Talk:Project Compass

Summary

Examine, gather data and understand the spatial and temporal relationship and geography between k-space (New Eden cluster) and w-space (Anoikis) locations by utilizing locator functions innate to all control tower functions. These items taken together can answer the questions of where w-space is relative to New Eden (and if those values are changing).

Introduction

Anoikis has been open to capsuleers for over two years now. Capsuleers have long developed the infrastructure necessary to exploit the resources of Anoikis while defending themselves from the Sleepers. Indeed, in some ways, Anoikis is little different from the New Eden cluster. However, despite the ever-increasing number of capsuleers that inhabit Anoikis, little is actually known about Anoikis space. The most obvious demonstration of our lack of knowledge is that we don't even precisely where Anoikis (more colloquially known as w-space) is in relation to New Eden, either spatially or temporally. Project Compass, under the Arek'Jaalan umbrella, attempts to answer that precise question.

This question is of critical interest to any further exploration of w-space. Project Compass looks to answer the question of where Anoikis lies in relation to the New Eden cluster. Such a determination lays the foundation for further work determining the topology of the New Eden cluster, including determining the relation of Anoikis systems in relation to each other, as well as determining the pattern, if any, to wormhole distribution between both New Eden and Anoikis. Before these questions can be answered, however, Anoikis must first be located. Although it is a relatively simplistic project as proposed, Project Compass is of critical importance.

Any inquiries on Project Compass should be directed to project leads Mark726 or Faulx.

Experiment Outline

• Determine distance of Anoikis systems from New Eden, if possible.
• Determine whether Anoikis systems are themselves separated by considerable distances, or whether they are located near each other.

Methodology

To make logistics easier for corporations, control tower manufacturers have long included a little known function to their basic control tower designs: the ability to determine, down to 1/10th of a light year, the distance to all other anchored control towers owned by a corporation. No other information is given by this feature. By using a process analogous to that used by scanner probes to locate certain sites or ships within a solar system, Project Compass intends to utilize this locator function to determine, as much as possible, the location of Anoikis in relation to the New Eden cluster.

In order to locate any point in a three-dimensional system, a certain amount of data is necessary. One process of locating a point is called trilateration. To use this system, the only data necessary are the coordinates of the reference points, as well as the distance measurements from those reference points to the location in question. Using the reference points and distances, all that is needed is to find where four spheres, the centers of which are the reference points and the radii are the distances measured, touch. With four spheres, there will only be one point where the surfaces of all four spheres intersect.

CONCORD databases provide precise locations of all systems within the New Eden cluster. Project Compass has already anchored four control towers throughout New Eden, and has cross referenced those locations with the CONCORD database to give precise coordinates. At that point, it is simply a question of getting the distance data. This involves traveling from Anoikis system to Anoikis system and launching a fifth control tower to get the needed distance measurements to the original four reference towers.

The largest problem introducing potential errors into the system is the topology of New Eden itself. In order to get the most reliable estimate for the location of Anoikis systems, the reference points should be spread out as much as possible in all three axes. A balancing of security concerns and ease of anchoring restrictions led to the decision to place all Project Compass control towers in low security space. While New Eden’s topology allows for approximately 50-60 light years on the x and z axes, the remarkably flat topology of New Eden on the y axis requires a much smaller differential on that axis. That has the potential to introduce non-neglible errors into the measurements of certain Anoikis systems, as rounding errors become much more significant with a smaller differential on one axis. Thus, while the x and z coordinates of a given Anoikis system should be fairly accurate, the y coordinate for any given system may be significantly different from a system’s actual location. However, this problem can be ameliorated by increasing the number of measurements taken. While any one system may not have the most accurate position, a large enough sample of Anoikis systems should give a fairly accurate representation of Anoikis clustering, if any.

It has come to Project Compass’s attention that CONCORD has only recently become aware of the fact that these locator services work even in Anoikis. Since becoming aware of this, they have expressed a desire to, for unknown reasons, require control tower manufacturers to remove this functionality. No timeframe on the removal of the locator functionality has been given, other than that it will occur “soon”. Project Compass’s project leads will continue collecting data until that functionality is removed.

Timeframe

• Determine New Eden systems to use as reference points. Efforts should be made to choose systems in low security space that are as far away from each other as possible on the x, y, and z axes. (COMPLETE)
• Create a new Corporation for the use of Project Compass control towers. Purchase and anchor control towers in each chosen system. (COMPLETE)
• Begin collecting distance data from Anoikis systems using a fifth control tower launched in Anoikis systems. (IN PROGRESS)
• Analyze data and come to conclusions. (PENDING)

Budget and Assistance Necessary

• CA support to manage incoming data on the project
• Purchase of five small control towers (COMPLETE)
• Purchase of replacement towers as necessary
• Purchase of blockade-runner class vessel for easiest travel while carrying a control tower (COMPLETE)

Preliminary Results

While the Project Leads are still collecting data, preliminary calculations are ongoing and some tentative conclusions can be announced. So far, all Anoikis systems surveyed have been located in a cluster approximately 800-900 light years from New Eden. The Anoikis cluster is located approximately galactic southeast from New Eden, in roughly the same plane, though perhaps slightly lower than New Eden. More results will be announced as they become available.

Current Status

Data continues to be collected for Project Compass, and analysis is ongoing.

Original Project Compass

Before the locator functionality of control towers was discovered by the Project Leads, Project Compass originally used a much different method to determine the location and distance of Anoikis. The two methodologies have resulted in somewhat different results, and the analysis of why that has happened is ongoing. Methodology, data, and results from the original Project Compass may be found here.