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Plush Companions, Inc. -- Nanite Contractile Fibers(TM) _________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plush Companions, Inc.

Suppliers of the finest artificial animals in the Solar System! _________________________________________________________________

Nanite Contractile Fibers(TM) White Paper

Company Confidential

This information is not to be distributed without the express permission of PCInc Engineering. All Rights Reserved. _________________________________________________________________

Permission granted for public distribution. [signed] Sam-3G395 Director of Engineering 2034/14/32 _________________________________________________________________

A recent development in PCInc's engineering lab has become indispensable in the construction of all Plush Companions. Although they appear to the human eye and touch to be identical to the inanimate fibers normally used as filler for plush toys, contractile fibers (CFs) are much more.

In spite of their greater utility, CFs are quite inexpensive. Modern in-vacuo production methods have resulted in CF manufacturing costs no greater than for passive filler.

Each contractile fiber consists of four spiral fibers, counter threaded and interconnected by microscopic rotary actuators. Associated with each rotor is another much smaller fiber, normally used for interconnecting CFs.

Control of all of the actuators in a particular CF is managed by the CF's integral nanite processing unit (NPU). Each NPU includes a subdural communications unit with a unique address, enabling control by an external neural net. Since the communications protocols are programmable, encryption can be used to ensure NCFs remain committed to specific tasks.

Power and control signals can be carried through the subfibers composing an NCF for transmission to adjacent NCFs, but losses are significant when many sequential connections are involved. Specialized power and control fibers are normally used for large aggregations.

NCF's can be designed for a wide range of speed and mechanical force. Unfortunately, physical degradation and eventual decomposition result when extreme forces and excessive speeds are invoked for an extended period of time. Precise characterization of failure modes is still in progress.

NCFs have quite a few potential uses which may not be immediately obvious:

Insulation and padding

Dormant CFs form a resilient, insulating fluff and can provide moderate protection against physical impacts.

Active aggregates of CFs can respond dynamically to external forces, providing excellent protection against physical impacts.

Mobile constructs

Active aggregates of CFs can provide many of the functions of organic muscles.

CF aggregates can also form structural supports of moderate strength and rigidity when appropriately interconnected and stressed.

Simulated organics

Active fibers in appropriate bulk associations can take on the shape and consistency of many organic structures, including fat, muscle and cartilage.

Smart cloth

NC fibers can be spun into strong threads and woven into an extremely durable material, which then can be cut and formed just like any other woven cloth.

When energized, cloth made from NCFs can react to external influences with a variety of preprogrammed or actively controlled responses. Both flexure and porosity can be changed dynamically.

Especially when associated with one of PCInc's Positronic Neural Nets, NCF material can be extremely useful. A few of the potential applications include * costumes * all-weather clothing * motion amplifiers + support in extreme gravitational or acceleration fields + effort reduction when lifting or moving heavy objects * spacesuits

Note: Due to the Asimovian Laws integral to the design of all NPUs, NCFs and products made from them should not be used in combat. While they can be designed to provide excellent protection, they will resist any attempt to be used antagonistically against humans.