Strongarm Exoskeleton

[Lagrange]

Of late, I've been wondering about how to optimize logistics in the battletech universe again.  If we are in 3025, the cargo movement rules strongly favor (x5) an exoskeleton (or battle armor).  If you are in 3025 then only exoskeletons are available (availability E) and options are very limited.  Amongst the available options, there are cargo lifter manipulators (x1.2) and a space ops adaptation (x1.75 in zero g).  If we further optimize for cargo capacity*distance moved, then a move 3 exoskeleton seems to be preferred.  Altogether, we end up with a design like this:

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Strongarm Exoskeleton
Type: Logistics
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown

Tech Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Chassis Type:  Biped
Weight Class: Ultra Light/PA(L)/Exoskeleton
Maximum Weight: 400 kg
Battle Value: 6
Swarm/Leg Attack/Mechanized/AP: No/No/No/No

Equipment                                     Slots      Mass
Chassis:                                                80 kg
Motive System:                                               
     Ground MP:          3                              50 kg
     Jump MP:            0                               0 kg
Manipulators:                                                 
    Left Arm:            Cargo Lifter                   60 kg
    Right Arm:           Cargo Lifter                   60 kg
Armor:                   Standard (Basic)       0        0 kg
    Armor Value:         1 (Trooper)                         

                                             Slots           
Weapons and Equipment             Location (Capacity)   Mass 
Space Operations Adaptation         Body       1       100 kg
Mission Equipment Storage (50 kg) Right Arm     1       50 kg 

Looking at the numbers, a 5 person squad (maximum per unit) can shift 5(people)*1.2(cargo manipulators)=6 tons/minute.  This increases to 30 tons/minute with a containerized cargo. 

In a zero-G environment, this becomes 5(people)*1.2(cargo manipulators)*0.2(zero-G)*2.5(Null-G Pack)*1.75(Zero-G gear) = 5.25 tons/minute, increasing to 26.25 tons/minute with containerized cargo.   Here I'm counting the space ops adaptation as 'Zero-G gear'.  The 50 kg of mission equipment can include 2 20kg Null-G packs and a 2 kg Null G controller, with a few kg left over.  (Null-G packs must be deployed in pairs.)

The lifting capacity here appears to be 2 tons/exoskeleton (=2x 1 ton cargo lifters) so a 5 person squad can lift a 10 ton cargo container in 1 gravity.

The cost is 152K C-bills/exoskeleton with an extra 150K C-bills to train the pilot, so the cost of training and the device cost amortize each other. 

Variations:  In a ground-only environment, the space ops adaptation and mission equipment could be replaced with double strength cargo lifters, increasing lift capacity to 4 tons while decreasing cost by 48K.

Edit: Slightly more friendly name.

[idea weenie]

Very nice civilian system there.  I'd expect to see these moving cargo around a spaceport, or moving the cranes into place to unload & load a cargo Dropship

Another idea might be tossing one point of armor onto the frame not for protection vs weapons fire, but just in case something falls.  The exoskeleton equivalent of a hard hat.

[DOC_Agren]

Another idea might be tossing one point of armor onto the frame not for protection vs weapons fire, but just in case something falls.  The exoskeleton equivalent of a hard hat.

as someone who watched friday am the trash truck lift arm hydraulic line blow on left side.  That protection could be helpful.  We had to help him jury rig the truck arm so he could go back for repairs.

And I love the idea

[Lagrange]

Very nice civilian system there.  I'd expect to see these moving cargo around a spaceport, or moving the cranes into place to unload & load a cargo Dropship

I'm actually contemplating use in a space :-)  The variant makes more sense on the ground, since that has availability D in 3025. 

Another idea might be tossing one point of armor onto the frame not for protection vs weapons fire, but just in case something falls.  The exoskeleton equivalent of a hard hat.

I considered it, but there are two concerns:
(1) How do you free up 50 kg to do this?  If we are in a dedicated 0-g environment, the movement could be freed.  If we are in a dedicated ground environment the space-ops adaptation could be lost.  If we want to handle both... maybe you could drop the mission equipment and rely on Null-G packs being generally available?
(2) In 3025, exoskeletons are availability D ("rare").  This design is availability E ("Very Rare") due to the space ops adaptation.  Armor is availability F ("Unique").  Perhaps this is not a concern in some settings.

[idea weenie]

I'm actually contemplating use in a space :-)  The variant makes more sense on the ground, since that has availability D in 3025.  I considered it, but there are two concerns:
(1) How do you free up 50 kg to do this?  If we are in a dedicated 0-g environment, the movement could be freed.  If we are in a dedicated ground environment the space-ops adaptation could be lost.  If we want to handle both... maybe you could drop the mission equipment and rely on Null-G packs being generally available?
(2) In 3025, exoskeletons are availability D ("rare").  This design is availability E ("Very Rare") due to the space ops adaptation.  Armor is availability F ("Unique").  Perhaps this is not a concern in some settings.

A combat armored exoskeleton should be Availability F in 3025 era.  A Logistics exoskeleton with a few dozen kilos of sheet steel between the pilot and the myomers/hydraulics should be another matter (Commercial grade armor?)

[Daryk]

If you look at the reintroduction date of BA armor, I think you will be disappointed.

[Lagrange]

If you look at the reintroduction date of BA armor, I think you will be disappointed.

What do you mean?  Tech Manual page 287 says Exoskeleton is introduced in "Early Spaceflight".  Where is the Reintroduction date of Battle Armor?  And why is that relevant to Exoskeleton?

[Sabelkatten]

What do you mean?  Tech Manual page 287 says Exoskeleton is introduced in "Early Spaceflight".  Where is the Reintroduction date of Battle Armor?  And why is that relevant to Exoskeleton?

The actual armor itself. Exoskeletons are (relatively) low-tech, putting armor on the is for some reason very complicated.

[idea weenie]

The actual armor itself. Exoskeletons are (relatively) low-tech, putting armor on the is for some reason very complicated.

Exactly right.  For combat-capable armor you have to design the armor so it wraps around the person nicely and protects the joints well.

For non-combat armor it should be simpler/cheaper.  Just list it as armor that only protects vs the unit falling or objects falling on the unit (i.e. buildings).  This would be cheap, but the notes about it providing 0 pts protection vs weapons should be a hint.

[Lagrange]

The actual armor itself. Exoskeletons are (relatively) low-tech, putting armor on the is for some reason very complicated.

Interesting.  Where is the reintroduction date for armor listed? In my TM, I just see F-F-E for standard BA armor on page 281.

[Daryk]

Interstellar Operations, page 36:

IS Prototype: 3050 (FS/LC/DC)

[Lagrange]

Interstellar Operations, page 36:

Good, thanks.