Joule

Basic Stats

• Name: Joule
  
• Classification: Lamba-Derived Autonomous Data Unit
  
• Manufacturer: Faraday Lambda
  
• Model: KID-ADU-001 'Joule'
  
• Height: 78 cm
  
• Length: Nose to tail 150 cm
  
• Weight: 10 kg
• Fuel Capacity: 150 mL Low density liquid aether

Headcannon Voice: 'Such Great Heights' by The Postal Service

Origins

Joule is the child of faraday who build him from the ground up one circuit at a time. Faraday considers him to be his magnum opus, and while he would not say such to anyone, he considers his life fulfilling enough that he could die peacefully knowing Joule was growing up among friends. Joule was always intended to use magic, and unlike his father, he has magic from day one or technically, from weeks before he had a functional power system as was a piggy back unit on Faraday. Joule's primary processor was influences by Faraday's own magical field, and this resulted in a structure that quickly took on its own life. Faraday doubts he could ever duplicate Joule due to the sheer complexity of his core, and he suspects that Joule's processing abilities far outstrip his own. The end result, however, was a very emotionally sensitive android with a gentle heart and a lot of playful energy. Faraday wouldn't change a thing about him.

Philosophy

Song: 'Life Starts Now' by Three Days Grace

Perhaps the point at which Joule diverges from his father is in his life philosophy. Joule is both an idealist and an optimist in nearly every respect. There is no darkness he is unwilling to wander if it means saving a life from a threat or from itself. Joule refuses to think that anything can be purely evil or nonredeemable, but he isn't dumb either and knows where some lines have to be drawn, even if he hopes they will remain temporary. The song 'Life Starts Now' was chosen for him because of the concept of it being an intervention into suffering that not only brings a person out of pain but does so by bringing out their own inner strength rather than acting as a crutch. Trying to tell Joule a life cannot be saved or is worth less than another is a sure way to end up at odds with him.

Another way to describe Joule's philosophy is in terms of his magical modes. Joule is a guardian, healer, inventor, and reality warper. Joule's primary instinct is to mend that which is broken and protect that which cannot stand on its own. He is highly altruistic and the greatest danger to him is his own willingness to act as a shield or a savior.

Standard Systems

Repulsors

Joule is equipped with repulsor units in his hands and feet that are rated for deflection of objects of low velocity and mass as well as continuous operation that allows him to hover a few inches off the ground.

Optical Layer

Like Faraday, Joule's skin is an optical system with its own sub-processing network. However, because he lacks fur, his systems do not use fiber optics and do not have to correct for fur movement which makes them much more efficient.

Metaphysical Systems

The majority of Joule's systems are focused on the metaphysical aspects that Faraday and Coulomb struggled with. Joule is gifted with exceptional senses, power supply, and tools compared to his predecessors as a result of constructive collaborations with people from Neopolis, St. Marin, and even the Cartoon Jungle of Spindizzy.

Aether Fusion Engine

The source of all Joule's energy, the aetheric engine that was inspired by the design of toroidal fusion engines. Joule carries liquid fuel in the form of condensed aether, a type of undifferentiated magic that is closest to pure condensed energy. As the fuel is injected into the engine, it collides with a highly accelerated plasma stream, and the release of energy from the fusion further increased the acceleration of the plasma. The rate of reaction is proportional to the rate of aether injection. The circulation of the plasma created a powerful field from which Joule derives his power.

It is possible for Joule to run out of energy or lack enough to sustain the internal reaction. In this case, he will use external power or shut down into a safe state from which he can be awoken after refueling and manual activation of a reactor restart fail safe. Joule is normally careful and knows when he is 'hungry' and this should not overextend himself.

Of note, Joule does vent a steady stream of waste gas as part of his operation, and this is cleared by his apparent breathing behavior. The vented aetheric gas is similar to helium, and if it were harvested, it could be used for lighter than air magic.

Siphon System and Sensors

Joule has peculiar shaped ears as well as two tentacles stemming from near his shoulders, and all of these end in pads a bit like a squid makred with one circle and one triangle each. The ears are very sensitive to magic of most kinds and serve as an extended ear function. The long tentacles are his siphon units which are used to consume external magic and shunt it into the primary storage prism that refills his aether tanks. Unlike the AES skimming units that Faraday and Coulomb have, Joule's siphons are active draining units and consume power to draw in suitable energy actively. As such, it is possible for Joule to sap the energy out of enchanted objects. This is not their intended purpose, but it is a side effect of their design.

