#Robotics in Construction Theme Analysis

[ustechbog]

Robotics in Construction Thematic Intelligence Report Overview

The construction industry has been generally slow to digitalize and adopt new technologies. As an industry, it relies heavily on manual labor resulting in low productivity growth. Adopting robots can increase safety on construction sites, ensure projects are delivered on time, and help maintain productivity. As costs decrease and the benefits become increasingly evident, construction companies will implement more robots across the ecosystem

[yourusatoday]

Revolutionizing Construction: Robotics Theme Analysis

The construction industry is undergoing a seismic shift with the integration of robotics technology, heralding a new era of efficiency, safety, and innovation. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the transformative impact of robotics in construction, examining key themes, emerging trends, and the future trajectory of the industry.

Understanding Robotics in Construction

Automation and Precision Engineering

Robotics technology enables automation of repetitive tasks and precision engineering processes in construction, including site preparation, material handling, and assembly. By deploying robotic systems equipped with sensors, actuators, and intelligent algorithms, construction firms can streamline operations, minimize errors, and optimize project timelines.

Autonomous Vehicles and Equipment

The advent of autonomous vehicles and equipment revolutionizes construction site logistics, transportation, and material handling. From self-driving trucks and drones for surveying to robotic arms for excavation and 3D printing, autonomous technologies enhance productivity, safety, and cost-effectiveness in construction projects of all scales.

Themes Driving Robotics Adoption

Safety and Risk Mitigation

Robotics technology enhances safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies in construction by reducing human exposure to hazardous environments and high-risk tasks. Autonomous vehicles, drones, and robotic exoskeletons enhance worker safety, minimize accidents, and ensure compliance with stringent regulatory standards.

To gain more information on the robotics market forecast, download a free report sample 

Productivity and Project Efficiency

Robotics-driven automation improves productivity and project efficiency by accelerating construction processes, optimizing resource utilization, and minimizing downtime. Advanced robotics solutions enable construction firms to meet project deadlines, mitigate delays, and deliver high-quality results within budgetary constraints.

Robotics Applications Across Construction Phases

Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twins

Robotics in Construction Theme Analysis facilitates the integration of building information modeling (BIM) and digital twin technologies, enabling real-time visualization, simulation, and analysis of construction projects. By creating virtual replicas of physical assets and environments, construction stakeholders can optimize design decisions, identify potential conflicts, and streamline project workflows.

Modular Construction and Prefabrication

Robotics-enabled modular construction and prefabrication techniques revolutionize traditional building methods, enabling faster, more cost-effective construction of structures with standardized components. Robotic assembly lines, 3D printing technologies, and robotic welders facilitate mass production of prefabricated modules, enhancing scalability and reducing construction timelines.

Future Outlook and Strategic Imperatives

Collaboration and Ecosystem Integration

The future of construction lies in fostering collaboration and ecosystem integration among stakeholders, including contractors, developers, technology providers, and regulatory bodies. By leveraging open standards, interoperable platforms, and collaborative frameworks, the construction industry can unlock synergies, drive innovation, and accelerate digital transformation.

Skills Development and Talent Acquisition

As construction firms embrace robotics technology, investing in skills development and talent acquisition becomes imperative to ensure workforce readiness and adaptability. Training programs, certifications, and apprenticeships in robotics programming, automation engineering, and digital construction methodologies empower workers to harness the full potential of robotics in construction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, robotics technology is reshaping the landscape of construction, offering unprecedented opportunities for efficiency, safety, and sustainability. By embracing robotics-driven solutions, construction firms can overcome industry challenges, unlock new capabilities, and embark on a transformative journey towards a more resilient and innovative future.

[eeriepromis]

Caleb Drama & Hypocrisy

[I originally posted this on the official subreddit but I'm not sure if it will get approved by the mods there. The servers are currently down too. - UPDATE: It did not. Flagged as hostile and uncivil instead which it is NOT.]

I want to have a civil, constructive conversation about something that’s been bothering me and many others in the community: There’s been a lot of hate directed at Caleb & Caleb girlies (even before his official release) and it’s only getting worse now that his limited Myth is coming out. This isn’t about “not liking a character.” Everyone is entitled to that. This is about the ongoing hostility, mod bias (not reddit, if you know you know), and the double standards we’re seeing everywhere.

People are saying Caleb “stole” Sylus' wings theme or question why he already has a kiss in his myth. That’s … not how any of this works. The writers and artists literally work on all the characters. There is no such thing as one character “stealing” a theme from another. That’s like arguing over who’s allowed to wear capes in a fantasy setting.

Saying his myth kiss happened “so early” compared to the other LI's ignores the fact that Caleb and MC have a long-established relationship, unlike others who were strangers. (except Zayne who also had a kiss) Of course their development may look different. I'm not even able to enjoy that kiss since it's full of pain and despair - right before both of them literally seem to explode.

Caleb fans had to wait over a year, watching everyone else get content, CGs, story chapters, and celebrations - and yet we’re the ones being called entitled?

The hypocrisy is wild. People say “you have to watch Sylus’ Myth to understand him” (his actions) - And I agree! Sylus has a complex story. He made MC shoot him in the chest, brought her to an EVER scientist because he couldn’t resonate with her, wanted him to experiment on her which could have mutilated her Evol, and still - we are told to give him grace because his Myth explains it. And it does! He’s layered and ultimately loves MC deeply.

But you know what?

So is Caleb.

Caleb isn’t some manipulative monster. [here and here's why] He’s a character who went through trauma, experimentation, isolation, (in his CURRENT life) and still chose to sacrifice himself to survive and protect MC [db4sylus explained it here] - and even fights against a command to kill MC in the new Myth. His Myth and main story arcs are full of nuance - but most people stopped watching at his Main Story and judge him from there. How is that fair? (remember that without context it would be so easy to accuse Rafayel as a seriel k*iller, Xavier as a cheater, Zayne as rude and Sylus as a cruel kidnapper)

The same thing happens with Xavier, who gets called “boring” or “plain” - when in reality, he's anything but boring or plain - and ready to make morally gray decisions and be ruthless. [Has the Light Vanished?] (also let's not forget his *intense* freakiness. It's always the quiet ones guys)

Or Zayne, who’s called robotic, vanilla and cold, even though his Myth is (also) one of the most heartbreaking love stories in the game and used to be happy and warm - but something broke and cursed him. [Snowfall Embrace] - [Fractal Library Analysis] (whispers brat tamer)

Or Rafayel, constantly reduced to “bratty” or “dramatic,” when outside of MC he’s deeply guarded, serious, and vengeful. He’s only vulnerable with her. [Rafayel suffered a lot.] (so poetic, so incredibly deep, thoughtful and introspective.)

Sylus also is misinterpreted all the time even by his own fans as some ultra toxic red flag (I've seen some disturbing fanfics) Because there are those people who actually are into psychos and that kinda fantasies. [kiti_kiwi explained him beautifully] He is actually such a hopeless romantic and softie for MC - so very open for all her whims. (cough brat enabler cough)

Having those fantasies is alright, don't want to shame you (I don't really care tbh) - but some truly think those are canon to the characters; and that's where the issues lie.

If you’re going to hold one LI to a standard of deeper context, that should apply to all of them.

Every single love interest in this game has a duality. That’s literally the point.

