EM1 'Sarcophagus' cockpit core architecture

The EM1 is an enclosed, armored movable cockpit solution designed for use in small frames.

The EM1 Sarcophagus is a standard production model of cockpit for powered frames. While standard frames rely on a sitting cockpit system, the EM1 totally encloses the pilot and in many ways bridges the gap between frames and powered-armor - with the pilot's head and arms able to move freely and the pilot's bodily motions influencing those of the frame. The EM1 is characterized by movable surfaces, musculature, internal powerplant and digital subsystems, internal armored interlocking panels and self-healing structures and can be ejected independently.

Major features of the EM1 include…

• Power-armor like handling
• Personal-scale hands for manipulating human-scale objects
• Fighter-like control scheme
• Thick armor (relative to powered-armor)
• Low weight (relative to fighters)
• Modular replaceable 'head' and 'backpack'

The stock model of EM1 can be piloted either with or without a piloting suit, though there are obvious advantages to the physical protection, interfacing, medical and survival options offered from the use of a pilot-suit. The EM1 features a bespoke pilot-suit architecture optimized for its use, though just about any compact pilot suit can be adapted if required.

Important for optimal pilot performance and survivability, the Type II Powered Frame Pilot Attire & Equipment Package includes the pilot-suit itself and additional support and survival equipment designed to aid and help the pilot both in the cockpit and out of the cockpit should they make be forced to make an ejection.

Specialist adaptations for different international requirements are available and can be integrated with existing pilot suits.

• integrated_pilot_suit
• pilot_attire

Though not a pilot suit as such, this equipment offers a greater control of the frame and can easily be added to standard attire. Optionally, the MICAS headset and retinal imaging systems can be integrated into the helmet of the frame instead of being worn by the pilot, meaning the pilot requires no special equipment. MONOS and DUOS can also be run on a wide variety of system architectures though they benefit from their integration with the laplace. Note none of these technologies are essential and that other solutions can be found if desired, using existing equipment.

• MONOS (Mixed Self Optimizing Neural Operational system)
• DUOS (Dream Uplink Operational System)

• Lazarus MICAS portable headset
• Retinal Imaging System
• Contact Gloves

• RECOIL (Reward Conditioning Imprint Loop)
• AHEGAO (Advanced Heuristic Endorphin Generation and Amplification Operator)

The EM1 Cockpit is characterized by a skeleton of seven spines and an overhead armored harness system. These spines act not only as the primary movement systems of the host frame's body but also its transmission systems and act as a space-frame for the cockpit, mounting layers or ribbed intersecting armor over the top, which would then be laminated in a structol substrate.

In this cut-away example, the seating position of a pilot can clearly be seen, the biceps of the mandable personal-scale arms containing the cockpit controls, the armored combination helmet/head and mounting surface for an automatic companion as well as the powerplant which sits in an armored sphere between the pilot's thighs.

The composition of the basic construction differs from frame to frame and is adjusted based on fleet requirements or variant construction but the basic arrangement is almost always the same.

Providing executive manual control over the frame, the EM101 hand-control systems act as piloting controls, abstracting complex tasks down into simple macros and sub-routines. They are responsible for…

• General purpose piloting
• Target selection
• Master-arm and munitions control
• Communications and energy management
• Executive overrides
• Specialist systems
• Purge & Ejection options

Importantly, they provide an immediate physical override which is always available, with or without a pilot suit, or working neural operational systems. While intention recognition may act on command prematurely in some cases, all hand-inputted actions are always legally accountable: as such, master-arm and weapons-free toggles are hand-control options rather than being driven by neural operations or automation alone.

The EM101 package is designed with a HOTAS hands-on-throttle-and-stick mentality in mind and features two units, both symmetrical for ambidextrous operation. Operational specifics and control schemes can be customized by pilots though typically the left unit handles lateral motion and thruster control and the right unit handles rotation and weapons operation.

The main controls of the unit, the paw-throttle is a movable surface containing fine controls which affect motion control, orientation and boost control as well as fire-control functions – provided through a three-axis throttle and three-axis tilt.

