning out the window. “Captain. Define revolution for me.” 

“Uh,” Wille stutters, “The circling of one object around another.”

“That’s your definition?” Simon chuckles.

Wille glares at him. “For example – if you’d let me finish – the Earth makes one revolution around the Sun each year, give or take a few days.” 

Sergeant hums appreciatively. “And how many days in one year?” 

“365.” Simon and Wille nearly shout in unison. 

“Really?” Wille quirks an eyebrow. “She asked me for the definition. Not you.” 

“We’re both astronauts, Captain. Plus, last time I checked, Majors outrank Captains.” Simon smirks. 

“Stop!” Sergeant yells, pointing. “We need to focus! Asteroid belt ahead!” 

Wille and Simon both jump into action, flipping on the sensitivity sensors and each taking different jobs to navigate them through the dangerous field. They stop bickering enough to safely navigate their ship through the precarious situation, much to the happiness of their Sergeant. 

“Good job, Captain, Major. Now, let’s land this bad boy.” 

Under strict direction by Sergeant, they manage to easily enter the Moon’s thin atmosphere and identify a safe spot for landing. 

“Suit up!” Sergeant calls, already heading for her helmet. 

Sergeant steps out first, head on a swivel, followed by Simon. Wille exits last, but his foot gets caught, and he goes tumbling over, with a shout and the sound of cardboard ripping. 

“Pappa!” comes a tiny, angry voice, rushing over and then right past him. “My ship!” 

Wille coughs lightly, removing the stuffed animal he’d taken to the stomach on his fall. “Sorry, love.” 

Simon stands over him, smiling down at his clumsy husband. 

“I’m a lot taller than both of you,” Wille grumbles, then accepts Simon’s hand to stand up. He brushes himself off, then kneels down by their Sergeant. “I’m sorry for ripping the door. Shall we go look for some tape in the craft closet?” 

The young girl in her silver shirt and cardboard-crafted astronaut helmet nods her head rapidly, shaking the helmet a bit so that she has to readjust it to be able to see out the small hole in the front. “I’ll go get it, I know where it is! Then we can explore the moon!” 

Wille smiles and groans slightly as he stands to his full height again. Simon wraps himself around Wille’s back, pressing a gentle kiss into his shoulder, both of them watching their young daughter disappear around the corner into the hallway. 

“Are you okay?” Simon teases. “That was quite the fall, Captain.” 

Wille turns in Simon’s arms so they face each other. “Yes, Major, I’m okay. You don’t sound very concerned.” He sticks out his tongue teasingly, so Simon does the same. Then, Simon stands on his tiptoes to press a gentle kiss to Wille’s lips. 

“We’ve had a lot of revolutions together.”

Wille chuckles. “Revolutions around the sun, or actual revolutions?”

“Both,” Simon grins, pinching at Wille’s hips, making him yelp slightly. 

“That we have. Here’s to many more.”

“Many, many more. To finally executing my plan to tear down the monarchy, and to a million more years with you.” 

Wille barks out a laugh, spinning Simon around, each of them dancing easily around the toys scattered across the floor. 

Their oldest comes careening back around the corner, holding not only a roll of tape but a few other new decorations for the cardboard spaceship they’d built out of the big box the new bed frame for their second child had come in. 

Just as she settles down with the tape, Wille joining her to patch up their ship, the baby monitor signals their toddler has woken from her nap. So, Simon gives each of them a kiss on the head, then heads down the hall, calling, “Don’t explore the moon without me! I’ll be right back!”