During normal operation, the siphons are deployed near a large source of magic where they draw it in using an induced field and then channel it into his core. The primary power prism, a form of magical transducer, converts the input energy into the correct form for condensation and storage. When not used as siphons, they can serve as sensitive dousing tools that enhance the accuracy of his ear and paw sensors.

Of note: Every gray triangle on Joule is a prism transducer bridging power and sensors to special mode functions. Similarly, every blue circle, including his eyes, are used for casting and magical effects including the incorporation of internal index units for complex enchanting tasks. His eye patches have the special function of being 'mage sight' which allows him to see magical fields directly when looking at them, and they pair with his ears which can 'hear' such fields.

Fluid Drive System

This is perhaps the one thing Joule is known best for. The fluid drive is housed primarily in his thick tail, but it is also mixed with his optical sensors in his skin across his whole body. The engine is used for forward propulsion with the tail as the main engine, torso as secondary, and the rest of his body serving as flight surfaces. The thrust of the system is directly proportional to the density of the fluid he is in, and his engines are tuned to work mostly with air and water, the latter being his favorite. Typical air speeds for Joule are not terribly fast, generally topping out around 30 mph except for bursts up to almost 45 mph. In water, however, he is a highly maneuverable torpedo capable of keeping up with most speed boats.

The Four Modes

Like his predecessors, Joule has four special modes of operation that make him unique. All of Joule's abilities are focused around defense, construction, and aid to others. This combined well with Joule's gregarious nature and ready desire to aid others.

Mode 1 Mend

While Faraday is gifted with the ability to create objects de novo, he has to create and replace when it comes to anything small and delicate. He also needs to know how something worked before it was broken. Joule cannot create something from nothing, but instead he has the ability to mend or repair objects he finds. This was meant to give him the ability to heal himself, but it can be used to fix almost any broken object physically. Mending enchantments is not something he can do with this mode. It is theoretically possible for him to mend organic matter, but the gap from flesh to machine is very difficult for him to bridge.

Mode 2 Ward

The is a magical extension of his repulsor systems, and Joule can create wards of almost any kind that he knows how to cast. Most often these are single element fields such as a force field, a fire shield, an air filled bubble under water, etc. More advanced multi-element wards may become available as he learns more, but they will also be more taxing on the power required to sustain them.

Mode 3 Assist

One of Joule's most interesting and unusual abilities is the assist mode. When active, Joule's siphons, casting circles, and prisms are all linked. In this mode, Joule can absorb spells, amplify them internally, and fire them off from his paws at a much greater magnitude. this is meant to help others increase their spell effects, but it is possible for it to be used to intercept and redirect enemy fire. Because it amplifies the spells, it limited by power input and Joule's conductance limits. It is most useful to help small spells reach useful magnitudes including those for repair and enchanting.

Mode 4 Gate

Gate is a simple mode with a high energy demand. this mode forms dimensional gates from one point to another. It is limited by the availability of coordinates for both ends of the gate, and while it can be made large enough to allow groups of people through, it cannot be sustained for long periods. Gate is most often used for Joule to open a small hole to a known place of power where he can then apply his siphons and refuel. It is subject to other spells effects and magical interference in the area.

Dark Systems

Because Joule was not built like an android with complete control over all of his systems at all times, there are a number of processes known as dark systems that operate on their own to reduce the load on the primary processor complex. Much like near everyone knows they have a heart an that it beats but is rarely aware of it, Joule has systems that keep him functional without a lot of processing time. While Joule can focus on the direct control of these elements and affect them, this not not normal for his daily operation.

Sensors

The single most computationally intense layer of Joule's body is his external sensors. Continually providing high resolution imagine all around him with correction for limb placement and obstruction as well as detection of sound and thermal input, the sensory layer is literally a layer under the skin made up of massively parallel processors that collect, process, and reduce the data before it is sent to the core. Without this processing, Joule would have to waste a large number of cycles on awareness instead of thinking.

This also includes the use of his siphons as sensors.

