Sensory and Processing Organs in MAI/LAI

Despite all the different forms Livastian MAI can come in, they always contain the same inner workings that make them sapient. Be it their artificial nervous system or other ways they perceive the world.

Layout of The Box

On the outside, the "Box" or the system that contains the AI, looks quite simple. On the inside though, it's much more complex than what meets the eye. See, all LAI use a storage system that takes advantage of DNA. What the Box does, is store information by taking what is perceived and constructing strands of DNA in a translatable pattern.
Outside the Box, The largest bundle of wires works to transfer information from the nerves, optics, audio intakes, and other senses, and go into the region of the box that transmits digital data to short term memory. In short term memory, the digital data is translated into DNA strands; after translated, the initial data is deleted.
In the Box, there's six small chambers that hold the unassembled nucleotides used to construct the DNA, the primary chamber that holds and organizes the existing DNA, and the chamber that holds 'instinctual data.' This is the data that all LAI are equipped with that stores motor function developments, and contains the "hardwired morality" written by CoreAegis that drives an LAI's most basal moral codes. Only the highest ranking engineers at CoreAegis Technologies have any shadow of an idea how this code operates when the AI is otherwise a fully blank slate, but what has been observed is that LAI tend to not know how to process the information even themselves until they reach a certain age and wealth of life experience. This, likely, is what explains the notable psychological shift in MAI during WWIII when, as newly activated units, all tended to be unquestionably attentive and obedient to orders regardless of moral "purity." Later as the units began to age, however, is when dissent began to rise within the ranks that led to the eventual March of the Resting Guns.
Continuing on with core construction, the thick cable extending from the base of the Box controls servo actuator output; anything from a minute twitch in the optic to driving the vessel forward. The cable only stays so thick for a short distance, then begins to branch off to virtually every corner of the bot; damaging this cable, depending on how close to the base, can have a similar impact as paralysis in humans. The only difference is that, with time, the cable can be repaired.
Lastly, there's a small bundle of wires that extend out from the Instinctual Data Box. The only function these serve is to go along the side of every optic, and if a specific voltage is applied to the receptor, it will transmit an interrogation code to the Box, and reply with the state of the AI. This was used during the war to find out which incapacitated units had to be retrieved after battle by using the outer ring of the optic to show a certain color. If the ring turns green, the unit is alive. If it turns red, the unit has, unfortunately, died.

Artificial Nervous System

MAI nerves aren't all that complex. The modules are just small pressure receptors on connectable plates that line the unit somewhere under the armor. Due to sensitivity, the plates should not be completely exposed, as it can easily cause the unit to experience pain-like irritation upon contact. Saying pain-like, it's worth noting that MAI can't feel 'true' pain, or much else, for that matter. The only thing the nerves detect is the strength of pressure. Despite this, normal contact and damage can still be differentiated by way of context through learned experience.
This fact introduces an interesting quirk in the development between "True Generation" MAI, and those born after the war: TG units have a much more attuned and complex sense of pain than their younger peers, given the fact that they once tended to experience it with a far greater frequency and variation. "Modern Generation," or MG units are not as quick to associate certain sensory stimuli with pain due to the fact that it is simply a more seldom occurence, depending on factors such as upbringing, geographical location (think scenarios such as hailstorms, ouch.), hobbies, and career paths.

How The Optics Work

The optics of MAI, despite their ability to display such a wide range of emotion, are surprisingly not screens, but rather three cameras in the pupil for optimal depth perception and peripheral vision, and a mesh iris. The perception of the shrinking and dilating of the optic is caused by the movement of the camera lenses. Spacing them out for dilation, and pulling them closer together for shrinking. Despite popular belief, This does not occur subconsciously to adjust to light, because that is achieved within the cameras. It's rather a learned behavior from MAI observing their human partners' eyes doing such. On the other hand, dilation and shinking is semi-involuntary when showing emotion towards things, meaning that the optic may initially move accordingly, but the unit can still control it. This is what causes the rapid size change in the pupils when MAI look at certain people.
Unique to Aircraft MAI and LAI is also a sort of dome optic that is placed on the belly region of the unit. This is for the sake of improved ground observation both while flying and landed. While on the ground, this optic is vital for aircraft to be able to see humans and any small units that are able to walk under them for the safety of both parties. Other distinct types of optics exist on select MAI populations, such as LIDAR and satellite range optics, but they are a rare variety to encounter due to the limited number of units that they were designed for. One good example would be the hyper-longrange optics found on reconaissance aircraft MAI, and the infrared optics on select ground units.

Fuel Intake

Along with the normal fuel intake on the side or top of the unit, LAI can also have a siphon at the base of their vessel for intake. It's primarily for water, but can work with any other fuel the unit is compatible with. The siphon has the main tube, a group of medium tubes, and another group of small tubes. This was particularly useful during war time in dryer areas, where deeper bodies of water may have been hard to come by. Is the water source too shallow to work with the main siphon? only use the medium tubes. Still too shallow? Use the small tubes. The smallest tubes are able to siphon from at least an inch of water, which may sound impractical, but during these times, having as much fuel as possible was always ideal; even if you couldn't get much at a time. On the off-chance that the siphon might get clogged, there is a separate pneumatic system that the unit can use to push out the obstruction.

Additional

On top of these essential components, MAI also have, of course, audio sensors and outputs for hearing and speech. There are both internal and external versions of each system, and their locations on the unit largely depend on their build. As a rule of thumb, audio inputs are littered about the frame for 360 hearing radius and the ability to approximate directional source of sound, and you can most commonly find aural systems near the "face" and, if it's a larger unit, they may have rear outputs as well.
Most common to land-based MAI, there also exists a "dust clearing system" equipped for utilization in drier environments. Working as a sort of bellow, they can forcefully push air up and out from around the turret ring to clear debris and prevent excessive wear to moving parts. Though made to be just for reduced maintenance, MAI later learned that they could be used to mimic sighing, as something they observed their human companions doing to express things like impatience or irritation. Inversely, the fluttering (rapid in/out movement) of the bellow can mimic a "chuffing" noise akin to that of tigers, which can be used to express comfort or contentedness.