Astromech Droids vs Exocomps

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-03-30 02:47am

R2s use their skills to take over all the equipment they need for the job.

Lord of the Farce · Post by **Lord of the Farce** » 2003-03-30 05:35am

Beside the flight rockets that we see in AOTC, R2 units are suppose to be able to move around like "fish in water" in micro-gee environments, thanks to their arrays of small gas thrusters (ref: "Before the Storm"). If exocomps really do move around only on antigrav, then they would be hampered pretty badly in micro-gee environments.

SWPIGWANG · Post by **SWPIGWANG** » 2003-03-30 07:51pm

neither, as they can't do it.

Post by **Kuja** » 2003-03-30 10:51pm

SWPIGWANG wrote:neither, as they can't do it.

Care to explain WHY?

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2003-03-31 12:05am

R2s are designed to do on the spot repairs, as evidenced by TPM. Plus, they can work without human supervision. Thus, the R2s.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2003-03-31 03:13am

Singular Quartet wrote:As I recall, there was also the fact that they also refused to randomly go in and get themselves killed due to radiation.

Hah, stupids, in a universe where B&B are gods death is the only release!

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-03-31 03:57am

I seem to remember this coming up on ASVS a number of times.

Astromechs trounced the exocomps every time.

Equinox2003 · Post by **Equinox2003** » 2003-03-31 04:30am

I saw the Trek episode with the Exocomps and I would have to say that
The AstroMech droids would be faster, I recall R2 fixing the Falcon
quite fast in ESB, so I would agree that Mech droids win.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-03-31 10:51am

Equinox2003 wrote:I saw the Trek episode with the Exocomps and I would have to say that
The AstroMech droids would be faster, I recall R2 fixing the Falcon
quite fast in ESB, so I would agree that Mech droids win.

IIRC the hyperdrive in ESB was fixed by the cloud city people, but they disabled it (removed a fuse or something). All R2 did was find the (small) problem and enable it again.

He MIGHT have been able to fix it if it was broken, but in that scene I'm pretty sure it was in perfect working order.

SpyderGS · Post by **SpyderGS** » 2003-03-31 03:08pm

Actually, the Cloud City main computer told him the drive was disabled. Likely told him how to given the speed with which R2 fixed it.

Have to give this one to the astromechs. Mobility, design, intelligence and independence of thought will get them done first...likely improving on the original design as well.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2003-04-01 01:58am

Howedar wrote:By all means I prefer astromechs to those damned fool exocomps, but I don't see how exactly a group of astromechs can conduct any large-scale construction. Unless there are features on astromechs that would allow this that aren't seen in the movies (haven't read the EU), I'd have to give it to the exocomps.

How were the exocomps foolish?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-04-01 02:28am

Exocomps are *clearly8 superior in *every* way to clumsy, stupid R2 units. Exocomps win, then make the R2's into spare parts!

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2003-04-01 03:14am

SirNitram wrote:Exocomps are *clearly8 superior in *every* way to clumsy, stupid R2 units. Exocomps win, then make the R2's into spare parts!

You can do better......

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-04-01 08:23am

Kamakazie Sith wrote:
SirNitram wrote:Exocomps are *clearly8 superior in *every* way to clumsy, stupid R2 units. Exocomps win, then make the R2's into spare parts!
You can do better......

Fuck you, it was one AM, and I've not been a rabid trekkie troll in ages.

ANGELUS · Post by **ANGELUS** » 2003-04-07 06:49pm

Let's remember that Exocomps are an emerging technology and still need a lot of work to be usefull. Astromech droids have been prodeced massively for thousands of years. I mean, who knows? maeby some day the feds will design a new droid based on the early exocomps that will be better than astromechs. But right now (ok, I mean in the present time of SW and ST) Astromechs are muche better than Exocomps. They are smarter, faster and more stable. They can worry and have shown even sense of humor and iniciative. The Astromechs win.

spaceluigi · Post by **spaceluigi** » 2003-04-09 12:23am

I'd only like to point out that exocomps can replicate the tool that which they desire. Astromech droids of any model make must make do with the limited tools they have. Astromech droids and exocomps have an equal degree of intelligence, as both seem to have sentient characteristics. But, despite all of these claims, I believe the exocomps would win due to their Earth origin, having designs of older spacecraft on memory, astromechs are incapable of doing so, as Earth does not exist in their galaxy.

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2003-04-09 12:30am

R2-D2 can Store the plans for the death star in his head. that is alot of data! So a Exocomp can make any tool they require the tools on a Astromech works for what its job is. The Senerio inplies that they both know how to put it togather so the ones that can do it the fastest would be the winners. Exorcomps are cute but not very practicle fo moving large pieces around which is what they will have to do.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2003-04-09 12:52am

Um...when was it stated that the shuttle had to be an Earth design?

KhyronTheBackstabber · Post by **KhyronTheBackstabber** » 2003-04-09 02:34am

Darth Yoshi wrote:Um...when was it stated that the shuttle had to be an Earth design?

Right here

Ted C wrote:In an orbital construction yard, I have placed parts and supplies with which to construct a Space Shuttle.