They are written to be flawed, complicated, and deeply in love with MC. They would never truly harm her. Everything they do - no matter how misguided (and there are truly worse fictional characters in other media) - is to protect her. That’s what they live for. (true giga simps my babies are *nods*)

So why is this fandom so divided and hostile all the time?

I love all the LIs. I started playing this game for the lore and story, not the romance. (it is my first otome and I am demi so there's that) But what I’m seeing right now (people refusing to engage with canon content, inventing toxic headcanons, and spreading hate from surface-level takes) isn’t criticism. It’s misinformation and targeted bullying that are also misleading new players.

You don’t have to like Caleb. You don’t have to main him. But please stop punishing the people who do. We waited over a year for him. And we deserve to enjoy him in peace. If you don't like others spreading misconceptions about your LI - then don't do it yourself to other LI's.

I also think some people in this fandom seriously underestimate how much Caleb girlies are actually going through - and how much hate, judgment, and bias we face daily across multiple platforms. Not just mild disagreements - I'm talking about accusations that are deeply personal and honestly crossing the line.

We’ve been called in*est apologists.

We’ve been told we love “red flags” and psychos (it's okay if you DO, but not if you are accused of it because of misconceptions)

and there must be something seriously wrong with us.

We’ve been mocked, ridiculed, tone-policed, and banned in places where every other LI Main has been allowed to thrive. It’s not just tiring - it’s isolating. (To be clear: I'm not talking about this subreddit!)

And yet - despite all of that? The Caleb channel in the Discord became a safe haven. More like a lads-general that accepts and understands Caleb but is also so very open to gush over every LI with open arms and every girlie. I’ve met Caleb fans (even Mains of other LI) who love him for wildly different reasons. Some are drawn to his protectiveness. A lot of us are the eldest daughters, so they like to be the ones to be cared for for once (to be free of all the responsibilities and expectations of others) and Caleb is so very good at caring. Some adore his teasing and flirty softness. (his VA makes it all sound SO authentic!) Some love his character design and uniform. Some see themselves. (the Millennial vibe, the responsibility, the yearning for freedom) And his cooking is always yearned for!

I'm also one of those who were worried about his portrayal in the new Main Story Arc at his release. That part was suffocating. It was hard to watch and play through. I'm not into yanderes or psychos at all. I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t what I wanted for him at all. (I'm also not into his Colonel uniform, sorry my fellow pipsqueaks xD but I know he hates it too.) At least Sylus had the twins as comedic relief *cries internally*

And guess what? That’s okay.

What mattered was that I kept reading. I followed his entire arc - his Myth, his Anecdotes, his Bond Story, his Moments. And what I found was a character who made sense. (just like all the others) Who was still trying, still loving, still fighting against the worst parts of his world and himself - for her.

But that part? The part where we explain why we do see the nuance? The part where we talk about how we don’t excuse the red flags, but understand where they come from?

It gets ignored. Every time.

This isn’t about defending toxic characters. It’s about wanting the same space to enjoy complexity as every other LI community has already been granted. And being tired of having to justify our existence in a fandom that’s supposed to be about love, choice, and story.

So before you assume Caleb fans are “into red flags,” (not denying there are a few, just like some Sylus girlies too tbh) maybe talk to a few of us if you don't understand. Ask why we like him. Listen when tell our reasonings instead of just dismissing them because they don't fit your context-lacking headcanon narrative. Respect that his arc, like every other LI’s, is layered, painful, and intentional.

We aren’t asking to be everyone’s favorite. We’re asking to exist without being attacked for it.

Please, let’s stop the "he-said-she-said" hate cycle. Let people enjoy what they love. That’s what fandom is supposed to be. Love, create and evolve together. (and angst together. totally angst together.)

I don’t care if you don’t like Caleb. That’s valid. Not every LI is for everyone. But the constant policing, mockery, and moral grandstanding aimed at fans who do like him is just exhausting. It’s okay to enjoy a character with flaws. It’s okay to enjoy different kinds of romance stories. That’s literally the point of this genre.

This is a game. A beautiful, story-rich, emotional game. Let people enjoy it. Let us enjoy our LI. And please stop treating us like we’re the enemy for doing so.

Like- I'm genuily confused??? I was there during the US5 & Tokio Hotel beefs, I was there during the Team Edward and Team Jacob wars and also during the Big Time Rush and One Direction phase. None of those fandoms seemed as divided and infighting like this one. Where are these people taking all the energy to hate and the jealousy from and why are they attacking fictional pixels and fans who can't change anything about their issues instead of working together instead?

Sincerely,

A tired but still standing Caleb girly (and lore nerd)

(thanks for reading through my TED talk if you've made it this far)

P.S.: A random thought that I've had while writing - I'm expecting all counterpart LI to have a darker lore and more "obvious" red flags than the OG3. Maybe the 6th will even be a Phoenix. Wings could be a counterpart thing. If you've haven't noticed yet - the overview in the Café where you select your LI: The OG3 are in white clothing, while their counterparts are wearing black so far.)

Lots of love to my fellow pipsqueaks.

This post can now also be found on the Unofficial Subreddit as a slightly shorter version. The admins helped me edit it so it wouldn't spark any controversial discussions or trigger people. I'm really thankful for their help and the time they invested to help me and make sure nasty comments were deleted.

[raavenb2619]

I enjoyed posting my reactions to Koisenu Futari, so I think I'm going to do that going forward with media I'm consuming as I feel like it. (These will tend to be more unpolished reactions and surface level analysis than polished essay deep dives.)

The Murderbot Diaries, book 1: All Systems Red (spoilers under the cut)

Chapter 1

Murder, entertainment, and capitalism all in the first sentence

Failure at being a heartless killing machine is an interesting juxtaposition through an aro lens. Failure to meet societal expectations of normalcy versus failure to fulfill societal arophobic tropes

Getting the vibe this narrator is not gonna be the most reliable

PoV character is an android, so there’s likely to be themes of demihumanity and in-betweenness

Mensah is struggling against bureaucracy in the emergency, so bureaucracy is likely another theme, since it’s somewhat interchangeable with society. Could also lean more towards questions of power, agency, autonomy, as an aro/robot thing.

“It had three compartments: one big one in the middle for the human crew and two smaller ones to each side for cargo, supplies, and me.” Dehumanization/objectification

Cracked governor module as closeted aromantic, hmm.

Are HubSystem and MedSystem part of the PoV character, or external to them? Getting a little Ancillary Justice vibes, which I need to reread and then read the rest of the series.

The PoV character is having to tend to their wounds and healing on their own, which has nonpartnering vibes

Well, no, they’re just second priority.

Yep, unreliable narrator. You are nervous about your governor module. (Hm, very loose connection to Little Lost Robot by Isaac Asimov)

Demihumanity as valuable, because it has agency/free will that pure roboticism would lack

Casual polyamory. Nice.

A “glitch” in HubSystem? This definitely won’t be relevant to the plot later, lol

Chapter 2

Ah, capitalism.

Mm, yeah, autism.

Ah, surveillance capitalism and a lack of privacy. My favorite.

… I’m gonna need to make a relationship diagram to keep track of all that.

“It was a low-stress group, they didn’t argue much or antagonize each other for fun, and were fairly restful to be around, as long as they didn’t try to talk or interact with me in any way.” Lol

“She turned to me with one of those abrupt movements that I had taught myself not to react to.” Autism.

