The Grunt-Workers by NefariousDrO
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Even after the development of the Rephi Portals opened interstellar space for humanity, much of the survey-work was still cheaper and easier to use autonomous or semi-autonomous probes. The sheer volume of space in any given system made it necessary for the human crews to focus on the most interesting/useful parts while drones did the rest. Often they would be sent out in packs, each overlapping or partnering for maximum detail. Only after they'd done the bulk of the work did humans move in on the areas the probes indicated had maximum potential.
So much less exciting than humans boldly striding into the unknown, but given the dangers of space, can you blame them?
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I used to hate the idea of using robotic systems to explore space, but after seeing the exciting finds of the Cassini probe, several recent encounters with asteroids and comets, and of course the Mars Rovers, I've reluctantly come to admit that it's cheaper, easier, and by far safer to use remotes. Humans will have to move off of Earth if we want to have a long term (in the geological sense of time, of course) future, but remotes can definitely tell us where it's worth going, and where it isn't.
This probe was modeled and rendered in Bryce, while the planet is the result of a mixture of a Bryce Render, and the Photoshop plugin called "Lunarcell. Starfield and nebula also created in Photoshop, as well as compositing and other postwork.
Thanks for taking a look, it's nice to be doing Scifi again!
Comments (23)
Amazing Bryce modeling and excellent overall image.
Very cool image and fascinating subject. it makes sense to use auto-probes to do the mapping, especially if they are circling the planet at high speeds.
As I frequently say, that's the human part in robotic that will fail... Nice pic! ;)
Your ship models really belong in a big budget Hollywood sci-fi extraganza!Great attention to detail,Mike.
Great modeling and textures. Yep, robots first, then we go do the fun work afterwards...
Another fine scifi image and model...great work!
Nice sci-fi work.
Fantastic iage and models. Love the planet textures. Corrie
Nice
Excellent Bryce work,modeling and textures looks fantastic when zooming**********
great
Great render there Nef!
wonderful scene
great spatial image,good work
Great image and background story~! =)
Excellent ships as always - drones or not! And excellent work on the background spacescapes, Mike! It still blows my mind that we can send a car-sized rover to Mars, place it exactly where we want it, and program it to execute a very complicated series of manuvers to land gently on the surface. I sat here enthralled watching mission control live when Curiosity landed - I'll never forget it.. And the photos coming back...Wow!
awesome wow
Fantastic!
Gorgeousssss
I think just given the distances involved, robotic probes are far more practical, and likely to use for exploration and survey. Not very exciting perhaps, but the size of the real estate involved makes it the most likely scenario. I don't know what I like more here...the ships, the planet, or the backdrop, all are very nicely detailed!
Cool subject and beauty work my friend!!!Bravissimo!:DDD.Hugsxx Whylma
Wonderful Work
Robots will probably always be the grunts of space exploration. This is a fine render! The planet is very well done.