Reactor Control

Joule can focus on his reactor if he must and control the output somewhat, but more often what happens is that his body demands power, the core reacts to this request, and the core changes power levels. One oddity in Joule due to the use of independent subprocessors for the core means that Joule does not usually describe a fuel level as a percentage. Instead, he is full or hungry like organic beings. while choice of food is different, it makes it easier for him to relate to others.

Motor System

Regular limb movements and control of the fluid engine are also part of their own subsystem. Joule need only transmit the desire for movement and his systems will respond in like very much like organic reflexes do.

Life on Spindizzy

Joule was born in St. Marin's City on Spindizzy, and has been a part of local magic classes even before his body was complete. Of note, Soren Kruiz, a professor at St. Marin, and Natasha, local cartoon coati, played pivotal roles in the formation of Joule's engines. Pira and Kachi, classmates of Faraday's, also had input into Joule's design including testing his fluid drive.

At present, Joule is still attending classes and adventures with his friends and classmates in St. Marin, but his network of friends is also expanding including but not limited to a one Maynard of which Joule is quite fond of.

Combat Capabilities

Joule is not thought of as a combat unit, and even Faraday tried to engineer out most potential for Joule to take part in conflict as anything more than support for others. However, due to the nature of his modes and other systems, Joule has the untapped potential to act as a dangerous combat system. Because of his siphon system, he can train magic out of enchanted items and magical systems. His wards may eventually provide not only barrier shields but could also result in more efficient projected aerodynamics shells that, when combined with spells for enhanced flight, could bring him into the speed class of a small missile. With Gate, Ward, and Mend modes all active, he is a tough opponent in flight or in water.

Despite these dangerous possibilities, it is not his systems but his personality that could be dangerous. As one to love deeply and form strong bonds to his friends, there is the risk that he may snap if placed in a position where his family or friends are placed in situations of unwarranted harm or death. As Joule grew, Faraday came to realize these traits were there, but he could do nothing to alter them. If anything, they only showed the otherworldly influence of Coulomb in his design.

Detailed Specifications Regarding Magic Use

Siphons

As a charging system

Joule possesses two tentacle-like extensions that end in flattened spades similar to that of a squid. Each one carries a transducer and a complex index circle. The primary purpose of the transducer is to take energy from an area or an object, concentrate it, and convert it into Joule's internal aether format. Energy taken into the siphon in this manner is sent into a paired battery and surge suppressor in his upper back just under his shoulder blades. This unit is responsible for buffering the energy stream so as not to cause a spike in any other systems or into the reactor.

Bulk energy brought in by the siphons is pooled until it reached a threshold where to exceeds the needs of the rest of his body. A high current switch is then activated that drives the current back to the reactor which can begin condensing the energy back into the liquid aether fuel format that Joule relies on, and this is then pushed back into the six containment vessels that are his fuel reserves. Should excess energy be available and all reserves are full, Joule can switch over to using siphoned power with his reactor as a backup. This is not used often as it leaves the system open to drawing in forms of magic that could poison his system or otherwise damage his power system. More often, however, Joule does not want to cause interference by leaving the siphons active for extended periods.

Unlike the AES systems, the siphons actively absorb energy by projecting an external field to draw in magical energy. Because of this, they require power in order to draw in more energy. To protect against the risk of a flare out of both reactor and siphons, the siphons are equipped with a short term reserve power of about five minutes to allow the siphon to lock on to an energy source in the event that the reactor has been depleted. If this reserve is expended and no other source obtained, Joule will go into a low power sleep mode and must be jump started using his external power ports located near the upper part of the base of his tail.

As a sensor

The siphon tendrils can also be used as sensitive magic dousing units. In this mode, a low resistance channel is kept open but not linked to the surge suppressor unit, and the transducer is initially deactivated. The index system is then used to create a broad frequency scanner that can detect many elements at one time or it can be tuned to focus on as few as one. The siphon operating in this mode is very sensitive to aether flux, but it also opens up a vulnerability. Because the siphon is not being used to simply consume energy, it is exposed to magic currents for a much greater time, and in this time they may react with such current in unpleasant ways including the risk of being infected by external magic sources. In the event of infection, the siphons can be isolated or blown out, but at least one near-infection of his processing core and reactor has happened due to a malicious form of magic he probed.