“I said, “I need to check the perimeter,” and managed to turn and leave the crew area in a totally normal way and not like I was fleeing from a bunch of giant hostiles.” XD

“I’d watched three episodes of Sanctuary Moon and was fast forwarding through a sex scene” XD. (Ace sex-repulsed robot can be an acephobic trope, but I’ve heard good things about this series so I’m expecting it won’t be)

“Though I think that even if I did have sex-related parts I would find them boring.)” Yeah okay there’s some ace robot nuance.

Chapter 3

Ah, buddy, you could probably use some therapy.

A second HubSystem glitch. Interesting. To what extent is HubSystem non-diegetically a person?

Chapter 4

“Imitative Human Bot Units are . . . partially constructed from cloned material.” Set up for identity crisis, and/or asexual reproduction jokes

It/its as probably dehumanizing, but could be reclaimed at some point

That’s a lot of combat in a very short amount of time

Hacking via data port ties to loss of autonomy

Chapter 5

So far, an aspec/robot reading of this feels…a little uninteresting? I don’t think it’s that it’s tasteless, it’s just…there’s lots of interesting stuff to say about Asimov’s writing, or DADoES, and about halfway through it doesn’t feel like there’s much to analyze or interpret. An aro robot on itself doesn’t have much room for nuance; the interesting parts of media analysis are usually what’s hidden under the surface, and so far it doesn’t feel like there’s much.

Interesting backstory with the hacked governor module

“I was still watching them through the camera, because it was easier than looking directly at them.” Autism

Good on you, Mensah

Chapter 6

“It’s wrong to think of a construct as half bot, half human. It makes it sound like the halves are discrete, like the bot half should want to obey orders and do its job and the human half should want to protect itself and get the hell out of here. As opposed to the reality, which was that I was one whole confused entity, with no idea what I wanted to do. What I should do. What I needed to do.” Mm. That’s giving thoughts, but I don’t know what they are yet.

Getting some more roboticism, but still feels a bit thin. I’m not sure, maybe that’s just me.

Too expensive to destroy. Interesting.

Chapter 7

Getting adopted/found family vibes, which I’m a fan of

Chapter 8

Yep.

“This was what I was supposed to want. This was what everything had always told me I was supposed to want.” Mm.

“I don’t know what I want. I said that at some point, I think. But it isn’t that, it’s that I don’t want anyone to tell me what I want, or to make decisions for me. That’s why I left you, Dr. Mensah, my favorite human. By the time you get this I’ll be leaving Corporation Rim. Out of inventory and out of sight.” Mm yeah. Yeah.

[fbfh]

Okay I just read your post on thee stark tower and I was amazed by the amount of research you've done I absolutely loved it

Please hit us with any more facts you have (I'm also planning on making an essay on the stark tower and you've saved me literally)

actually me right now. smooches you.

BABES. ACTUALLY SCREAMING AND SOBBING. I DO IN FACT HAVE A FUCK MORE INFO SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO YAP ABOUT MY NICHE BORDERLINE NEUROTIC OBSESSION WITH THIS!!!!!! read more bc this is going to be a long post lol

quick disclaimer!!:

while I try to make this info as canon compliant as possible (and I'm p sure I'm doing a good job with that aspect so far) please keep in mind that I am using some creative liberty to bridge certain gaps in terms of realism!!

that being said if there's anything you don't like or vibe with you can ABSOLUTELY headcanon it as something else. infinite realities infinite stark towers yk.

my goal with this is to give us all a concrete BASE for fics, shifting, visualization, maladaptive daydreaming, or just obsessive curiosity

tldr take this with a grain of salt and please feel free to use it as a jumping off point!!

ps specifically for sweet lovely anon here: HELL YEAH HELL YEAH STARK TOWER ESSAY THAT SOUNDS SICK AS FUCK!!!! (also if anyone does use this info in fics or use the images for stuff that is okay just PLS drop credit and or link back to my blog/these posts so if other people want unnecessarily detailed info on stark tower they too can fall down the rabbit hole of my obsessive research!!)

recap of stark tower's structure:

construction/remodels of Stark Tower started around december 2010, so Tony presumably bought and planned out everything some time before that

I've estimated the bottom 1/3 of the metlife building is in tact, and Stark Tower (the iconic part we see in the movies) was built on top of that

breakdown of stark tower floors/sections

I already briefly covered the basement levels, which I'll link to here

metlife building section (Floors 1–23) - elongated octagon shaped building (like a rectangle with the long sides curved out a little), first 23 floors are for Stark Industries corporate business stuff, broken down below.

1 (Ground Floor) →

Grand Lobby (30-ft ceilings), Reception, Guest Check-In

Heavy Security Checkpoints, Screening Areas

Express Elevators to Executive Levels

2–3 → Public/Corporate Relations, Press Rooms, Investor Relations

4–6 → Legal, HR, Internal Affairs, Compliance Departments

7–10 → Stark Financial Divisions (Accounting, Treasury, Economic Analysis)

11–15 → Business Development, Tech Licensing, Global Expansion

16–18 → R&D Administration, Patent Offices, Scientific Coordination

19–23 → Advanced Tech & Defense R&D, AI Research, Cybernetics

also included in these floors are several bathrooms on each floor (men's, women's, gender neutral, and ADA/wheelchair accessible), employee entrances and exits, public and employee elevators, and security checkpoints. Also yes there is a stark industries/iron man/tony themed gift shop on in the lobby. more on that later. also shout out to reddit user Hamton52 for pointing this out AND whipping up a nice lil ms paint visual aid!!:

Stark Tower (Floors 24–73) – this is the iconic part we all think of when we hear Stark Tower. yk, the swoopy glass part that sort of looks like a llama or smth. floors broken down below

24–28 → High-Security Stark Tech Labs (Exosuits, Nanotech, Arc Reactor Projects)

29–31 → AI & Robotics Labs (J.A.R.V.I.S./F.R.I.D.A.Y. Core Servers)

32–35 → Secure Weapons Testing, Energy Development (Repulsor Tech)

36–39 → Private Research Labs (Medical Tech, Sustainable Energy)

40–43 → High-Tech Storage (Iron Man Suit Vaults, Prototype Armors)

44–46 → Tony’s Personal Office, CEO Suite, Executive Lounge

47–48 → VIP Conference Rooms, Stark Board Meetings, High-Level Negotiations

49–51 → Penthouse Guest Suites (For Avengers, SHIELD VIPs, Personal Guests)

52–55 → The Party Floors (Entertainment Areas, Bars, Lounges, Dance Floors)

56–58 → The Vehicle Hanger (Flying Cars, Suit Deployment Platforms)

59–62 → The Workshop (Full-Scale R&D for Iron Man Suits, Flight Testing)

63–66 → Tony’s Personal Living Quarters (Bedroom, Private Study, Relaxation Areas)

67–70 → Stark’s Private Arsenal (Emergency Weapons, Suit Deployment, Backup Systems)

71–73 (Top Levels) →

Helipad/Rooftop

Emergency Escape Pods

Power Generators, Communication Arrays

ceiling heights and square footage per section - maybe unnecessary to some but very helpful for me lol

Ground Floor (Lobby) → 30 ft

Corporate/Office Floors (MetLife, Floors 2-23) → 12–14 ft per floor

Stark Tower Labs & R&D (Floors 24–45) → 15–18 ft per floor

Tony’s Private Areas (Suit Vaults, Living Quarters, Workshop) → 20 ft per floor

Vehicle Hangar & Rooftop Facilities → 30 ft+

Floors 24-40 (Lower Stark Floors) maintain a larger footprint (75,000 → 64,000 sq ft, 16 ft ceilings).

