Inside Kitt, the Knight Industries Two Thousand

KITT is a fictional artificial intelligence built into a blacksupercomputer used the so-called Alpha Circuit to
Pontiac Trans Am in the popular Knight Rider TVdrive the Pontiac, which can be disabled to run the car
series, which ran between September 26, 1982, andin "manual override" mode. The entire AI can also be
August 8, 1986 starring David Hasselhoff as Michaelshut down using a hidden switch and setting dial under
Knight.the dash.
The KITT AI was originally created by Wilton Knight, aKITT was also able to drive the car by himself, even
brilliant but eccentric billionaire, and then used by thebetter than any human could. It also offered a lot of
U.S. government. The artificial intelligence relied an agimmicks such the Turbo Boost (which allows to jump
Knight 2000 microprocessor which was the center ofover obstaclesby quickly accelerating to speeds in
a "self-aware" cybernetic logic module that allowedexcess of 200 mph), a "Tri-Helical Plasteel 1000
KITT to think, learn, communicate and interact withMolecular Bonded Shell" armored plating which resists
humans. It was first installed in a mainframe computerweapon fire as well as the "Super Pursuit Mode"
in Washington D.C.. Later on, Wilton Knight modified thewhich was added at a later stage.
computer system and implemented it into a PontiacMost features could be activated automatically by
car to be used by his own association, the FoundationKITT or manually be the driver, using a multitude of
for Law and Government.buttons and panels in the cockpit - and it had LOTS of
The car featured an Anamorphic Equalizer whichfeatures, so here's just a basic list: police lights and a
allowed KITT to see, visible as a red scan-bar on thesiren, a grappling hook and winch, a parachute, it could
front of the car. The fiber-optic array of electronicleak oil onto the road or produce smoke, it had a flame
eyes could see in all visual wavelengths as well asthrower, a tear gas launcher, ultramagnesium charges
X-Ray and infrared. An Etymotic Equalizer allowed himto divert heat-seeking missiles, traction spikes, a
to hear and his voice synthesizer allowed him to speakmicrowave jammer, tracking systems, an onboard
in english, french and spanish, and also to simulatelaser powerpack, a bomb sniffer, a medical scanner,
other sounds. Furthermore he could smell using andeflatable tires, self-tinting windows, a voice stress
atmospheric sampling device.analyzer, a rotating license plate, a seat ejection
Neither the Knight 2000 CPU clock nor the exactsystem and much more (the entire list would be just
amount of memory of the KITT AI are known. The AItoo long).