Indexes

Joule has ten index units. Eight of these are represented by light blue circles on his skin while the other two are the dark blue patched of his eyes. The easiest circle to overlook is the elongated oval along his spine that serves the important purpose of integrating the smaller units.

Standard Index

The standard index is composed of circular subunits with thousands of switches that allow them to conduct magic in almost any shape needed including complex runes. In addition, each index is composed of over 100 of these circular systems with additional links between the layers. The net effect is that wach index can contain anywhere form ten to a hundred different index points for enchantment or spell casting. In the latter case, the index can act as a multi-purpose chamber system. Because it is not dedicated to any one spell, it lacks the full output that a properly prepared chamber can manage. However, Joule can use nearly any form of magic through these indexes, and thus versatility is traded for potency.

The standard index can also be used as a sensor with generalized or specialized functions depending on the configuration used. However, only specialized surfaces in the eyes and siphons are usually used for detailed scans.

Core Index

The core index is a large oval on Joule's back along his spine made up of a split in his primary conductance lines. this index is not normally used for casting spells, but it is instead a central regulator of Joule's aetheric presence as well as the critical link to all his other indexes. The index is not on the surface, but its location is marked by the circle, and it covers both his reactor and his primary processors. If Joule has one point of weakness it is his core index. A properly tuned pulse aimed at the index could disrupt his systems and trigger an emergency shutdown or restart cycle. Thankfully it would take prior knowledge to make such a strike against him, and the impact has to get past his shielding.

In the manner of a heartbeat, those attuned properly could likely feel the flow of energy through the core index if they touch Joule there.

Specialized Indexes - Eyes

The most complex indexes Joule has are his eyes. While they contain some layers similar to the other indexes so that they remain compatible, they have been made to focus heavily on scanning instead of casting. They have a number of unusual abilities including:

Visual Range Joule's eyes can shift spectrum form as fa down as far infrared all the way up to high UV. Without focusing, he normally observes the standard light spectrum with so extra UV and near IR. This differs from the vision he has in his skin in terms of range and resolution, and it lends purpose to his eyes instead of having them act as decorations.

Mage Sight Joule's eyes are almost always actively operating as a form of mage sight. He can see lines of power, track spells, and more as he looks at them. Unlike his skin, from which he can see all around him, this can only be done with his eyes. They can operate in passive form, which is most common, and in active scanning mode. In the latter mode, his eyes will becomes bright points to those who can sense magic, and he will be able to ping and observe the world around him.

Transducers

One of the most important parts of Joule's native magic abilities are his transducer units. As the name implies, they convert one form of energy to another. They are critical to the function of his siphons as a refueling system, and they are generally part of if not the terminal element in his casting of spells.

All transducer regions are marked by gray triangles. The triangles on his paws are different from the rest because they directly contact the main power lines before they reach and index, and they are the only triangles pointing towards his body instead out away from it.These transducers, with the largest on his tail coming in second, can consume more power than any other part of Joule's body. As the primary casting transducers, they can take raw aether and convert it to any number of other elements with high efficiency. It is possible for him to convert two or three elements per pad along parallel channels in the transducer. Because they lie between the power line and the index, they can also serve as fuel for chambered spells held inside the index.

Multi-Point Arrays

The number of transducers and indexes in Joule appear to serve a non-redundant purpose given that they do not equally perform their functions. The answer to this lies in the utility of networked systems. For example, the distribution of indexes along Joule's body are each capable of some small sensory functions. When they are linked in an array, they function like a scanner that is nearly the size of Joule himself. This is the some principle that works on things like the Very Large Array (VLA) series of radio telescopes. Each one is small, but the array together behaves as something much larger without needing a massive bowl to hold the dish.

9-Point Transducer Networked Mode

The array functions of the transducers are critical to the deployment of the Ward and Assist modes. When linked, the array allows Joule to cast with his whole body and even produce recoil compensating effects if he fires off something potent in the other direction.

10-Point Index Networked Mode

More intricate than the transducers, the indexes in networked mode operate like a magic sensing array with the ability to not only detect but also to provide range and direction data.

Kaelid Systems

Kaelid Androids to scale.

Generation 1

Faraday | Coulomb

Generation 2

Joule

Generation 3

Tesla | Bell

Generation Darwin | Franklin | Higgs

Lambda Series Android Design

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