Lord of the Farce · Post by **Lord of the Farce** » 2003-04-09 05:08am

KhyronTheBackstabber wrote:
Darth Yoshi wrote:Um...when was it stated that the shuttle had to be an Earth design?
Right here

Ted C wrote:In an orbital construction yard, I have placed parts and supplies with which to construct a Space Shuttle.

Where in "space shuttle" does it say "shuttle of Earth design"?

spaceluigi wrote:Astromech droids and exocomps have an equal degree of intelligence, as both seem to have sentient characteristics.

"Equal degree of intelligence because both sentient characteristics"? Does that mean that my dog and you have equal degree of intelligence, as both my dog and you seem to have some sentient characteristics? What kind of drugs are you on?

But, despite all of these claims, I believe the exocomps would win due to their Earth origin, having designs of older spacecraft on memory, astromechs are incapable of doing so, as Earth does not exist in their galaxy.

So you conclude that in all of the Star Wars galaxy that there never was a single primative space shuttle?

Ted C · Post by **Ted C** » 2003-04-09 09:45am

Lord of the Farce wrote:
Ted C wrote:In an orbital construction yard, I have placed parts and supplies with which to construct a Space Shuttle.
Where in "space shuttle" does it say "shuttle of Earth design"?

Just to clear this up, it is a modern, 20th Century space shuttle. Apparently the clue about landing at Kennedy Space Center didn't make it clear enough for some people. I chose the modern space shuttle so that the project did not involve constructing an item directly associated with any particular SF series; the technology should be easily within the grasp of any space-faring race.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-04-09 11:19am

Lord of the Farce wrote:
spaceluigi wrote:Astromech droids and exocomps have an equal degree of intelligence, as both seem to have sentient characteristics.
"Equal degree of intelligence because both sentient characteristics"? Does that mean that my dog and you have equal degree of intelligence, as both my dog and you seem to have some sentient characteristics? What kind of drugs are you on?

In this particular case...I think you might be right....he probably does posses an equal degree of intelligence to a dog....(most of it used up in his questionable ability to type).

spaceluigi · Post by **spaceluigi** » 2003-04-09 06:21pm

A dog could fix starships systems, with ease. Dogs were simply not meant to. Perhaps if Earth was an enormous starship with plasma relays and EPS conduits, dogs could do that. But, because dogs evolved on a planet without plasma relays and EPS conduits, they didn't evolve to incorporate those abilities.

Robots of today can store and actually repair current ships, they simply have yet to be put into space. Robots of today use computers of today, which are easily beaten by (as cited from Stephen Hawking's The Universe in a Nutshell) "...the brain of a humble earthworm." Dogs have larger brains, and a more complex nervous system. They require more to survive, yet they cannot build the ISS. Keep in mind, intelligence has nothing to do with being able to build something. Sentience would probably get in the way, as something without the clouded vision of emotion and thought would choose the most efficient way of constructing something, were it programmed to do so.

A dog, were we to tap into its brain and reprogram it to fit our needs, would be the most advanced robot for YEARS to come.

PS: I have no questionable ability to type. "Carboxylus the Beast", whom I know, has a slight typing impediment.

PPS: Really and honestly, we're not the same person.

PPPS: And, you were quite right in your post about how sentience does not denote intelligence, Lord of the Farce. My mistake, thank you for correcting me.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-04-09 06:34pm

For exocomps to replicate any tool they need, they must A.) have the designs (not a problem for them), and B.) The neccesary raw materials to make said tool. Th exocomps would have to be sparing with what they wanted to use. I'm not sure how much data they could store, but given its the 24th century, they shouldn't have too much trouble.

R2s have the data-storing space for the job (R2 holding the Death Star designs), and most likely the right tools (they can also modify themselves if it's needed, like Q9 in paticular).

Both can fly in space, or in zero-G environments, both have a certain level of sentience -- but the R2 moreso. R2 displays human-like intelligence easily. The exocomps (from the description I've heard) sound like they have a more primitive form of sentience, like that of a dog, and would operate more effectively with human supervision.

R2s have greater intelligence; they can design, prioritize, and actually build the craft better than could the exocomps because of it.

ANGELUS · Post by **ANGELUS** » 2003-04-09 06:45pm

spaceluigi wrote:I'd only like to point out that exocomps can replicate the tool that which they desire. Astromech droids of any model make must make do with the limited tools they have.

Why would astromechs want more tools? they already have all the tools they could need for almos any fixing or building task. To give them the ability to replicate rather than puting all the tools inside of them previously would only be a waste of energy.

spaceluigi wrote:Astromech droids and exocomps have an equal degree of intelligence, as both seem to have sentient characteristics.

Having sentient characteristics doesn't make equally smart. Stephen Hawking is sentient and so was Forest Gump in his movie. Exocomps have initiative, but have never shown worry or sense of humor, and those are really advanced emotions.

spaceluigi wrote:But, despite all of these claims, I believe the exocomps would win due to their Earth origin, having designs of older spacecraft on memory, astromechs are incapable of doing so, as Earth does not exist in their galaxy.

Mmm, I think there was a mistake when making the statements of this topic. "space shuttle" is usually applied to ships like the Columbia. But actually it only means "a shuttle that can travel in space". What about the Lambda class shuttles in SW?

I say we asume that both exocomps and astromechs have complete blueprints on the ship theyr'e building.