Science Fiction and Science Fact:

Science Fiction and Science Fact:
The Feasibility of Constructing a Mobile Suit

Communications and the Literature of Science and Technology

EN125

Professor Craig Cushing

Delwynndwn Siele

April 25, 2001

What is science fiction? It’s fiction based from the facts already established in the real world. However, there have been several occasions in which that definition had been reversed, thus creating science fact from science fiction. A classic example of this phenomenon is novels written by Jules Verne. He had written about rockets flying out into space, and of submarines moving about underneath the ocean, well before either was invented.

Jules Verne isn’t the only example though. Throughout history, science fiction, in one form or another, has become science fact. It’s based primarily on the fact that science fiction is created from science fact, therefore allowing for such a possibility. In fact, it is entirely possible for science fiction of today to easily become science fact. One example of modern science fiction with the capacity to become science fact is the Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. He writes about the colonization of Mars, the terraformation of it, and the political upheaval that was caused by it. Currently, it seems that we already have the technology to start colonizing and terraforming Mars. However, due to the costs that such a project would incur, it may still be a while before we start it.

However, space technology isn’t the only technology out there that can be affected by science fiction. There are also computer, medical, and military technologies, just to name a few. There’s science fiction all over the world that discuss possible futures of such technologies, amongst others. In fact, it sometimes seems like some science fact is taken directly from science fiction, even though such fact can be proven in a myriad of ways. In fact, some of Dean Kamen’s inventions can seem that way.

Dean Kamen, the latest star in the media. Already having invented several medical devices, such a portable kidney dialysis machine and intravascular stents. In fact, Bob Metcalfe, who had written an article about the IBOT, has stated that, “My very own father is running around with Kamen stents holding open his two blocked arteries” (Metcalfe, 1999). Thus, Kamen has already proven himself worthy of the medical world.

One of his recent inventions, the IBOT, is essentially a wheelchair that is capable of hoisting itself up onto two wheels to reach the height typically attained by one who is standing. This is quite a breakthrough for those who are confined to a wheelchair. However, the IBOT can do much more than just stand on two wheels. Due to its amazing stability, it is able to climb up curves, which in the past wheelchair confined people had a hard time dealing with. In fact, the IBOT is even capable of climbing up stairs! Metcalfe also states that Kamen “insists his IBOT is not a wheelchair. Nobody pushes you around in an IBOT. You wear it, like Kamen wears his helicopters.” (Metcalfe, 1999).

So how is the IBOT able to maintain such stability? By using a set of gyroscopes and processors. In fact, the IBOT uses three Pentium processors. Why Pentium? We may never know. However, since the IBOT has to be reliable, those Pentiums are arranged in a voting system, such that two out of the three have to agree on what to do before making the proper balancing adjustments. (Metcalfe?, 1999)

Now, Kamen has a new invention up his sleeves. Most people know it as ‘IT,’ but Kamen has officially codenamed it ‘GINGER.’ However, what is GINGER? Very few people know, and they’ve signed confidentiality statements, so they won’t be saying anything. (Mark, 2001). However, here’s a listing of what has been released so far:

- IT is not a medical invention.

- In a private meeting with Bezos, Jobs and Doerr, Kamen assembled two Gingers -- or ITs -- in 10 minutes, using a screwdriver and hex wrenches from components that fit into a couple of large duffel bags and some cardboard boxes.

- The invention has a fun element to it, because once a Ginger was turned on, Bezos started laughing his ''loud, honking laugh.''

- There are possibly two Ginger models, named Metro and Pro -- and the Metro may possibly cost less than $2,000.

- Bezos is quoted as saying that IT ''is a product so revolutionary, you'll have no problem selling it. The question is, are people going to be allowed to use it?''

- Jobs is quoted as saying: ''If enough people see the machine you won't have to convince them to architect cities around it. It'll just happen.''

- Kemper says the invention will ''sweep over the world and change lives, cities, and ways of thinking.''

