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[lowendz113]

This is a bit of an odd scenario, but I will do my best to describe to you my question (also I'm not very knowledgeable on how magic works):

A magic character cannot perceive through solid objects, such as a building. Nor do they get an astral signature from machines (because they are not alive). So if a magic character were to assense a machine, he wouldn't see an aura. Now that being said, if someone were to put on a robotic glove, so his hand was still inside the machine, would the mage see the aura of the person's hand though the glove?

What about if the mage was astral? Would the machine prevent the him from seeing the person's hand? What if the person was wearing a whole robot suit? Would the magic user just see a giant mass, but no evidence of a person?

[Summerstorm]

Depends... in SR3 it was mentioned that your auro radiates a bit. Clothes and armor are not thick enough to hide that. But a huge exoskeleton might. In my group we played it like radiating about an inch. If your "robotic suit" is thick enough, yes he cannot be seen. (But even a full military armor isn't that big, i think).

So maybe a modified, armored JIM-Suit (where is it in 4th edition anyway? I want my rigger-book), or a large hollow combat drone.

[Mirilion]

Since shadows of objects that hold an emotional charge are clearer have a sort of aura themselves, perhaps the armor itself does as well.
If it has been used repeatedly by a confident, experienced pilot (your question made me think about powered armor for some reason), it may have a more opaque astral shadow,
indicating it's pilot trust in it, maybe even love (This is my armor, there are many like it, but this one is mine, sort of thing).
A new pilot without any level of emotional attachment to the armor wouldn't show up, in case you rule that thick armor blocks the user's aura (I see it as a GM call).

From another angle, any item which had a lot of emotions poured into it might show up clearer on the astral. Advanced items that make or break their inventor's careers, are targets of raids, causes of intercorp wars,
may have a sort of chaotic, stressful aura.