Androids/Automatons

Androids, also sometimes called automatons, are mock-human technological creations. Similar to Robots in their build, androids differ in that they are imbued with Humans' emotions and capabilities, meant to act as their own being rather than a device.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Outer Mechanics

Androids can differ based on where and how they were made or developed. Most androids are designed to look as human as possible, with realistic skin tones, hair and eye colors, heights, etc. Androids may be left with exposed metal surfaces instead of fake skin, leaving them with a more robot-like appearance. Androids can be modeled to appear female, male, or androgynous (more information under "gender ideals"). They can have parts replaced if one is broken or outdated, or for aesthetic purposes.

Inner Mechanisms

All androids are built with mechanical replications of human hearts and brains, which are referred to as such out of ease. Most androids lack replications of all other organs, since androids don't need sleep, food, or water like humans do.

Heart

The main function of an android heart is to pump fuel throughout the body, much like a human heart would pump blood. While it would be possible to get the same job done with a much smaller, less complicated structure, The Order of the Living God mandates that all androids be given hearts, since it is thought to enhance their emotional capacity, despite the fact that the heart being the center for emotion is recognized as purely poetic. The heart also houses an android's battery and back-up battery, connected to the brain and a charging port through wiring.

Brain

The most complicated part of an android, the brain is meant to mimic the human brain as closely as possible. Androids' brains are programmed with the capabilities to learn, remember, and feel just as humans do. This is also where an android's personality is stored, which can either be pre-programmed or left to develop on its own. Since it is thought to take away an android's autonomy to pre-program a personality for it, most are left to their own development. However, limitations can be set upon things such as anger management and sexual drive in an attempt to make androids as peaceful and cooperative with others as possible.

Stomach

All androids have a "stomach" of sorts in which fuel is deposited and stored (more information on fuel consumption can be found below). From here, it is fed into the heart at a necessary and fixed rate where it is pumped throughout the body.

Fuel and Charge

Whether an android is powered by fuel or electrical charge can depend on its model. Most androids are powered by fuel, as it is seen as more human to consume sustenance than be charged, but many are powered by both. When powered by both, fuel is seen as the main energy source, with battery charge serving as a backup option. Charge can most often be more efficient for an android, since charging typically has to happen less often than fueling. Both methods are currently in use, and new technology is making them both more efficient and compatible with both new and old androids.

Genetics and Reproduction

Though androids are unable to be born or give birth, the assembly of an android is still referred to as reproduction, and lawful android reproduction is meant to take nine months. Androids are still given realistic genitalia, even though it can't be used to reproduce, either with another android or a human partner. Rather, it is meant to provide androids with a more realistic human experience, allowing them to still partake in sexual acts and pleasure. (Yes, it's awkward to talk about, but it's part of worldbuilding!)

Growth Rate & Stages

Androids do not grow in the same way biological organisms do. Most androids are built to resemble a teenage or adult human (anywhere from 15 years of age to 30) since that is seen as the age when most humans are at their peak mental and physical performance and the most beautiful. However, when androids are "born", their brains are practically a blank slate, so they are treated as children for the first few years of their lives while they learn about the world around them. After that, they are legally considered adults. Some androids may be built to resemble children, in which case they will have their outer parts replaced as they grow older in order to mimic the growth of a normal human. This is less practiced due to expenses, but because legally-produced androids are issued by government organizations, most growth-related part replacements are at least partially provided for by those institutions. Androids do not die of old age, but can become outdated. While all other parts of an android can be replaced in the case of being outdated, brain replacements are next to impossible to perform without altering the personality of the android, and is therefore outlawed by android protection acts. They can be performed illegally if sought out by an android, but most have no desire to. Androids may wish to die when they grow old, for multiple reasons. Some become despaired by watching their biological friends and family die, some may develop depression and suicidal tendencies just like their human counterparts, or some might just be done with their time in the world. The latter is usually a consequence of experiencing all it wishes to experience or the understanding that all other things die. Certain precautions are taken to prevent androids from committing suicide since it is seen as a sin by The Order of the Living God as much as human suicide is. Instead, if an android has been running for at least seventy years, it can contact certain religion-based organizations that will permanently shut down the brain and dispose of the body with the same rites as those of a human.

Ecology and Habitats

Androids are built to be able to survive in extreme conditions, so they can live anywhere in the solar system. Limitations to this can exist, differing by model and build. For example, while most androids are built to be able live in the polar regions, a certain model may not be equipped for extreme cold. Androids can be found living anywhere where humans live.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Androids do not need food or water like organisms do. Instead, androids must consume fuel and/or be charged.