- The ''core technology and its implementations'' will, according to Kamen, ''have a big, broad impact not only on social institutions but some billion-dollar old-line companies.'' And the invention will ''profoundly affect our environment and the way people live worldwide. It will be an alternative to products that are dirty, expensive, sometimes dangerous and often frustrating, especially for people in the cities.''

- IT will be a mass-market consumer product ''likely to run afoul of existing regulations and or inspire new ones,'' according to Kemper. The invention will also likely require ''meeting with city planners, regulators, legislators, large commercial companies and university presidents about how cities, companies and campuses can be retro-fitted for Ginger.''

(Mark, 2001)

So, is GINGER a transportation device? Or could it be something else? From Kamen’s most recent patents, GINGER may indeed be some sort of transportation device. However, the patents that have been obtained so far are from before the unveiling of the IBOT, so they may only be related to the IBOT. But whatever GINGER is, it’s definitely going to be something very revolutionary, especially the core components of it. It’s possible that GINGER is an inventions stuffed with other revolutionary inventions. There could be a revolutionary power supply, the IBOT balancing system, an OS that performs better than Windows and Linux, and possibly even more. Not only that, but it can be constructed in a matter of minutes! Thus, it may explain why it may be cheap, especially if it is a transportation device. Just building it in the comfort of your own home will be considerably cheaper than buying a prebuilt one.

Now, what does Kamen and science fiction have in common? Nothing really, if one looks directly at it. Kamen is simply coming up with ways to make everyone’s lives better. However, some of his inventions can seem to come from science fiction, and it’s possible that they may have, without his knowledge. Years ago, such balance like that achieved by the IBOT was unheard of. However, it was written of in science fiction, in one way or another.

But enough about Kamen. What about the possible futures of technology, as it stands today? What will become of Kamen’s inventions? There’s a myriad of possibilities, both for the betterment and, unfortunately, the detriment of the human race. Kamen’s inventions have already had their good affects on our race. However, eventually someone will find a military use for his inventions, and thus will come a new weapon.

One possible future for us could be that filled with giant robotic beasts, piloted by a single person. These beasts may only be no taller than a few stories, but they will pack a massive, destructive punch. These machines are known as Mobile Suits. And one popular science fiction series, which happens to be a long running anime series that started back in 1979. It is the Gundam Series.

The original Mobile Suit Gundam aired in 1979, and had a long running time. Eventually, the series spawned several more incarnations, some wannabes, others being straight from the Gundam Universe. One of the most well known series in the US is Gundam Wing, which has aired on Toonami on Cartoon Network. (Simmons, 2001)

But what of these Mobile Suits? How will they come to be? Well, one website, Gundam Project, tells about the history of mobile suits in the Gundam Universe, how they came to be, and how they evolved. It turns out that mobile suits had originated from “the civilian space pod, a simple spacecraft equipped with hand-like manipulators for construction work. However, after extensive research, the researchers determine that a fully humanoid form offers greater flexibility and manueverability. Rather than being dead weight, the vehicle's limbs can be used for manuevering in accordance with the principles of action and reaction, conserving scarce propellant supplies. These movements are coordinated by an Active Mass Balance AutoControl (AMBAC) system, which handles all manuevering and balancing automatically.” (Simmons, 2001). However, for the AMBAC to be reliable, it would have to be run by a dependable and fast operating system. Therefore, Microsoft is tossed aside, and even Linux, since there are just too many incarnations of it and it’s a bit of a pain to work with. Thus, if Kamen has an OS up his sleeve that could be better than windows, like tkwilliamson thinks GINGER is, then it could be the OS that would allow for such reliability as is seen in the IBOT.

Speaking of IBOT, in order for a mobile suit to really function with any efficiency, and make it easy for the pilot, there will be a need for some kind of automation. One such automation is balancing systems, and as shown by Kamen’s IBOT, it is possible to achieve. However, balancing is not the only automation required for a mobile suit to operate. The mobile suit will need to automatically make simple movements so that every motion can be performed smoothly and precisely. One such example is the movement of the legs. The automated movement systems within an mobile suit will have to account for 3 different moving joints in each leg, plus it will need to coordinate the legs in such a manner so that the mobile suit will walk in a fluid motion. This is also combined with the need to balance itself, to prevent the mobile suit from falling and causing any serious damage.

