This is correct. Our precision is to hundredths of a millimeter. American programming typically uses imperial measurements. Victoria's confident expression flickered momentarily. She hadn't expected technical dialogue that revealed actual knowledge of the manufacturing process.
Jamal nodded, his hands still resting on the engine. That's the first problem. The AI is trying to control mechanical components that are 0.003 in different from what it expects. It's like trying to conduct an orchestra when every instrument is tuned to a slightly different key. First discovery, the sound diagnosis.
May I start the engine? Jamal asked Dr. Rodriguez, who nodded with growing curiosity. The machine roared to life, filling the boardroom with the deep rumble of controlled explosions. But where others heard normal engine sounds, Jamal heard a conversation.
His grandfather's voice echoed in his memory. Engines speak to those who know their language. Listen, he said, raising his voice over the mechanical symphony. At 2,800 RPM, there's a harmonic frequency mismatch. The pistons are hitting their optimal rhythm, but the AI sensors are reading vibrations that don't match the programmed parameters.
He pointed to the diagnostic screen displaying incomprehensible data streams. Your engineers have been chasing software ghosts when the problem is mechanical harmony. The engine runs for exactly 14 minutes and 37 seconds before overheating because that's when the harmonic mismatch reaches critical resonance. Dr. Rodriguez stepped forward.
Her engineering instincts fully engaged. Explain the harmonic theory. Every engine has a natural frequency. The RPM range where all components work in perfect synchronization. This engine was designed to operate at 3,400 RPM optimal efficiency.
But the AI system was calibrated to expect imperial measurements. So, it's trying to maintain a different harmonic frequency than what the mechanical components can deliver. He gestured toward the oscilloscope, displaying wave patterns. See those irregular spikes at 14-minute intervals? That's the engine trying to find its natural rhythm while the AI forces it into an artificial pattern.
Marcus Brooks, the MIT trained team leader, pushed through the crowd. That's impossible. We tested harmonic frequencies extensively during development. Jamal looked at him with respectful disagreement. You tested the frequencies that the AI was programmed to expect, but the actual mechanical components are singing a slightly different song.
Klaus Müller exchanged glances with his associates. This wasn't the rambling of an unqualified maintenance worker. This was sophisticated acoustic engineering analysis that addressed fundamental design integration issues. Second discovery, the measurement revelation. Jamal moved to the engine's technical documentation, spreading blueprints across the polished conference table.