Fueling

Androids consumption of fuel can differ by model and design. Most androids can drink fuel like a human would drink water, but regardless of their ability to drink fuel, all androids are equipped with one or more fuel ports, into which fuel can be pumped. From there, the fuel is fed into the stomach, then the heart at a fixed rate. Androids will be able to feel "full" and "hungry" based on the amount of fuel in their stomach, allowing them to feed themselves when necessary and avoid an excess of fuel in their system, which can cause malfunctions and other difficulties. This is seen as a very human way of powering an android, since it includes the ingestion of sustenance and provides the android with a type of "blood", and is therefore generally preferred over electrical charge.

Charging

All androids have one or more charging ports, which can be placed anywhere on the body. Most androids will be plugged into an external charging device while in a "sleeping" state. An 8-hour long charging period can typically provide 72 hours of charge on an android's main battery, and a 24-hour charge on the backup battery. However, these numbers can differ by model and build. Most androids have a main and backup battery in case of emergencies.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Androids are assimilated into Humans' societies and therefore are subject to the same social structures. While in some areas androids may be treated as second-class citizens, dangers, or even revered, most places have laws in place that dictate that in daily life androids must be treated as normal people. As with people, there will always be those who deviate, and in those cases, alterations to the android's brain may be made, though in many places this practice is frowned upon even in the most severe of cases. Android brain alterations are against the teachings of The Order of the Living God, but certain exceptions can be made.

Android Protection Laws

Though androids are meant to be treated as closely to humans as possible as mandated by The Order of the Living God, human-android relations can be very complicated. If an android is adopted by a human couple, the android is more often treated as property than as their own person until they have been running for 18 years. If an android is adopted by an android-human couple, the android is then the property of its human parent before its android parent. Certain laws and restrictions differ by country and colony, though all are meant to be subject to review by The Order. Any differences in treatment towards androids is due to their status as human-made life. Most humans do not see this treatment as oppression, but rather as necessary precautions and sometimes privileges. As human as androids may feel, seem, and become through life experience, androids are, in the end, not human. As human as they are treated, they will always be regarded as as a separate entity; different in the way that humans see themselves as different from animals. It is because of these sometimes conflicting attitudes towards androids that android treatment and rights can become so complicated.

Facial characteristics

Androids' facial features are generally meant to appear as human as possible, with fabricated skin and mechanical eyes. Androids can have any human skin tone, eye and hair color, nose shape, eye shape, "bone" structure, etc. Some androids may be constructed to appear human in shape, but have metal plating instead of skin and more Robots-like bodies. The amount of human resemblance an android possesses can depend on model and build, whether it was built legally, and an android's personal preference when they get parts replaced.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Androids are built to mimic the base capabilities of average Humans. Androids can be built to have peak performance in every aspect (hearing, sight, strength, etc.), though more often they are built to have flaws and gifts just as normal humans do. These aspects are usually randomized, meaning they aren't dependent on model. One android of a certain model may have excellent sight and sub par agility while another of the same model could have horrible eyesight and excellent agility. This is done to enhance their humanness.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Androids are generally given names by their manufacturer. If manufactured for adoption by a family, the family can choose the android's name. While adoptive families can give their android child any name they desire, it is preferred that androids be given names a normal human would have.

Major Organizations

Androids can join any human organization they wish, save for The Order of the Living God, since The Order's members can only be those who possess a soul.

Gender Ideals

Androids are generally regarded as having a gender that matches their sex. Androids built with androgynous features will be regarded as androgynous unless the android decides it wishes to be seen otherwise. If an android wishes to change its sex, the operation is treated the same way any other part change would be treated. Because androids technically have no "biological" sex, they are instead seen as having a "given" or "chosen" sex: "given" meaning the one they are built to have (which includes part changes) and "chosen" used in the case of a disconnect between an android's gender expression and given sex. Legally, androids are seen as having a given and/or chosen gender of male or female or as genderless.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Androids are wired to speak one or more languages which are then seen as their native language(s). From there, acquisition of dialect is subconscious, and the android can learn other languages if it so desires.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Though android-human relations can be complicated and sometimes regarded as unfair, android-human relations are generally positive and regarded with a sense of equality and coexistence. Friendship, romantic relationships, and even marriage are encouraged. Generally, androids are able to marry Humans if they wish. Consent in android-human marriages is treated the same as in human marriages. Androids can also seek divorce from a human partner and adoption of both human and android children.

Genetic Ancestor(s)