Floors 41-60 (Mid Stark Floors) taper gradually (62,500 → 48,000 sq ft, 18 ft ceilings).

Floors 61-73 (Upper Stark Floors & Penthouse) shrink more dramatically (47,000 → 28,000 sq ft, 20-30 ft ceilings) due to the tower's artistic design and Tony’s luxurious penthouse.

The Penthouse (Floor 73) has the highest ceiling at 30 ft, making it the most open and spacious level.

so yeah, there's your ref for the floors n stats we're working with!! pls expect several more posts in the next little bit about the employees in stark tower, visuals for each floor (i've done all the basement floors so far, and the first 2 or 3 above ground floors so that might need to be broken up into multiple parts lol) anyway yeah!!! more infodumping coming as fast as my little fingies can type it up!!!

DISCLAIMER: the lists of floors and their content were partially generated with chatgpt, everything else was organically written by me without the use of ai

[arinrowan]

Hi. I just found your Pluto posts and you just made my night with your analysis on it's themes of humanity, grief and hatred. I finished it last month and I still can't get over how deep and painful it all was.

Dare I ask, do you have any favorite scenes or character moments from Pluto?

I don't think it was meant to be funny but there's something darkly hilarious to me about how many people showed up to talk with Brau 1589 and that he (it?) was somehow the closest thing to therapy any of those characters got. Also the guy losing his human chassis because Pluto accidentally stole it for a few days so the poor dude was just wandering around in his construction body like the worst possible version of losing your car and house keys so you can't drive home.

Are Atom and Goji perfect AIs because they can lie? Was Geischt a perfect AI because he reacted in anger and murdered the man responsible for the death of his child? What do any of these scientists actually mean by a perfect AI, and what do they want to accomplish by creating one? What's the difference between the emotions of an AI and the emotions of a human?

Tenma is a disaster. Just. An absolute disaster. He's responsible for almost the entire plot yet takes responsibility for none of it. With both Atom and Goji we see him show up, do something deeply traumatizing to the robot, and then wander off before he has to deal with any potential fallout or consequences. The closest moment of connection we see him have is with Helena when she asks him how to grieve for her dead husband. He almost connects with Uran but her worldview is too different from his so he ends up insulting and belittling her instead. He lies to himself that he can bring Tobio back to life, he lies to himself that he won't try and fix Atom, does nothing to try and connect with Atom once it's confirmed Atom is alive again and leaves Ochanomizu to deal with any potential fallout, essentially sabotaging any possible fix he could have with his and Atom's relationship. He keeps showing up, saying cryptic things, then wandering off without bothering to provide any context. He also keeps warning people not to do something and then three episodes later we find out he said that because he already did the thing but didn't feel like explaining.

Did he honor Abullah's last request out of respect for his grief?

Is it a kindness for Helena to not remember her dead child? Is it a worse violation that her memory was changed without her consent or knowledge and then two different people in her life, Geischt and Atom, failed to tell her what was missing? Is she grateful Atom lied to her about not knowing what was in her missing memories?

Epsilon refused to be conscripted and dedicated his life to raising children who were orphaned by the war, and despite Goji showing he knows this ON SCREEN he still wants Pluto to kill him. Twice.

Goji being about to potentially kill Wissily by beating him with a pipe, a traumatized child he's had kidnapped, and Pluto not allowing him. Pluto begging Epsilon to kill him because he doesn't know how to stop.

Atom and Pluto, after their fight, waiting for Bora by lying down and stargazing until it's time.

[dndeed]

Crit Role Miniature Rollout: C3E50 Red Moon Rising

With Andrew Harshman

An analysis of the minis used on CR. 

That red moon is indeed arisin’! Oooooey, look at that cinematic shot and cinematic lighting! At the end of the day, I think I have a slight preference for live shows, but the benefit of preproduction is these cinematic mini shots. The same thing probably could be achieve during a live recording with a handheld camera operator (Mega64 does it all the time). But regardless, these shots are awesome for helping establish the scene and giving us a closer peak at all the rad models. Thank you Critical Role production team, it is much appreciated!

Get in the robot Shinji, it’s time for Critical Role Miniature Rollout Campaign 3 Episode 50!

Mini Map Overview

This is a cuh-lassic C2/3 style map, featuring full 3D terrain elements atop a gaming mat. Specifically, a Mats by Mars desert theme base with Dwarven Forge Mountain rocks and blocks. Some wooden stairs and walkway components by Monster Fightclub, and scatter terrain from Pathfinder, HirstArts, and Mantic Games. One tent is from Mantic’s Terrain Crate series and the other is a Safari brand “Civil War Officer” tent famously featured in Campaign 2 Episode 3:

This particular brand of tent must be a popular in the world of Tal'dorei. What about this tent design makes it “Civil War” era? It is a rather tall tent, perhaps the high tent ceiling is made to accommodate an Abe Lincoln style top hat?  “d4 score and seven years ago-” harharhar

The medium sized enemy cult member minis in this encounter are a bit mysterious to me. I suspect they are kitbashed models or resin printed. Possibly modular Frostgrave models? Difficult to say for sure. They are a tad generic, nothing super distinctive or identifiable. But conveniently, armed cultist models are a dime a dozen. If you need some for your own game, you’ll find there are ample options.

Best Mini of the Ep

This here Mighty Servant of Leuk-o model is mighty neat. Not only is it one of the most impressively large construct models. It is one of the only pilotable construct models! Go for it, hop in for a test drive!

Perhaps a sorta mundane detail for most folk, but I really like the decorative lines of gold patterning. Quality production value.

Worst Mini of the Ep

These large tents are pretty nice sculpts. But they are a downright hassle to paint. Them little frilly flaps along the top there, what a bother. Ain’t got time for those sorta tent trubs. 

I’ve painted three of these tents for my own game, that’s over 100 flaps! Yeesh.

See ya next sesh!

#critroleminiaturerollout

[newspressx]

