Featured User Group: The Escapist TARDIS Crew
- Thread starter Kuliani
- Start date
Sassafrass said:
The TARDIS's flight sequence is a complex operation with many varieties of flight available, all of which are detailed throughout this chapter. The purpose of this section, however, is to provide a broad overview of the basic flight processes which underpin the ship's operation.
-Flight Systems Overview-
The navigation and guidance computer system (NAGCS) is a term used to describe the various components which make up the heart of the TARDIS's flight systems. NAGCS performs the majority of processing required for time travel and flight.
Key circuitry and components used in flight include the dematerialisation circuit, responsible for removing the TARDIS from the real word and placing it within the space-time vortex; the same circuit performs the reverse maneuver. The time vector generator (TVG) and space displacement creator (SDC) work together to pilot the TARDIS through the vortex. The power drive provides the raw energy to propel the TARDIS, and is fed with pure artron energy.
Flight cannot begin until the main door has been shut. Due to a safety mechanism, the TARDIS cannot dematerialise with a key in the door lock. Technically a set of coordinates are needed before flight should begin, but the TARDIS will always begin flight once the dematerialise lever has been activated. If the coordinates have not been set since the last journey the same coordinates will still be sitting in the time path coordinator, and the ship will take-off and land immediately, although for various reasons the TARDIS may land in a slightly different position.
A key part of the ship's flight systems is the time path coordinator, which is composed of the data capacitor, the linear calculator, and the directional unit/mechanism. The sub-system stores coordinates entered from the console, encodes them, and then sends data periodically to the NAGCS during flight. A faulty time path coordinator will prevent the destination coordinates being sent to the navigational systems and will result in the pilot having little control over the ship's destination.
Once the TARDIS has started to dematerialise the flight sequence begins. The power drive is fired-up, and the ship's power mode may change. Immediately the TVG and SDC will shape and manipulate the raw artron energy flowing from the power drive, and the TARDIS will be in flight.
During flight the NAGCS will pilot the ship through the universal hierarchy levels (UHLs), continually changing frames of reference and plotting new time paths (flight vectors) to take the TARDIS closer to its destination. Once the UHL zero is reached the flight sequence draws to a close. The last stage of the journey may be automated, or manual intervention may be required, in order to supervise the landing process.
Once the journey has began it is possible to operate the ship's doors, although this is not recommended as it could cause dimensional instability or expose the ship's crew to the harmful effects of time winds. As standard practice the door should not be operated until the ship has completely rematerialised and the outside environment has been determined safe.
To rematerialise the TARDIS attempts to locate a stable landing area which will be able to support the ship's weight. If the destination coordinate does to present a suitable landing area the TARDIS will perform a maneuver known as vortex-skimming. This is done as part of the rematerialisation sequence. Essentially the TARDIS skims along the surface of the space-time vortex, slowly changing its rematerialisation area, until a suitable landing coordinate is found.
Once the TARDIS has completely rematerialised the power drive and power systems power down, the power-bank recharges, the NAGCS clear and reset, and the astral map performs the reorientation process. These collective activities take between ten and twelve minutes to perform, and no flight should be attempted during this time.
The TARDIS will also begin to monitor the exterior environment immediately after landing. Some measuring systems will need a brief period of re-adjustment before the console readings stabilise. As part of the reorientation and measurement process, the time rotor will rotate. Once reorientation is complete, the rotation will cease.
Journey Times & Range
There are few limits on the TARDIS's range of travel. As long as a destination coordinate keeps the ship and its occupants within their collective time streams, the TARDIS will travel to that destination, given that the ship has enough power. It is not unusual for the power bank to deplete during flight, and when the power level drops below a certain minimum, the NAGCS will automatically schedule a landing.
One difficulty with predicting journey times is that the length of flight does not directly relate to the distance travelled. Generally speaking, however, a short flight usually results in a short distance travelled, and longer flights usually take the TARDIS further. There are many reasons why there is not a direct correlation between journey time and distance travelled:
`Space' in the space-time vortex does not correspond to the space in the real world.
Inter-UHL travel can be quite brief, but the distances travelled can be very large. In contrast, long-range intra-UHL travel can sometimes be quite time-consuming.
Changing reference frames can result in no distance travelled but the maneuver consumes time.
Temporal phenomena found in the space-time vortex necessitate changes in time paths. This can have an unpredictable affect on journey time.
Using different flight modes result in differing journey times for the same flight.
Roughly speaking, intra-planetary and inter-planetary is fairly brief, usually around thirty seconds. Local intra-galactic flight times are measured in minutes, and inter-galactic flight times can take up several hours. As a rough guide, the minimum flight time for a complete flight is thirty seconds, the maximum flight time depends on the power-drain during the flight, but is around twenty-four hours.
Flight Modes
There are three types of flight mode which the TARDIS may use during flight. Normally a flight mode is selected at the beginning of the flight, and is not changed throughout. The flight modes are detailed below.
Normal flight mode maintains a constant `speed' for the majority of the flight. A brief period of acceleration is experienced immediately after dematerialisation; likewise a brief period of deacceleration is experienced immediately prior to landing.
Fast flight mode continually accelerates for roughly half of the flight, and then deaccelerates for the rest of the flight. Journey times are greatly reduced, but with the disadvantage that safely terminating the flight half-way through is impossible. Note that deacceleration in the vortex is performed differently from reverse power breaking, the former is due more to taking advantage of inherent `lag' encountered within the vortex. Please note that that the rapid acceleration in this mode may cause a coordinate overshoot.
