Neural-Net Battlesuit (TL09) Copyright (c) 1995 by William Frierson This battlesuit was built using GURPS Robots. I intend to build an IFV and a tank using these rules, for comparison. This design was spurred by the SciFi Armies/Marines thread on the GURPS mailing list. This design can be posted to the vehicles netbook and the archives on IO.com (ok Sean?). This is the Mauler mk 2 battlesuit. It was designed to give Marines and other light infantry support on any variety of worlds, including zero-g operations. While not able to engage tanks head on, they are armored against most small arms and artillery. They are designed to accept weapon packs, one heavy and one light. These can be eqipped with a variety of weapon types, allowing flexibility in engaging enemy units. They also have 10 sockets, accepting standard grenades, though smoke and flechette are the common types used. The power, life support and medical systems are mounted in a "backpack" that has been designed for quick changes in the field. The weapon packs are also designed for a quick change. The computer is the MicroNet SCN20. This computer is neural-net, and trained by military trainers before delivery to combat units. This allows the suit to perform basic military duties, even if the soldier inside becomes disabled. And it actually learns and becomes experienced, keeping valuable combat training available and ready, even if operating with a green soldier. It can even be used in Orbital drops, using custom drop pods (I'm working on this too), so it can provide support _during_ the beach head battle. While not a tank, it's small size and weight make it perfect for Rapid Deployment Forces of any kind. Brain: TL9 standard brain with the Compact, High Capacity, Hardened, and Neural Net options (30 lbs, 3.2 cf, $225,000) and a +3 DX booster. Battlesuit system for 200 lb (max) operator/wearer (240 lbs, 4.8 cf, $3,500). Sensors: TL9 Basic sensors with Acute Vision +2, Laser Range Finder, Thermograph, 360 degree Vision, Acute Hearing +2, Parabolic Hearing +2, No Sense of Taste/Smell, Ladar Imaging +2, Radar Imaging +2, Radar/Laser Locator, Multiscanner (16 lbs, .32 cf, $136,000, 1 KW). Communications: Basic communicator TL9 with Bullhorn, Medium Range, Extension Cable, Laser Comm, and IFF options (6.6 lbs, .13 cf, $3,150). Arm Motors: two 30 ST arm motors (4.5 lbs, .09 cf, $9,000, .15 KW). Drivetrain: One TL9, two-legged drive train of 2.6 KW, with two leg motors (52 lbs, 1.04 cf, $10,400, 1.3 KW). Thrust Propulsion: One TL9 250 lb vectored thrust chemical rocket, with a 1 gallon self-sealing fuel tank (11.6 lbs, .26 cf, $462). Weaponry: Two sets of retractable, monowire talons ($1,250). Two modular sockets for weapon packs, heavy on primary arm (100 lbs, 2 cf), light on secondary arm (20 lbs, .4 cf). Ten sockets for grenade launcher grenades. Accessories: Gyrobalance ($2,500), Inertial Navigation System (10 lbs, .2 cf, $12,500), Emergency Support Unit (50 lbs, 1 cf, $15,000), 48 hours of Life Support (200 lbs, 4 cf, $1,750). Power: Power requirement 3.9 KW. A bank of 3 rE cells provides power for 57 hours. Subassemblies: One Head, one Backpack, one Body, two Arms and two Legs. Head Design: Head houses Sensors, Commo, head space for wearer, rotation space and sloped facings [60 degree front, 30 degree sides] (1.8 cf). Backpack Design: The backpack houses the Emergency Support Unit, life support, Rocket, and the power supply. The sides and back -exposed side- are each sloped 30 degrees (9 cf). Body Design: The body houses the computer, Nav/balance systems, rotation space, body space and sloped facings [60 degree front, 30 degree on both sides, and the back] (16.8 cf). Two grenade sockets on each shoulder, one facing forward and one to the side. One grenade socket