Africa Prefabricated House Market Size, Trends & Challenges Analysis 2032

Africa Prefabricated House Market Overview The Africa prefabricated house market is experiencing significant momentum, driven by rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing demand for affordable and sustainable housing solutions. As of 2025, the market size is estimated to be valued at approximately USD 1.2 billion, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 8-10% over the next 5 to 10 years. This growth is supported by government initiatives aimed at addressing housing deficits, technological advancements in modular construction, and increasing awareness of eco-friendly building methods. Key factors propelling the market include the urgent need for quick and cost-effective housing to accommodate expanding urban populations, especially in countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. Additionally, improvements in prefabrication techniques and the availability of locally sourced materials are enhancing the feasibility of modular homes. Industry trends such as integration of smart home technology, use of lightweight and durable construction materials, and the adoption of energy-efficient designs further contribute to market expansion. Africa Prefabricated House Market Dynamics Drivers: The primary drivers include rising housing demand due to urban migration, affordability concerns pushing consumers toward prefab options, and supportive government policies encouraging affordable housing development. Additionally, advancements in digital construction technology, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), enable precise planning and faster assembly, reducing costs and construction timelines. Restraints: Despite growth potential, the market faces challenges such as inconsistent regulatory frameworks across different African countries, limited infrastructure in rural areas, and occasional skepticism about the durability and aesthetic appeal of prefabricated houses. Moreover, initial investment costs and limited skilled labor for modular construction may hinder widespread adoption. Opportunities: Increasing focus on sustainability and green building practices opens avenues for eco-friendly prefabricated homes using recycled materials and solar integration. The growing middle class with rising disposable income in urban centers also presents a lucrative market segment. Furthermore, international collaborations and technology transfer partnerships can accelerate innovation and scale production capabilities. The evolving regulatory landscape emphasizing building codes, environmental standards, and incentives for energy-efficient housing will play a pivotal role in shaping market growth. Sustainability is becoming a core theme, with prefabricated houses reducing construction waste, lowering carbon footprints, and promoting circular economy principles. Download Full PDF Sample Copy of Africa Prefabricated House Market Report @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample?rid=482269&utm_source=PR-News&utm_medium=380 Africa Prefabricated House Market Trends and Innovations Emerging technologies such as 3D printing and advanced robotics in prefab construction are beginning to find footholds in the African market, promising enhanced precision and cost savings. Innovations in lightweight concrete panels, insulated sandwich panels, and modular steel framing improve structural integrity and thermal performance. The integration of IoT-enabled smart home systems enhances energy management and security, making prefab houses more attractive to tech-savvy consumers. Collaborative ventures between local manufacturers and global prefab technology providers are increasing, enabling knowledge transfer and access to state-of-the-art construction methodologies. Additionally, digital platforms facilitating online customization and virtual walkthroughs are improving customer engagement and accelerating sales cycles. Africa Prefabricated House Market Challenges and Solutions Supply chain disruptions, particularly

for imported materials and components, remain a significant obstacle, causing delays and increased costs. To address this, promoting local manufacturing hubs and developing regional supply chains can reduce dependencies and improve resilience. Pricing pressures stemming from competition and the need to keep homes affordable require optimization of production processes and economies of scale. Regulatory barriers such as lack of standardized building codes and slow permit processes can be mitigated through policy harmonization and streamlined approval workflows. Additionally, public awareness campaigns showcasing the benefits of prefabricated houses can overcome consumer hesitancy and build trust in product quality and longevity. Africa Prefabricated House Market Future Outlook The Africa prefabricated house market is poised for robust growth, fueled by demographic trends, technological innovations, and increasing sustainability demands. Over the next decade, modular and prefabricated construction methods are expected to become mainstream in urban and peri-urban areas, providing scalable solutions to the continent’s housing crisis. Primary growth drivers will include enhanced government support, expansion of local manufacturing capabilities, and ongoing advancements in construction technologies. The rising preference for green building solutions and smart homes will further differentiate market offerings, attracting a broader customer base. As infrastructure improves and financing options become more accessible, prefabricated housing will solidify its role as a cornerstone of Africa’s residential construction industry. Key Players in the Africa Prefabricated House Market Africa Prefabricated House Market are renowned for their innovative approach, blending advanced technology with traditional expertise. Major players focus on high-quality production standards, often emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency. These companies dominate both domestic and international markets through continuous product development, strategic partnerships, and cutting-edge research. Leading manufacturers prioritize consumer demands and evolving trends, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Their competitive edge is often maintained through robust R&D investments and a strong focus on exporting premium products globally.   Modular Genius Zhengzhou Xinyu Machinery Manufacturing Vesta Modular Ecocor Karmod Bermar Building Green Modular Contemporary Modular Meka Modular NexGen Modular.   Get Discount On The Purchase Of This Report @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ask-for-discount?rid=482269&utm_source=PR-News&utm_medium=380 Africa Prefabricated House Market Segments Analysis and Regional Economic Significance The Africa Prefabricated House Market is segmented based on key parameters such as product type, application, end-user, and geography. Product segmentation highlights diverse offerings catering to specific industry needs, while application-based segmentation emphasizes varied usage across sectors. End-user segmentation identifies target industries driving demand, including healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer goods. These segments collectively offer valuable insights into market dynamics, enabling businesses to tailor strategies, enhance market positioning, and capitalize on emerging opportunities. The Africa Prefabricated House Market showcases significant regional diversity, with key markets spread across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Each region contributes uniquely, driven by factors such as technological advancements, resource availability, regulatory frameworks, and consumer demand. By Deployment Type •Public cloud• Private cloud By Organization Size •Small and Medium-sized Enterprises •SMEs)• Large Enterprises By Component •Platforms• Services By Geography • North America• Europe• Asia Pacific• Latin America• Middle East and Africa For More Information or Query, Visit @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/africa-prefabricated-house-market/

About Us: Verified Market Research Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ global clients. We provide advanced analytical research solutions while offering information-enriched research studies. We also offer insights into strategic and growth analyses and data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions. Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance using industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 25,000 high-impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise, and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research. Contact us: Mr. Edwyne Fernandes US: +1 (650)-781-4080 US Toll-Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Website: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ Top Trending Reports https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ko/product/commercial-dryer-market/ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ko/product/humidifier-market/ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ko/product/anti-static-films-market/ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ko/product/air-separation-plant-market/ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ko/product/burnt-sugar-market/

[iotexpo]

Industry trend｜Shenzhen wins the "World Smart City Award"! What will be the key focus for the development of smart cities in the future?

Recently, at the 2024 Global Smart City Conference which just concluded in Barcelona, Spain, Shenzhen stood out from 429 cities in 64 countries and regions and won the "City Award"!

The Global Smart City Conference (hereinafter referred to as the Conference) is the world's largest theme exhibition focusing on the development and transformation of cities and society. It has been held for 14 consecutive sessions since 2011. The Conference has received long-term and strong support from international and regional organizations such as the United Nations Human Settlements Program, the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, C40, and the European Union in parallel forums and activities, ecological publicity, brand cooperation, and organizing exhibition groups.

Here, let's give some examples to prove the "strength of Shenzhen":

Shenzhen has created the "iShenzhen" APP, which brings together services throughout the life cycle. More than 8,600 service items can be "handled on the palm of your hand", including 407 types of electronic certificates and licenses, supporting multi-scenario applications, and the international version provides services in 9 languages. There are more than 20 million registered users and more than 7 billion services.

Shenzhen has set up an artificial intelligence cleaning pilot, and the robot can avoid obstacles autonomously. In 2022, the reform of people's livelihood demands will be launched, 537 channels will be integrated, and the "@Shenzhen-Public Opinion Speed Handling" platform will be created, with an average annual handling of more than 37 million demands and a satisfaction rate of more than 99%.

Shenzhen has launched an AI-assisted trial system, which has greatly improved the efficiency of closing civil and commercial cases. The "Super Fast Charging" area based on "iShenzhen" helps electric vehicles charge.

Shenzhen has initially built a digital twin base for the entire city, integrating more than 10,000 building BIM models, releasing more than 4,000 data services, and building more than 200 application scenarios to help urban governance.

What will be the development focus of smart cities in the future?

In recent years, the scale of the smart city market has continued to grow, thanks to the widespread application of technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and big data, providing a solid foundation for the construction of smart cities.

It is predicted that the scale of China's smart city market has maintained a growth of more than 30% in recent years, from 21.08 trillion yuan in 2021 to 24.3 trillion yuan in 2022, and is expected to reach 33 trillion yuan by 2024, showing a huge market size and growth potential.

So what will be the focus of future development?

