Okay, granted it's not a very big weapon. With a 30cm blade and a 20cm grip, I'd say it's comparable in size to a tanto (short Japanese sword -
usually only used for honorable suicide). However, the requirements of the AI are pretty lean.
1) Must recognize only one user.
2) Must be able to plot flightpaths with numerous waypoints, no more than 5000 meters in range.
3) Must navigate plotted flightpaths and acocunt for random collision avoidance.
4) Grav Drive to remain in standby mode when sheathed.
By Fenspace computing standards, this is not a lot. You can actually get a reasonably advanced AI from an old 1st generation Nintendo Gameboy (though it'll
be quirky as hell). To say that you can't fit one as simple as what we need into a 20cm grip is kinda preposterous by our rules. As for the grav drive
itself, I figure that for best performance that would be part of the blade itself, running from tip to pomel.
Basic photographic sensors won't be a big deal, either. In the real world we have cameras so small that we can fit several to a redtail hawk just to see
how it flies without impeding its ability to fly. I think we can manage mounting a pair of waved photo-snesors on the hilt of a sword without hurting size or
performance.
usually only used for honorable suicide). However, the requirements of the AI are pretty lean.
1) Must recognize only one user.
2) Must be able to plot flightpaths with numerous waypoints, no more than 5000 meters in range.
3) Must navigate plotted flightpaths and acocunt for random collision avoidance.
4) Grav Drive to remain in standby mode when sheathed.
By Fenspace computing standards, this is not a lot. You can actually get a reasonably advanced AI from an old 1st generation Nintendo Gameboy (though it'll
be quirky as hell). To say that you can't fit one as simple as what we need into a 20cm grip is kinda preposterous by our rules. As for the grav drive
itself, I figure that for best performance that would be part of the blade itself, running from tip to pomel.
Basic photographic sensors won't be a big deal, either. In the real world we have cameras so small that we can fit several to a redtail hawk just to see
how it flies without impeding its ability to fly. I think we can manage mounting a pair of waved photo-snesors on the hilt of a sword without hurting size or
performance.