Automaton

Automata are machines that have acquired the capabilities to autonomously react to their environment to achieve a goal. The most prominent example would be Queen Anne, ruler of the Tightish Empire, but most modern industrial machinery be considered basic automata.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Most are humanoid in form. Legs are a rarity, wheels being a more practical and reliable option. Additional mechanics may be disguised under items of clothing, for example dresses.

Genetics and Reproduction

Automata are not known to be able to reproduce and must be designed by humans, although manufacture is becoming steadily more autonomous.
Most automata do not have the capacity to understand themselves or have any reason for reproducing.

Ecology and Habitats

Being made of metal, most automata operate best in warm and dry conditions, though this may vary based on the design of the automata.
The grand majority are unsuited for operation in the wilderness and are more accustomed to cobbled streets and carpets.
Automata used in exploration or transport may be more equipped for harsh environments, such as being encased in special materials or capable of all-terrain locomotion.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Most automata require a source of fuel depending on the type of engine they use, although some may make use of coiled springs and other mechanical means of storing energy.
In these cases, the automata are 'wound up' either manually or connected to a main power source such as the local watermill until fully refreshed.
The most popular source of fuel for recreational or entertainment automata is spirit of wine due to its cheap production, compact engine design and pleasant fumes.
Other common examples for more industrious uses would be coal or, less ideally, wood.
Lubricants as well as fresh and soft water are also essential for many a healthy automaton,

Additional Information

Social Structure

Automata are not known to be capable of understanding social structures, although they may be designed to imitate it.

Domestication

Automata may be built directly for the purpose of domestic use, but other automata may be 'adopted' after a mandatory inspection and modification for domestic safety by the Royal Institution of Engineering.
This is known to have happened when workers grew particularly fond of an industrial automaton and decided to save it from the salvage shops.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Since automata are exceedingly exspensive and highly advanced automata are protected as individuals, less capable but entertaining 'toy' automata are known to be used as pets by the wealthy.
Large cooperations that can greatly benefit from automata are also know to have invested significantly, with prototypes or outdated models being auctioned to smaller companies.
Automata may also be exceedingly advanced tools or prosthetics, but these are rare since more primitive alternatives often suffice.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Basic automata are fairly widespread, but are seldom seen outside of Penchester

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Automata may possess a great variety of senses, though in many cases few are required and many are cumbersome and expensive.
Below is a table of different senses known to exist

Audition For the detection of sound. 	Technology Highly accurate. The more sensitive and the larger the detectable range, the more expensive. Rarity Rare, used for automated surveillance, such as detecting explosions, or for very expensive speech recognition.
Equilibrioception For the detection of angular momentum and linear acceleration, including gravity.	Technology More accurate than most humans and may be centred on any part of the automata. The larger the number of different detectable states, the more expensive. Example: Sensing when the automata is precisely level is easier than detecting how level it is. Rarity Rare, primarily used for measurements in engineering. Automata are in most cases not agile enough to make use of the information themselves.
Gustation and Olfaction For the detection of chemicals.	Technology Highly accurate, but limited to very specific alchemicals. Rarity Rare, primarily used in contraband detection and research.
Magnetoception For the detection of magnetic fields.	Technology Highly accurate and reliable. Rarity Rare, primarily used for navigation.
Nociception For the detection of damage to the body, experienced in humans as pain.	Technology Highly inaccurate, with many automata not being able to detect their own condition. More expensive automata contain failure detection mechanisms, but they can be manipulated or incorrectly calibrated. Rarity Uncommon, primarily used in expensive or critical automata.
Proprioception For the detection of movement and position of parts.	Technology Highly accurate, but may require recalibration. The relative position of any part may be calculated based on the state of actuators, so long as the automata knows the position of the part on itself. The higher the accuracy, the more expensive. Rarity Common, since any reasonable automata must know the current state of movable parts.
Tactition For the detection of pressure.	Technology Highly accurate, but only acutely. Rarity
Thermoception For the detection of temperatures.	Technology More accurate than any known organism with a greater range of detectable temperatures. The higher the accuracy, the more expensive. Rarity Common, often used to determine operating temperature but also used for weather analysis and in manufacturing.
Vision For the detection of light.	Technology Very inaccurate. Mechanical eyes are highly finicky, requiring regular calibration and being strongly affected by ambient lighting. Most systems are monochrome and with two-dimensional vision only, although there are a few cases where colour and depth vision is being experimentally tested. Results are very grainy and blurry, but are uniform in quality, not 'tunnel-like' as it is in most organic vision. Rarity Rare, primarily used for showing off and research.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

One might view them to be in a symbiotic relationship with humans, since humans can provide what automata require and in return the automata may fulfill their purpose of being.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Typically, automata are given a reference code, which usually consists of letters and numbers with no apparent meaning to the untrained eye, and a pet name, which is often based off of the code or a popular name.
Automata considered to be individual entities are either given a self-chosen name or are christened after their commissioners.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The languages used by automata incapable of human communication is often proprietary, although an Imperial Standard exists for the communication between automata and other machinery.
Entertainment automata may be capable of writing or speaking in a language and interpreting language via a writing ball.
Queen Victoria Was the first automata to be capable of communicating in multiple languages and had the greatest vocabulary by far of her time, which has since only been surpassed by Queen Anne after the renovation of the language mills.

Common Etiquette Rules

When in the company of an independent automaton, one should refrain from acting as if the automaton were any different to a human while sensibly avoiding topics concerning its restrictions and disabilities, such as climbing stairs or observing pieces of art.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Since most automata are of Tightish heritage, they are often subconciously designed with Tightish values and principles.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

It is only considered sensible to say goodbye and thank you to automata before turning them off.
In exceedingly rare cases where automata are designed for predictions, this can result in unexpected bahaviour likely due to the fact that they may, oftentimes wrongly, anticipate their decommission and selling to a scavenge shop for their parts, which would hinder them from achieving their purpose.

Common Taboos

It is considered rude to treat independent automata as machinery, even it it makes little difference to the automata.

Historical Figures

The most prominent and by far the most advanced automata were and are the Iron Rulers Queen Victoria and Queen Anne of the Tightish Empire.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Automata are not known to have any opinions regarding humans and for the most they live in harmony.
It has been known for humans to cause harm to automata out of various kinds of fear, although cases such as this are far and few between.
Automata may react in unexpected ways when humans decide to interfere in their matters, such as by turning off (to the surprise of many a provoker) or reacting stubbornly among other things.

Genetic Descendants

• Clamourer

Origin/Ancestry

Constructed by humans

Lifespan

Considered severly outdated after 5 years of service

Conservation Status

Automata capable of more than ten of Albert Cattel's '14 elements of the mind' are generally regarded to be sentient and therefore protected by the Book of the Crown's Justice as individuals.
Inferior automata are considered tools and used and traded as such.

Average Height

No smaller than 50 cm

Average Weight

No lighter than 60 kg

Related Ethnicities

• Tightish