Does K.I.T.T. Still Need The Computer For Nanotech?

[Lost Knight]

Watching the new show, it's noticeable that the bulky rear seat computer has now been replaced by the new laser grafting device (I don't believe it has a name yet, or does it?). While we've seen K.I.T.T. shut himself down completely toward the end of "Journey To the End Of Knight," K.I.T.T. wasn't attacked, so we didn't see any body damage.

Do you think this is now a dropped plot device? From what we've seen so far, mid-air transformations can cause damage, but that didn't have anything to do with a computer shut down.

[Rockatteer]

Good question.

I believe the mid-air transformation damage was due to processing resource being diverted from protective shell to re-configuration of car shape. In the saem way as the first episode Kitt was talking about speeding up would divert power from resources needed to keep Mike and Sarah alive (which I presume would be the cooling system).

We also hear in the first episode that Kitt diverted just enough power to protect against the missile impact. This statement alone indicates that Kitt seems to be in control of the nano-tech skin, and can divert more processing power to it when needed to increase it's strength or healing speed.

So my take on it is that it is still controlled by Kitt and if he shuts down it's vulnerable.

I would also point out that this idea seems like quite a large vulnerability to me. One of the neat things from TOS was that Kitt could be shut down and we still got to see the baddie's braking drill bits and saw blades trying to open Kitt up.

Maybe they can rectify that problem with an upgrade to Kitt in a future episode.

[goldbug]

So my take on it is that it is still controlled by Kitt and if he shuts down it's vulnerable.

This is a logical assumption, bit I really hope it's not true. While it made for a fascinating plot point in the 2 hr movie, frankly it's just silly to me and feels like back pedal on the tech from KI2T. The easiest way to explain this is to say that KI3T can control the nanotech, but that if the main computer is down the nanos have default settings like "heal" and "bullet proof" etc. since they too are tiny computers. The fun thing about scifi is that you can make all sorts of stuff up to explain away these things.

[SacValleyDweller]

... KI3T can control the nanotech, but that if the main computer is down the nanos have default settings like "heal" and "bullet proof" etc. since they too are tiny computers. The fun thing about scifi is that you can make all sorts of stuff up to explain away these things.

Sounds perfectly reasonable, I'll buy all that!

And yes, Sci-Fi is fun like that. Some days and shows, it's fun to create explanations for those kinds of things. Others, it's harder to do and more enjoyable if you don't try.

[BlueChaos]

If I remembered correctly, the original KITT never had any problems about "not enough power" so why introduce that in this new KITT? If KITT keeps getting not enough power, just built a larger powerplant into KITT and that will solve the problem, that's all. The part where KITT has difficulties reverting to backup power was just lame.

[Rockatteer]

If I remembered correctly, the original KITT never had any problems about "not enough power" so why introduce that in this new KITT? If KITT keeps getting not enough power, just built a larger powerplant into KITT and that will solve the problem, that's all. The part where KITT has difficulties reverting to backup power was just lame.

Actually he did. I remember an episode where Kitt was jamming the motor of a helicopter. Micheal said something about micro-locking the brakes of a car and Kitt replied that he could do that but would have to let the helicopter go.. i.e. not enough "power" to do both at once.

I'm sure there's other instances of this too.. but can only recall that one at the moment.

[Alan1972]

that wasn't a computer, it was an old Atari jaguar CD.