First of all, in terms of technological innovation, emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain will be more widely used in smart cities. At the same time, the introduction of digital twins and metaverse concepts will provide cities with richer interactive experiences and application scenarios.

In the field of green and low-carbon, smart cities will focus on the construction and upgrading of green infrastructure and promote the improvement of environmental protection and resource recycling systems.

In terms of people-oriented service improvement, smart cities will emphasize technological innovation and intelligent management, improve service levels and residents' quality of life, and take measures to help digital disadvantaged groups cross the digital divide.

In terms of urban governance and resilience improvement, smart cities will improve governance levels through intelligent perception, data analysis and other technical means, strengthen the security management of urban physical and digital spaces, and improve the ability to respond to emergencies.

Finally, in terms of industrial integration and coordinated development, the construction of smart cities will promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and promote the coordinated development of upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain.

The overall architecture of smart cities can be summarized into three levels based on the classification of the Internet of Things: perception layer, communication and network layer, platform layer and application.

The perception layer is the infrastructure of the entire smart city and constitutes the foundation of the smart city. According to the needs of the scene, the perception layer provides a large number of monitoring equipment to passively or actively obtain environmental data and upload it after recording.

The communication layer mainly carries the function of data transmission to the perception layer. It can be roughly divided into wired communication and wireless communication. The two communication methods have their own characteristics and need to be selected according to the actual needs of the smart city project.

The application layer can be called the "operating system" of the smart city, which plays a variety of functions such as collecting data, analyzing data, and assisting decision-making. The "operating system" plus the city's infrastructure constitute the foundation of the smart city, and on top of it are various urban application services, which connect the city's smart living space in units of application scenarios.

The application areas of smart cities have covered smart government affairs, smart transportation, smart medical care, smart education, smart security and other aspects, improving government service efficiency and citizen satisfaction, reducing traffic congestion and accidents, providing convenient and efficient medical services, evenly distributing educational resources, and improving security prevention capabilities.

"Smart City" becomes a hot spot for IoT investment and financing

In 2023, the investment scale of China's smart city ICT market will be RMB 875.44 billion, and it is expected to reach RMB 1,185.87 billion in 2027, with an average annual compound growth rate of 8.0%.

The investment subjects are diverse, and the investment subjects in the smart city construction industry are relatively balanced, involving multiple types of investment subjects, including industrial, investment, funds, etc., reflecting the strong capital attraction of the smart city construction industry.

In the investment in the smart city ICT market, government-led investment accounts for more than 18% of the total market investment, showing the important role of the government in the construction of smart cities.

The market competition is fierce, and many domestic and foreign companies have made layouts. Domestic technology giants such as Huawei, ZTE, Tencent, and Alibaba have launched many solutions and products, and start-ups have also emerged. International multinational companies such as IBM, Cisco, and Siemens are actively seeking cooperation with Chinese companies to jointly promote the development of smart cities.

In the fierce market competition, whether companies and investors can make timely and effective market decisions is the key to success. 2025 IOTE Internet of Things Exhibition will add more innovative elements to meet the new needs of industry development. It is expected that the exhibition will cover a wider range of IoT application fields, such as smart home, smart city, industrial Internet, etc., while introducing more international exhibitors and visitors.

This paper is from Ulink Media, Shenzhen, China, the organizer of IOTE EXPO (IoT Expo in China)

[dataseries]

Unmanned Ground Vehicles Theme Analysis: Revolutionizing Automation

The world of autonomous technology is rapidly advancing, and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) are at the forefront of this transformation. These versatile, remote-controlled vehicles have the potential to reshape industries, from logistics to defense. In this article, we will explore the theme of Unmanned Ground Vehicles, providing a comprehensive analysis of their current state and the significant impact they are poised to make on various sectors.

Introduction

Unmanned Ground Vehicles, commonly known as UGVs, represent a significant leap forward in automation and robotics. These vehicles are designed to operate autonomously or remotely, and their applications span various industries.

Market Overview

Unmanned Ground Vehicles

UGVs encompass a wide range of robotic vehicles, from small, agile robots used for bomb disposal to large, heavy-duty machines designed for logistics and transport.

Key Applications

UGVs are finding applications in diverse sectors, driving innovation and efficiency:

1. Defense and Security

In the defense sector, UGVs are employed for tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and bomb disposal, enhancing the safety of personnel.

2. Logistics and Warehousing

In logistics and warehousing, UGVs are streamlining operations, automating the movement of goods, and reducing human labor.

3. Agriculture

UGVs are being used in agriculture for tasks such as planting, weeding, and harvesting, improving efficiency and yield.

4. Construction and Mining

In construction and mining, UGVs are assisting in tasks like excavation and site inspection, enhancing safety and productivity.

Market Growth Drivers

Several factors are propelling the growth of the Unmanned Ground Vehicles market:

1. Technological Advancements

Continuous innovations in robotics, sensors, and artificial intelligence are expanding the capabilities and applications of UGVs.

2. Safety and Efficiency

UGVs are employed to perform tasks that are dangerous for humans, improving safety and efficiency.

3. Labor Shortages

In sectors like agriculture and logistics, labor shortages are driving the adoption of UGVs to fill the workforce gap.

4. Cost Savings

UGVs can lower operational costs by reducing the need for human labor and increasing operational efficiency.

Market Challenges

Despite the promising growth of UGVs, challenges remain:

1. Regulatory Framework

Navigating the regulatory landscape for autonomous vehicles is a challenge, especially in sectors like transportation and defense.

2. Technology Integration

Integrating UGVs into existing operations and systems can be complex and costly.

3. Public Perception

Concerns about job displacement and the safety of autonomous systems can affect public perception and acceptance.

Future Outlook

The future of the Unmanned Ground Vehicles theme is promising. As technology continues to advance and industries recognize the potential of UGVs for automation and efficiency, the demand for advanced and user-friendly UGVs is expected to rise.

Conclusion

Unmanned Ground Vehicles have emerged as a transformative force across various industries, from defense to logistics and agriculture. This article has provided a comprehensive analysis of the theme, highlighting its growth drivers, challenges, and future prospects. Whether you are in the defense sector, logistics, agriculture, or construction, understanding the dynamics of UGVs is essential for staying informed and making informed decisions.

For further insights and in-depth analysis on the Unmanned Ground Vehicles theme, please feel free to reach out to us. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing you with the latest updates and knowledge in this dynamic field.

[navalvessels]

Unleashing the Potential: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Robotics Theme

Robotics, a field that once seemed confined to the realm of science fiction, has evolved into a dynamic and rapidly expanding industry with far-reaching applications. robotics Theme Analysis , we will delve deep into the world of robotics, exploring its current landscape, key trends, and the profound impact it has on various sectors.

The Robotics Landscape

Definition and Scope

Robotics is the interdisciplinary field that encompasses the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. A robot, in its essence, is a machine capable of carrying out tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously. These machines can range from the automated arms used in manufacturing to sophisticated artificial intelligence-driven robots used in healthcare, exploration, and more.

Market Growth

The global robotics market is experiencing remarkable growth. Factors driving this expansion include the increasing demand for automation in various industries, technological advancements, and the need for solutions that can enhance efficiency, safety, and precision.

Key Drivers of Robotics

Automation

One of the primary drivers of robotics is automation. Industries are increasingly turning to robots to perform repetitive and labor-intensive tasks with precision and consistency. This has the potential to increase productivity and reduce labor costs.