Vortex skim mode is for take-off and landing only. This allows the TARDIS to briefly adjust its position, usually prior to landing when the original destination coordinate is unsuitable. Vortex skimming can be manually controlled, but is usually performed automatically.
-Flight Systems Overview-
The navigation and guidance computer system (NAGCS) is a term used to describe the various components which make up the heart of the TARDIS's flight systems. NAGCS performs the majority of processing required for time travel and flight.
Key circuitry and components used in flight include the dematerialisation circuit, responsible for removing the TARDIS from the real word and placing it within the space-time vortex; the same circuit performs the reverse maneuver. The time vector generator (TVG) and space displacement creator (SDC) work together to pilot the TARDIS through the vortex. The power drive provides the raw energy to propel the TARDIS, and is fed with pure artron energy.
Flight cannot begin until the main door has been shut. Due to a safety mechanism, the TARDIS cannot dematerialise with a key in the door lock. Technically a set of coordinates are needed before flight should begin, but the TARDIS will always begin flight once the dematerialise lever has been activated. If the coordinates have not been set since the last journey the same coordinates will still be sitting in the time path coordinator, and the ship will take-off and land immediately, although for various reasons the TARDIS may land in a slightly different position.
A key part of the ship's flight systems is the time path coordinator, which is composed of the data capacitor, the linear calculator, and the directional unit/mechanism. The sub-system stores coordinates entered from the console, encodes them, and then sends data periodically to the NAGCS during flight. A faulty time path coordinator will prevent the destination coordinates being sent to the navigational systems and will result in the pilot having little control over the ship's destination.
Once the TARDIS has started to dematerialise the flight sequence begins. The power drive is fired-up, and the ship's power mode may change. Immediately the TVG and SDC will shape and manipulate the raw artron energy flowing from the power drive, and the TARDIS will be in flight.
During flight the NAGCS will pilot the ship through the universal hierarchy levels (UHLs), continually changing frames of reference and plotting new time paths (flight vectors) to take the TARDIS closer to its destination. Once the UHL zero is reached the flight sequence draws to a close. The last stage of the journey may be automated, or manual intervention may be required, in order to supervise the landing process.
Once the journey has began it is possible to operate the ship's doors, although this is not recommended as it could cause dimensional instability or expose the ship's crew to the harmful effects of time winds. As standard practice the door should not be operated until the ship has completely rematerialised and the outside environment has been determined safe.
To rematerialise the TARDIS attempts to locate a stable landing area which will be able to support the ship's weight. If the destination coordinate does to present a suitable landing area the TARDIS will perform a maneuver known as vortex-skimming. This is done as part of the rematerialisation sequence. Essentially the TARDIS skims along the surface of the space-time vortex, slowly changing its rematerialisation area, until a suitable landing coordinate is found.
Once the TARDIS has completely rematerialised the power drive and power systems power down, the power-bank recharges, the NAGCS clear and reset, and the astral map performs the reorientation process. These collective activities take between ten and twelve minutes to perform, and no flight should be attempted during this time.
The TARDIS will also begin to monitor the exterior environment immediately after landing. Some measuring systems will need a brief period of re-adjustment before the console readings stabilise. As part of the reorientation and measurement process, the time rotor will rotate. Once reorientation is complete, the rotation will cease.
Journey Times & Range
There are few limits on the TARDIS's range of travel. As long as a destination coordinate keeps the ship and its occupants within their collective time streams, the TARDIS will travel to that destination, given that the ship has enough power. It is not unusual for the power bank to deplete during flight, and when the power level drops below a certain minimum, the NAGCS will automatically schedule a landing.
One difficulty with predicting journey times is that the length of flight does not directly relate to the distance travelled. Generally speaking, however, a short flight usually results in a short distance travelled, and longer flights usually take the TARDIS further. There are many reasons why there is not a direct correlation between journey time and distance travelled:
`Space' in the space-time vortex does not correspond to the space in the real world.
Inter-UHL travel can be quite brief, but the distances travelled can be very large. In contrast, long-range intra-UHL travel can sometimes be quite time-consuming.
Changing reference frames can result in no distance travelled but the maneuver consumes time.
Temporal phenomena found in the space-time vortex necessitate changes in time paths. This can have an unpredictable affect on journey time.
Using different flight modes result in differing journey times for the same flight.
Roughly speaking, intra-planetary and inter-planetary is fairly brief, usually around thirty seconds. Local intra-galactic flight times are measured in minutes, and inter-galactic flight times can take up several hours. As a rough guide, the minimum flight time for a complete flight is thirty seconds, the maximum flight time depends on the power-drain during the flight, but is around twenty-four hours.
Flight Modes
There are three types of flight mode which the TARDIS may use during flight. Normally a flight mode is selected at the beginning of the flight, and is not changed throughout. The flight modes are detailed below.
Normal flight mode maintains a constant `speed' for the majority of the flight. A brief period of acceleration is experienced immediately after dematerialisation; likewise a brief period of deacceleration is experienced immediately prior to landing.
Fast flight mode continually accelerates for roughly half of the flight, and then deaccelerates for the rest of the flight. Journey times are greatly reduced, but with the disadvantage that safely terminating the flight half-way through is impossible. Note that deacceleration in the vortex is performed differently from reverse power breaking, the former is due more to taking advantage of inherent `lag' encountered within the vortex. Please note that that the rapid acceleration in this mode may cause a coordinate overshoot.
Vortex skim mode is for take-off and landing only. This allows the TARDIS to briefly adjust its position, usually prior to landing when the original destination coordinate is unsuitable. Vortex skimming can be manually controlled, but is usually performed automatically.
And yes, we do have a mustard dispenser.
