I've noticed since the new universe update, the lag has shot up a bit. Thats understandable, I can still fight drone bots smoothly. Yet it seems that the larger sentry bots suffer from severe lag issues, with a ping of 140.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Bigger sectors = more stuff to process = more lag time.

We have more servers online now. The beginnings of our new cluster architecture. You shouldn't be experiencing any "lag" from a lack of processor power on our side.

No incarnate, they're definately lagging. My ping average is under 80, and the bots are acting like they're on >400ms dialup

Our new cluster architecture isn't online right now.

I didnt think it was. Bots are laggy, regardless.

Laggy bots are not system load related. They are not laggy at all for me. I can probably clear this issue up with tweaks to the server code.

Stations also have considerable lag, most noticeable when you first dock, and there's a good 2-4 seconds of blackness. I can record this on video if need be, but this really does happen, even when I/a player has a good, stable connection.

I've noted this last phenomenon too, but I don't think it's lag related at all. It looks to me more like some problem with changing video modes from space to the station interface.
(guessing)

There isn't a change in videomodes, so I'd guess it's network traffic. Probably network related server tweaks will help, like Andy said.

Same remark as alienb.