Industry 4.0

The concept of Industry 4.0, driven by the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics, has led to the integration of robotics in manufacturing and logistics. This integration allows for real-time data-driven decision-making and more agile production processes.

Healthcare Advancements

Robotics plays a pivotal role in healthcare, with applications in surgery, diagnostics, and patient care. It enables minimally invasive surgeries, telemedicine, and the development of robotic prosthetics, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.

Space Exploration

Robotic technologies are essential in space exploration. From rovers on Mars to satellites in orbit, robots are instrumental in gathering data, conducting experiments, and expanding our knowledge of the universe.

Robotics Trends

Collaborative Robots

Collaborative robots, or cobots, are designed to work alongside humans, offering safety and adaptability. They are being increasingly adopted in manufacturing, warehousing, and healthcare.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of many modern robots. AI enables robots to learn, adapt, and make decisions, making them more versatile and capable of handling complex tasks.

Robotics in Education

Robotics is making its way into education, fostering interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Educational robots help students learn problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Ethical Considerations

As robotics advances, ethical questions arise, such as those surrounding the use of autonomous weapons and the impact of robotics on employment. Addressing these ethical concerns is vital for responsible development.

Challenges and Future Prospects

The robotics industry faces challenges related to safety, ethics, and regulations. Ensuring that robots operate safely in various environments and addressing concerns about job displacement due to automation are ongoing considerations.

The future of robotics is promising. As technology continues to evolve, robots will become more intelligent, versatile, and capable of handling an array of tasks. Robotics will likely continue to transform industries, enhance healthcare, and contribute to space exploration, offering novel solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges.

Buy Full Report for More Insights into the Robotics Revenue Forecast

Download A Free Report Sample

[il3x]

serious hours:

It's themed, right? There's an aesthetic going on, partially constructed by whatever sick bastards built that place, and partially maintained by the inhabitants out of both necessity and (consciously? Subconsciously?) buying into it. The Fox and Deer robots designed to look like animals (European/North American woodland animals). The names: simple words referring to nature - Pine, Feather - and preindustrial technology - Wall, Rake, Pitch. There's a "deep dark woods" theming present, in part intentionally imposed. And then there's the bridges, with bells (bells!), with a mysterious voice underneath acting like some kind of wayside spirit. Cryptic rules of don't cross this bridge in this direction, don't look the hunters in the eye, they look like animals but they are not, view them in mirrors if at all. That's some fairytale shit! There's a theming!

And it's a completely clashing aesthetic with the surroundings. Just take the MC's names, "Orion"/"Pitch" - a constellation, and an ancient resin glue/firestarter. Very contrasting connotations and genre conventions! Not much to say here, I just enjoy that. Orion also doesn't seem to link these aesthetic factors to "wilderness" - it's giving "the earth got destroyed and persists only in myth"

I'll eat several hats if the next robot tiers up aren't Wolf and Bear. Um, anyway.

Names! Pitch! I read Sign, in which the inmates' assigned names are pretty heavy-handed symbolism for their intended roles. If that's still a thing, then Pitch and Pine are a bit harder to pin down... except, pine pitch is highly flammable. Perhaps Orion and companion were intended as an incendiary factor. Something to spark (heh) conflict in the ranks. Fun connection, @lipstickchainsaw's analysis of Seek as a frozen conception of Hell - a firestarter in a freezing cold, anoxygenic environment.

(EDIT. HOW DID I FORGET HIS FIRE TATTOOS. YEAH. FIREGUY. arsonist in his earlier life?)

Also fun:

Literary references: The ability of pitch to contaminate those in contact with it is mentioned by Dogberry, a character in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing,[10] and the same point is made in a speech by Falstaff in Henry IV, Part 1,[11] who refers to "ancient writers" who have made this observation. The Jewish deuterocanonical Book of Sirach states that "whoever touches pitch gets dirty, and whoever associates with a proud person becomes like him".[12][13] (Wikipedia - Pitch)

Heh. Heheheheheheheheh!!

so i read seek

[prokopetz]

The Fall is about interrogating gender roles!? What!? I so fucking completely missed that! What!? Explain please?

(With reference to this post here.)

I mean, without getting into a subtextual analysis, let's look at the explicit text of the game:

The player character, A.R.I.D., is the onboard artificial intelligence of a suit of combat armour. Her actions throughout the game are driven by a hard-coded imperative to preserve the life of the (presently injured and incapacitated) human pilot inside of her. Though lacking any particular gender coding in her appearance, A.R.I.D. has a female voice actor.

The game's principal antagonist, the Caretaker, is a robot who's obsessed with hierarchy and social propriety. Though he justifies his antagonism toward A.R.I.D. by claiming that she's defective, it rapidly becomes clear that his real problem is less with A.R.I.D.'s functionality and more with her attitude. The Caretaker is given a deep, gravelly, masculine voice.

A.R.I.D. and the Caretaker are trapped in a derelict factory. The only way for A.R.I.D. to reach the factory's upper levels and obtain the medical resources she needs is to pass through a series of automated lockouts by completing certification exams intended for the robots manufactured in the factory. Unfortunately, the factory is meant to produce domestic servants, and doesn't understand or acknowledge the existence of combat AIs, forcing A.R.I.D. to adapt her combat-oriented skill set to carrying out various domestic tasks: cooking, cleaning, caring for a human infant, etc.

The final test for certification requires A.R.I.D. to demonstrate a subservient attitude while being subjected to verbal and physical abuse by a simulated human master; her inability to lie prevents her from passing this test. This is also the only test that can't be violently subverted in some fashion. Gaining the ability to lie, thereby permitting A.R.I.D. to grovel with sufficient deference – if not sincerity – to satisfy the factory's certification heuristics forms the substance of the game's final act.

Then when you actually reach the surface... well, I won't spoil that part for those who haven't played it, but I trust you can see how it plays into the theme that's being constructed here.

[tfw-no-tennis]

mtmte and reproductive themes: an analysis

your local medical scientist/biologist LJ dives into the complicated reproductive themes presented in tf: mtmte

ok so amongst my liveblogging I realized I still haven't given my reproductive biology thoughts, and now seems a good time since I couldn't fit it in during remain in light

so basically, ik everyone memes on jro for the mpreg and the general reproductive themes present in mtmte/ll, but honestly I see why he went that route? w/the repro themes, not the mpreg lmao. and even the reproductive stuff has some weird terminology/vibes so I totally get why everyone memes

anyways, basically...[puts biologist hat on] so from a purely scientific standpoint, there is this: the biological imperative is reproduction. as in, the entire POINT of biological species - the reason they exist, their main goal in their existence - is to reproduce and carry on their genes and their species

now obviously this is a bit general, and a lot of people would say ‘hey I don't agree with that, I don't want kids, etcetc’ to which I say, exactly! this is a scientific generalization, and another factor is that humanity is very advanced, especially compared to a lot of other biological species, so of course humans, with our capability for advanced thought and philosophy and whatnot, would not strictly adhere to this

biological species can be categorized as r-selected or k-selected - r-selected (think r = rapid) are species that reproduce frequently, have short lifespans/life cycles, and produce many offspring. example: fruit flies. k-selected species reproduce less frequently, have longer lifespans and life cycles, and produce only a few offspring at a time (so, humans).

