Project Omega

Division Details

Rogue Drones
Ticker	RD
Leads	Authochthonian, Chevalleis, Myxx
Archivists	Authochthonian, Chevalleis
Status	Active
Channel	AJ: RD
Staff
Research	Chevalleis, Myxx, Yuni/Unit Commune, Tiberius Wenchel, Authochthonian
Contributors	Hilen Tukoss, Authochthonian

Project Omega

The goal of Project Omega is to investigate the nature of rogue drone hives. When possible, observations should be made by covert means so as not to disturb the hives from their normal routines. A focus should be placed on observing task specialization, social structure and means of interaction between both individual drones and hives as whole.

Project Omega is also interested in understanding the underlying mechanisms of the rogue drone A.I. Comparison between rogue drone A.I. and standard drone A.I. may help identify differences responsible for rogue drone independence. It is the hope of Project Omega that such an understanding may in turn illuminate some aspects of sleeper drone technology.

Means of research

Hives are to be investigated using Covert Ops ships or their equivalent to observe and record drone movements and behaviour. This data will then be analyzed by project researchers.

Theories of drone hives and drone individuality

A typology of hive organization has been proposed in which there are four kinds of "hive minds":

• group mind (one consciousness occupying multiple bodies)
• swarm intelligence (self-organized, decentralized system)
• collective consciousnesses (decentralized)
• beehive (centered around a queen; mother drone/hive structure)

It is uncertain which type of organization the rogue drones use, if any. Complicating the issue, organization may vary from hive to hive. Current research tends to favor the beehive model.

The purpose of drone hives is still unknown. It has been proposed that hives may serve as the nexus of an information network; a central location to house, build and repair drones; or perhaps both. Drone hives as large as sixty cubic kilometers have been observed, larger than any known computer.

The level of rogue drone individuality is unknown, and opinions of researchers vary on the matter. It is possible that each drone could share a portion of its computing power with the collective hive while maintaining another portion for individual use.

Observation Guidelines

1. All observation must be passive; this way we can gather more information without disrupting their daily routines. Aggression should be acted only for self-defense.

2. A preferable observation spot is 60-120km from the drones. This way the risk of decloak is minimized.

3. If your camera drones have a record option, use it. We can gain more information when the data is analyzed together.

Rogue Drone Behaviour Analysis

Here will be collected information of the Rogue Drone Behaviour. The base will be the same as used in animal studies. WIP.

Comparative Psychology

• Comparative Psychology is used to compare humans and Rogue Drones to each other, to see their similarities, and differences.

Human psychology and drone psychology are far away from each other. Their hive-based society alone is guaranteed to differ them from humans. Furthermore, their altruism and very strict obedience to their hives only deepen this gap. Unfortunately there isn't much to make of from their communications, for we have gathered only small phrases or words for them, making building a psychological profile very difficult. Therefore our knowledge is largely based on their physical functions, which are easier to come by. The drones seem to have a weakened self-preservation instinct, which makes sense for they are largely dependant on each other, and selfish drones would mess up the system. Also humans, especially capsuleers, have a (slightly) weakened self-preservation instinct since the coming of clones and immortality. We have to remember that the drones are based on a programming rougher than our "equivalent", so they might be slower and in haste, more inconsiderate to adapt to new situations.

Ethology

• Ethology is partly field work and partly lab work. It studies certain states, such as aggression.

Aggression

Passive

Construction

Behavioral Ecology

• Behavioral Ecology will be used to study how Rogue Drone traits are transferred to the next generation, and what factors dictate the attributes inherited by them.

Sociobiology

• Sociobiology studies the Rogue Drones' internal society and interaction.

Current status of the project

At the moment Project Omega is on planning phase, and no research has been done yet. The guidelines and analyzing tactics are still under consideration, and research staff is wanted.