in the chest. Three sockets on the upper back (above the pack) facing the rear, one dead center, the two outer ones facing slightly out (45 degrees). Arm Design: Primary [Right] arm houses an arm motor, talons, arm space and a heavy weapon module (2.29 cf). The secondary [left] arm holds a light weapon module instead of the heavy weapon module, and arm space and talons (.69 cf). Leg Design: The legs house the leg motor, leg space for the wearer, and waste space (5 cf). One grenade socket on each leg, in between knee and ankle, facing 20 degrees off of front center. Structure: TL9 Expensive Medium structure (418.5 lbs, $18,600). Hit Points: Head 14, Backpack 38, Body 60, Arms 24, Legs 17. Armor: Head F 150L, L/R 107L, B 75L (Laminate 41 lbs, $4,050). Backpack F 75L, L/R 107L, B 107L (Laminate 112 lbs, $11,250). Body F 200L, L/R 150L, B 150L (Laminate 240 lbs, $24,000). Arms 75L (Laminate 36 lbs, $3,600). Legs 75L (Laminate 50 lbs, $5,000). Instant Chameleon surface (56 lbs, $11,200), Rad Shielding (224 lbs, $2,240), IR Cloaking (224 lbs, $33,600), Sealed ($4,480). Statistics: 2159 lbs (1.1 tons), 33.2 cf, $561,632. Body ST 120, Arm ST 30, DX 13, IQ 8, HT 11. Speed 6, Jump Factor .9. Programs: Gunner P/A [2] 13 $4,000 Battlesuit P/A [2] 13 $4,000 Orienteering M/A [2] 11 $2,000 Guns P/E [2] 14 $4,000 Brawling P/A [2] 13 $4,000 Tactical Manuevers M/A [2] 11 $2,000 Patrolling M/A [2] 11 $2,000 Weapon Packs Heavy Weapons Shots Heavy Rocket Launchers 100lbs, 2 cf, $6,000 3 Lt Rocket Launcher 15 lbs, $2,000 4 Gauss Minigun 45 lbs, $9,000 600 Mil Laser Carbine 7 lbs, $3,000 200 Ammo 33 lbs, $4,500 4/600/400 Total 100 lbs, $18,500 8/1200/600 Gatling Laser 75 lbs, $20,000 150 Ammo 25 lbs, $3,000 150 Total 100 lbs, $23,000 300 Tripod Flamer 45 lbs, $10,000 40 Gauss Battle Rifle 7.5 lbs, $3,500 60 E-M Gren Launcher 10 lbs, $5,000 5 Ammo 37.5 lbs, $2,500 80/120/15 Total 100 lbs, $21,000 120/180/20 Light Weapons Gauss Battle Rifle 7.5 lbs, $3,500 60 Ammo 12.5 lbs, $500 300 Total 20 lbs, $4,000 360 Mil Laser Carbine 7 lbs, $3,000 200 Ammo 13 lbs, $1,200 400 Total 20 lbs, $4,200 600 Notes: The weapon packs can be built using the weapons from Robots. The extra weight that is lost with spare ammo is used in linking the magazines/power packs together. I averaged the two arms together to come up with the DR and weight values (and the cost). If you want to seperate them, go ahead. The skills Tactical Manuevers and Patrolling are ones I just made up. Tactical manuvering is equivalent to the training an individual gets when he is taught to drive combat (tactical) vehicles. It emphasizes using masking terrain and cover whenever possible, fast movement with frequent direction changes while moving in the open, and selection of (available) hide/covering/firing positions. Patrolling is one of the ways that a military commander gets information about enemy activity in his area. This is basically sending some infantrymen (or cavalry/scouts) out in front of his unit to see what they can see. This program includes some of the techniques used in moving and sneaking around in enemy occupied territory. Almost like the tactical manuevers program, this includes the maximum use of cover, the best terrain to use and the worst terrain to avoid, likely enemy avenues of approach and positions where enemy troops would set up. So map analysis, tactical manuevering and observation skills, camouflage and ambush skills are all a part of this process. I just wanted to simulate a neural net that has some experience in the field, and I decided to hang it under a nice, neat title. Since this model battlesuit has a neural-net, it can learn from experience. It can handle _limited_ patrol duties by itself, and it can also bring back the wearer if the wearer is incapacitated.