| From: | pbailey@***.ipswichcity.qld.gov.au (Peter Bailey) |
|---|---|
| Subject: | MannyLoader |
| Date: | Sun, 11 Aug 96 21:43:17 |
This is something I was fooling about with one weekend. I don't think
it's out of the ballpark... Lemme know what you all think eh?
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Caterpillar-Ares MannyLoader
Handling: 2/5
Speed: 6/10
The speed is limited to the maximum speed of the
operator as well. If the operator is not capable of running
this fast, the machine is not capable of it either. The
MannyLoader's "run" is closer to a fastish shuffle.
Body: 2
Armour: 0
Sig: 4
Autopilot: 2
The autopilot is not capable of moving the machine on
it's own. It's dual purpose is to assist in keeping the
machine upright, and to help avoid collisions. Not an easy
task in this case.
Economy: 3Pf/km
Heavy lifts (ie. greater that half capacity) increase
this 2x.
Fuel type: ImpElec
Fuel Capacity: 48Pf
Storage: 0 (internal)
Seating: 1 (Standing)
Sensors: 1.
Cost: 16,000 NuYen.
Avail: 4/10
Street Index: .75
Other Notes:
Optional extras: A gridlink system for the MannyLoader is
available, for those warehouses that intend to work their
machinery hard, and for long hours. For the cost of 3000
NuYen, the manufacturer will remove the existing battery
packs and fit custom gridlink modules in their place. The
manufacturer can also fit the required stationary gridlink
components to the warehouse for a negotiable figure of 2
NuYen per metre.
Purpose: This unit is designed for all those tight little
spots that modern warehouses find themselves with. Sure
there are machines designed for narrow isles, there are
machines designed to be able to adapt to the strange shapes
of some of today's modern loads. But nothing has yet
exceeded the flexability of the human. The MannyLoader can,
if necessary, climb a sturdy set of shelves. It's svelte
600kg is light enough to hang ape-like from girders or
shelving, and with a sufficiently skilled operator, it can
cling to a shelf, and use it's other arm to pass a load down
to a conventional lift truck below, or indeed another
MannyLoader. Plus it's rough field capability is unmatched
by any wheeled lift truck. The MannyLoader is capable of
carrying heavy weights over unprepared terrain quickly,
easily, and almost effortlessly.
Description: The MannyLoader walks on two legs just like a
human. It requires a human to drive and help balance it
though. (Special skill; MannyLoader. Unskilled operators can
skillweb from Reaction, but increase all target numbers by
4.) It's driven by the movements of the driver acting on a
series of levers, sensors and handles within the machine.
His feet are strapped into the machine's feet, and the arms
are controlled by a small version of the machine's arms
within the driver's cage. The loader has a long pair of arms
with grippers at the end, giving it 2 metres of arm length
with another 1 metre of gripper tynes at the end. The rear
of the machine contains the powerplant, the hydraulic pumps,
valves and electronic controls. The batteries for the unit
are stored half in the huge feet and lower leg sections, and
half in a short set of counter weight arms which swing out
behind the unit to partially offset the effect of dangling
weight at the end of the machine's reach. The MannyLoader is
limited in it's arm actions to the extent that it can only
swing it's arms out by 20 degrees. The ends of the arms are
fully wristed though to allow maximum flexibility of
carrying capacity. The unit is capable of picking up 1200kg
(2640lb) of weight close to the "body" of the vehicle, and
decreasing to 400kg (880lb) at full arm extension. If
someone wanted to use it for combat (as someone inevitably
will) the machine is capable, however it's speed and
movement limitations slow that somewhat. The operator's
initiative dice is held at 1D6, and the operator uses the
average of the driver's unarmed combat and MannyLoader
skills as the basic combat dice. A hit from the arms does
12S, even though the arms have a strength rating of 60. This
is because the arms simply cannot move as fast as a human
arm does when it's throwing a punch. The grippers have a
strength of 20.
Combat Variant
Handling: 2/4
Speed: 10/15
The speed is limited to the maximum speed of the
operator as well. If the operator is not capable of running
this fast, the machine is not capable of it either. The
MannyLoader's "run" is closer to a fastish shuffle.
Body: 4
Armour: 12
Sig: 2
Autopilot: 4
Economy: 5Pf/km
Heavy lifts (ie. greater that half capacity) increase
this 2x.
Fuel type: ImpElec
Fuel Capacity: 48Pf
Storage: 3 (external)
Seating: 1 (Standing) Other soldiers can cling to the
outside if they wish....
Sensors: 2.
Cost: 1.25M NuYen.
Avail: 24/1.5 months
Street Index: 3
This just had to happen. The military have taken the basic
chassis and modified the drek out of it. The combat version
runs a higher pressure, lighter and faster hydraulic system
allowing the machine to move as fast as a human's reaction
(and initiative dice) can push it. This combined with better
construction materials, intergrated controls, and shorter
stature drops the all up weight of the machine down to
300kg, and permits the increase of the body and armour
values to 4/12 respectively. The max lift capacity of the
arms has dropped down to 450kg, however because the arms are
shortened to 1.5m with .5m circular claws, the extended
length max lift is 150kg. (20S damage in melee) The arms are
mounted with an outboard side hardpoint each, with a "back"
firmpoint also available. The rear compartment has been
enlarged sufficient to permit the standard fit of aural
masking (3), ECM (4), and Sensors (4). This plus the 1CF
allocated on each of the "shoulders" as ammunition bays and
the bulge at the rear of the "head" of the machine (used for
battletac and other communications gear) tends to make it
resemble an overgrown ape. Should the soldier take to the
girders the impression is even more pronounced. It's usage
is somewhat limited however, to situations where wheeled or
tracked heavy armour support is impractical. Simply, wheels
or tracks can do most of the armoured support role quicker
and cheaper than this thing's awkward carrying requirements
and high pricetag allows. However it's difficult to take a
tank into the upper areas of a shopping mall, or down a
shear cliff face in the way this thing can. Let's face it,
when was the last time you heard of a tank climbing an
elevator shaft?
>>>>>(Yeah! I want one! Where can I get my mitts on a combat
version of one of these?)<<<<<
-Barrens Billy (02:27:32/12-12-54)
>>>>>(Sorry Billy. Trying to get hold of one of those bad
boys is just as difficult as the military grade armour the
guy inside usually wears. The non-combat version can be
bought from any Caterpillar or Ares commercial vehicle
showroom though. I'm told it doesn't convert very well into
a combat machine however, unless you rebuild it from
scratch with new hydraulics and everything. Walking around
in this thing is rather conspicious too. They just aren't
common enough for many people to know they exist, and they
certainly aren't quiet enough to allow you to sneak up on
anything. Even with the aural masking, that ghost awful
whine requires the operator to use earmuffs or his ears ring
for a week.)
-Nightfire (22:00:21/12-20-54)
The idea for these items are unashamedly taken from the
movie "Aliens" and the book "StarShip Troopers" by Robert
Heinlen, respectively.
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C ya's!
--
Internet: pbailey@***.com.au Fidonet: 3:640/281.3
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