CT Only: Drones via LBB8

[gchuck]

Curious if anyone has tried this.
Got a player who wants to design a Zero-G drone that can be deployed from a ship. We, (player and ref) have decided that it will be exclusively used in space. Not in any significant gravity-well. Depending on power output, it might be functional in 'micro-gravity'.

Comments?

 

[Condottiere]

I don't think it's really covered in Classic, the relationship between gravitational motors and gravity wells, and distance from, thereof, in terms of motivation.

So, presumably it might be as fast as a solar sail?

 

[Spinward Flow]

There is a zero-g maneuver option for LBB8 robots that requires fuel (reaction mass).
I would personally recommend giving the drone anti-grav in addition to the zero-g thruster pack, simply so it isn't purely limited to zero-g operations. Even a minimal "walking speed" anti-grav mobility in a gravity well could wind up being extremely useful in a variety of creative ways.

Also, if you have to have fuel for reaction mass, might as well power it with fuel cells rather than fusion so the drone doesn't show up on neutrino sensors (just FYI) if you're wanting to get stealthy with it.

 

[McPerth]

Curious if anyone has tried this.

This one is for MT, not CT, but the designs system is quite close to LLB, and brain was designed according LL8. IT's for geosynchronous orbit, though...

Got a player who wants to design a Zero-G drone that can be deployed from a ship. We, (player and ref) have decided that it will be exclusively used in space. Not in any significant gravity-well. Depending on power output, it might be functional in 'micro-gravity'.

What is this drone expected to do?

 

[whartung]

If it's zero G, just let it "jet" around with some kind of onboard fuel. Don't make it "grav" at all.

 

[McPerth]

If it's zero G, just let it "jet" around with some kind of onboard fuel. Don't make it "grav" at all.

That depends on the endurance it needs... Jet needs fuel, while grav may work on solar panels rechargeable batteries, so having de facto infinite endurance

 

[kilemall]

Continental range sensors are small and cheap, so orbital sensor work detecting planetary and near orbit objects/events.

Boarding assistant including lookout and carrying heavy hull cutters.

 

[Condottiere]

If it's large enough to be defined as a spacecraft, you can install actual spacecraft drives.

What's the minimum in Classic, one tonne drive?

 

[Spinward Flow]

What's the minimum in Classic, one tonne drive?

Maneuver Drive: 1 ton minimum (MCr0.5)
Power Plant: 1 ton minimum (MCr3)
Fuel: 1 ton minimum
Computer: 1 ton minimum (MCr2)
Acceleration Couch: 0.5 ton minimum

Minimum tonnage = 4.5 tons (or 5 tons for Pilot plus 1 Passenger in a pod)

If you go with a Bridge instead of a Computer, you're looking at a minimum of 7 tons (and almost MCr2 in cost savings!).

For any applications that involve moving cargo and/or people, often times you'll find that 10 or 20 tons will wind up being the minimum "useful" size for small craft that can do something (anything!) besides just putter around.

 

[McPerth]

Maneuver Drive: 1 ton minimum (MCr0.5)
Power Plant: 1 ton minimum (MCr3)
Fuel: 1 ton minimum
Computer: 1 ton minimum (MCr2)
Acceleration Couch: 0.5 ton minimum

I guess you took this from HG. LBB8 sets the minimums quite different, as robots (and so drones) may well be under 1 dton...

On LBB8, minimum PP is a 10 l (0.01 kl) fuel cell, for locomotion you could use Grav plates and neither compu ter is needed (robot brains are) and no couch is needed if there's no crew. Fuel wil ldepend on the endurance wanted.

No solar pannels are described in LBB8. Not sure if they are in Striker (I don't own it, but for what I've read in this Board the building system is compatible, or nearly so), tat could be quite useful for space drones that need little to no maneuver (but some station keeping capacit y would always be good), as in my MT design.