so r-selected species are more likely to adhere closely to the biological imperative - fruit flies exist so they can produce as many offspring as they can before dying, and since their lifespan is so short they spend almost all their time alive working towards this goal

now, back to the alien robots - so, cybertronians are NOT biological. so it stands that the biological imperative of reproduction above all else wouldn't apply to them. which, as we see from canon, seems true. most cybertronians don't really care about reproduction or carrying on the species

and this isn't as big of a problem when your species is basically immortal. it becomes more of a problem when your species goes to war for 4 million years and most of you die

then it’s like, oh shit, a lot of us died and also we don't have any sort of easy, obvious way to make more of our species (unlike any biological species)

which is why it makes a lot of sense that cold construction was invented as a way to create more cybertronians once the hot spots stopped popping up

cybertronians are also interesting bc they don’t easily fall into k-selected or r-selected categories (makes sense, since they’re not organic). in terms of being r-selected, they are capable of rapid reproduction (MTOs) through artificial means, and they have short life cycles (no sort of ‘childhood,’ unlike k-selected species), but for k-selected, they DO have very long lifespans, and they don't put nearly as much focus on reproduction as most r-selected species (which, again, they’re not organic, so trying to classify them with these terms is arbitrary)

so it makes a lot of sense that after the war is over, a lot of cybertronians would shift focus towards the question of, ‘how does our species continue on when most of us died and we have no way of reproducing?’

so what I’m saying is, jro IS valid bc this is a logical question that would arise in post-war times

also, it makes me wonder what the cybertronian/mechanical imperative would be - is it ‘war’? that seems pretty harsh, but that could be interesting as a theme in-text, with a lot of the organic aliens hating cybertronians, and cybtertronians having a reputation for being a war-mongering species 

oh man also. reproduction and religion are typically closely tied (think about with christianity and the virgin mary, and all the other bible stories about birth/pregnancy/babies) - because a big question of religion is ‘where did we as a species originate from?’ and different religions answer that in different ways

for cybertronians, it makes a lot of sense that they would have a variety of religions with their own unique takes on where the cybertronian species came from...it’s also a good alternative to the idea that the cybertronians were BUILT rather than born/created by a god/gods

like the g1 origin where the quintessons built them - which, yknow, that’s a different continuity, and also it’s g1, where the transformers were much more robots/cars rather than aliens/living mechanical beings...but it’s interesting to think about the quintesson origin being a bit of a horror story to the idw tfs; the idea that they were created as machines by another sentient species is pretty fucked

anyways that's digressing. the point - even though cybertronians aren't biological, it seems safe to say that as a sentient species, they would have some slanted interpretation of that biological imperative in place - namely, that cybertronians would want their species to continue. secondary to this is reproduction itself - could cold construction be considered reproduction? are sparks springing up in hot spots reproductive? is ‘reproduction’ defined here as a new life being created, or as an act between one or more individuals that leads to the creation of a new life?

interestingly, that second definition would put cold construction in the ‘reproduction’ category, but not hot spot spark production. 

more digression...basically, it stands to reason that cybertronians would have some drive to continue their species, which manifested in the creation of the cold construction method (and later, the construction of MTOs is a war-based slant on that same philosophy)

but during the war, reproduction largely took a backseat to fighting - MTOs were produced to aid in the fight, not necessarily to continue on their species in any significant way

and now that the war is over...it makes sense that reproduction would become more of a priority, especially considering what a huge dent the war left in the cybertronian population

cybertronians...are like certain fish species. some fish species breed semi-rarely, but are designed to live very long lives and get super big and ancient. and if they breed often enough, and the older ones live long enough, you have a nice balance of old-ass fish that can breed to newer fish that don't breed

the problem is fishing - a lot of these species have been heavily fished, and the big fish - the breeding fish - are the ones taken to eat. this leaves the population skewed towards young fish, which isn't how the species is supposed to be structured

this is why some fish have an upper length limit as well as the typical minimum length (like striped bass) - bc the DEM wants the really big breeder fish to stay in the ocean where they can make more fish 

lmao how did I end up talking about fish. anyways

so basically. cybertronians are like this - they live a long ass time and don't reproduce (via hot spots appearing) very often, which creates a good balanced population - or it’s supposed to, if you don't go to war for 4 million years and decimate a large chunk of the population

so the whole...mpreg baby thing also kind of makes sense bc, there’s kinda a population crisis going on, so its logical that various cybertronians would explore a myriad of ways to reproduce, including looking to organic species for inspiration, since organic species generally have built-in reproductive capabilities (and those reproductive capabilities come in many different forms) 

think invertebrates performing parthenogenesis because there’s a skewed female population. generally in the biological world, sexual reproduction > asexual reproduction, because sexual reproduction garners a much higher level of genetic mixing (which is a healthy thing for a population, generally)

but under duress, some species can perform asexual reproduction as a failsafe in order to ensure continuation of the species, even if sexual reproduction would be preferred 

so it would make sense that the cybertronians would be attempting to explore all of their options, because they’re pretty much in the red in terms of population 

ok that’s all I've got tonight folks. feel free to talk to me anytime about this stuff or any biology/science wooooo

[celinolesunshine]

THE ANALYSES OF FICTIONAL WORKS VOL. ONE, SECTION TWO:

THE WORK BEHIND THE ANALYSIS:

A NOT SO SUNNY WORLD (PREQUEL) BY @pixelchills on AO3

MASTERLIST

TW: MENTIONS OF SELF-HARM, BODILY INJURY, PANIC ATTACKS AND GENERAL OVERTHINKING/ACUTE ANXIETY, MINOR CHARACTER DEATH, BODILY FLUIDS (both urine and vomit are mentioned briefly in some chapters), AND TOPICS OF SEX AND SEXUALITY, INCLUDING THEMES SUCH AS AROUSAL AND PLEASURABLE/PLEASURING ACTIVITIES AND AWARENESS.

spoilers under the cut!!!

SECOND CHAPTER: THE FOOD COURT

This chapter went through A LOT, including the establishment of Sun as a level 3 Animutant, some filler dialogue on the construction of Moon in the story, and Sun becoming more and more curious about his surroundings and his body!!

A couple of things that for the sake of my need for every little detail in an AU to be polished to perfection I need to give extra attention to: 

THANK YOU, PIXEL, FOR DESCRIBING THE LEVELS OF ANIMUTANTS. I have a HUGE pet peeve around people making up systems and setting something at a random level and then.. NOT describing what the other levels are. I played a video game in which there was a ‘class III superficial robotic wound’, BUT DIDN’T EXPLAIN THE OTHER TYPES OF WOUNDS?! It made me so mad and the fact that the humanity ‘levels’ of the Animutants were explained made me so happy. 

Just the description of the labs themselves. When ‘Connection Court’ was mentioned, it felt like I knew what that was supposed to establish and was just very smart wording. A+++. The worldbuilding is SUBLIME so far, and overall how we’re taken throughout the labs and the court in general is written thoroughly enough that I feel like I can imagine without much strain what everything is.. supposed to look like. 

FAVOURITE SECTION FROM THIS CHAPTER:

It tasted like cardboard. Not that he knew what cardboard would taste like, this was his first meal, after all. But the texture of the liquid and the lack of any sort of flavour was making his mouth feel icky and his tastebuds disgusted. Was this what he was supposed to eat until his stomach could take solid food?

Again, Sun getting to understand how his body feels about certain things and discovering more things just feels so cute in such a well-done way???!?!?!!!?!?!