Another consideration before constructing a mobile suit is the power supply. Where is the mobile suit going to acquire the power it needs to operate? Once again, Gundam Project covers this base. In the Gundam Universe, there is a form of physics called Minovsky Physics, named after Dr. T.Y. (or Y.T.) Minovsky. One of the topics covered under Minovsky Physics is an efficient source of power that is safer than the nuclear power we use today. In fact, Minovsky Physics began with “an ambitious project to develop a practical nuclear fusion reactor” (Simmons, 2001). As we all know, the only nuclear process we use in today’s power plants is fission, since we still have yet to control fusion. However, the Minovsky-Ionesco reactor was able to control fusion. Further more, the reactor uses “a clean fusion reaction that emits no neutrons,” (Simmons, 2001) which is the source of the dangerous radiation that we find after, for example, Chernobyl. The section dedicated to Minovsky Physics goes further explaining how other aspects of the discipline was able to produce an even smaller version of the Minovsky-Ionesco reactor, and other applications ranging from anti-gravity, shielding from beam weapons, and a weapon more powerful than the beam weapons.

So, is the creation of a mobile suit feasible in this day and age? With Dean Kamen’s current inventions, it may be very well possible. We can even equip a mobile suit with present day power sources, and other technologies, and still have it run effectively. Furthermore, as time moves on and we discover new technologies, the feasibility of creating a mobile suit increases. In fact, there may in fact be a day in which this planet, and even space, is populated by these large, humanoid armored suits.

This universe can even possibly become like the one in the Gundam Universe……

--. (n.d.). Anit-tipping mechanism [Posted on Delphion]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.delphion.com/details?&pn=US06062600__

--. (n.d.). Control Loop for transportation vehicles [Posted on Delphion]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.delphion.com/details?&pn=US05791425__

--. (n.d.). Dean Kamen – Ginger Invention [Posted on About]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://inventors.about.com/science/inventors/library/inventors/blkamen.htm

--. (n.d.). Human Transporter [Posted on Delphion]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.delphion.com/details?&pn=US05701965__

--. (n.d.). Transportation vehicles and methods [Posted on Delphion]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.delphion.com/details?&pn=US05971091__

--. (n.d.). Transportation vehicles with stability enhancement using CG modification [Posted on Delphion]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.delphion.com/details?&pn=US05975225__

--. (June 30, 2000?). A revolutionary new wheelchair [Posted on MSNBC]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.msnbc.com/news/285231.asp?cp1=1

Mark, PJ. (January 9, 2001). What is ‘IT’? Book Proposal Heightens Intrigue About Secret Invention Touted as Bigger Then the Internet or PC [Article posted on [INSIDE]]. Retrieved April 24, 2001from the World Wide Web: http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=20218&pod_id=8

Metcalfe, Bob. (n.d.). Dean Kamen – IBOT 3000 stair climbing wheelchair inventor! [Posted on ???]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.dynopower.freeserve.co.uk/homepages/kamen.htm

Metcalfe, Bob. (November 26, 1999). More than a wheelchair, the IBOT is on the move [Posted on CNN.com]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9911/26/ibot.idg/

Simmons, Mark. (n.d.). Minovsky Physics [Article posted on Gundam Project]. Retrieved April 15, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.gundamproject.com/world/minovsky.html

Simmons, Mark. (n.d.). Mobile Suit Basics [Article posted on Gundam Project]. Retrieved April 15, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.gundamproject.com/world/msbasics.html

Williamson, Tim. (January 17, 2001). Dean Kamen/IBOT/Ginger [Posted in Google cache directory]. Retrieved April 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.popsci.com/community/forums/s.../3.html+dean+kamen+ibot&hl=e