The paw-throttle is designed to be ergonomic, sporting a body of a structol variant: altex, which has the shape-changing functionality but none of the possible biological concerns. As such, the paw-throttle's surfaces are molded to the pilot's hands and the elements of the control adjusted accordingly.
In addition to the obvious switches, the paw also features four axis-tilt switches beneath each raised portion. These axis tilts are deformable and move with the pilot's hand and can be locked to the palm of the pilot-suit, allowing for sensitive actions with mandible hands even if intention-recognition and neural controls are unavailable.

Chief amongst its controls are…

• Static Analogue Stick with vibration feedback, providing primary motion control
• Movable throttle-base, providing subtle correction, balance and booster-control
• Selector D-Pad/HAT switch
• Mousewheel Weapons-Selector/menu browser
• Pressure-sensitive analogue throttle-trigger with secondary-button when depressed fully
• Reverse pressure-sensitive throttle-latch above throttle trigger
• Three shoulder switches
• Three Push switches
• Four axis tilts beneath each finger

In addition, the paw-throttle can be pushed forward or backward, left or right, up or down and can be twisted on its base or rolled from side to side.

Responsible for secondary control of equipment such as sensors, target selection, ECM/ECCM operation and special operations, the key-pit is essentially a set of 15 variable-function keys. These keys can be configured in software to become full-click toggle-switches and their surface texture can be changed in software for ease of navigation and recognition. Augmented-reality displaying the pilot's own arms will depict the function of the key any finger is currently resting on or offer popup for special widgets while rested, similar to a mouseover.

The location of keys, their height and texture can all be adjusted prior to mission based on pilot preferences, with touch-screen like options linked with the augmented reality systems of the display-system being a particularly popular choice for field-commanders on the right-arm while the left arm remains function-keys.

Responsible for 'executive' systems: The bridge is loaded with system control switches for manual operation, master-arm operation functions, system calibration functions and manual overrides as well as the master-caution dismissal.

Chief amongst its controls are…

• Nine executive command keys, featuring touch-pad surfacing and full depression/toggle functionality
• Two mouse-wheels used for adjusting energy management in realtime
• Two frequency & amplitude adjustment knobs
• Two toggle flaps
• Two toggle switches (Master-Arm & fire-control)
• Three secondary command keys, featuring touch-pad surfacing and full depression/toggle functionality

In addition, the bridge itself can be tilted along the X-Axis to adjust the sensitivity of thruster controls for both rotation and lateral movement independently.

The CT suit is a combination of skintight bodysuit and hardened over-covers, covering a pilot entirely except for the face and hair which are sprayed with a specialized lotion. A living colony, the suit is designed to be worn for extended periods of time, reducing scramble times and improving pilot health, efficiency, interfacing and survival. The suit manages bodily waste, sweat and mucus that the user releases to repair itself and is powered by an integrated capacitor system and background radiowaves, needing very little power most of the time. The suit is able to fit modular strapping systems and generally, one size fits all and the suit is almost entirely self-sufficient.

The CT suit importantly includes a number of special adaptations for the purpose of pilot and crew psychological morale and hygine though these are optional. The suit also supports a wide variety of color, layout and style customizations, inspired from the pilot suits of various teams used in frame-racing which its design is sourced from - encouraging identity among teams and users.

The suit is available to all international signees of the Defense Arrangement Treaty of the Alliance of Signatory States (DATASS).

A custom suit may be requisitioned for personal use for free if the nation holds a manufacturing licence sufficient to cover the cost .

See integrated_pilot_suit

Setting the MICAS apart from other neural systems is its portability, wide array of uses and its redundant sensor systems called DOMINOS (Directed Optical Mind Imaging Neural Operating System) which produce a greater accuracy than a single imaging system is able to - with 10 sensors located around the head of the user. The system is also able to very convincingly project images onto the user's retina and features cameras used to compare what the MICAS sees against what the user sees to determine the object of focus. These same sensors can also augment a user's vision.

MICAS can also be integrated into the interior helmet space of the EM1 instead of being worn and with combination of data interlink, can be used to control the EM1 remotely, provided a connection is available. The level of abstraction available from MICAS also makes it ideal for controlling drones, either weapons-pods or unmanned frames or fighters.

• See Lazarus MICAS portable headset
  • Mixed Self Optimizing Neural Operational system (MONOS)
  • Dream Uplink Operational System (DUOS)

Contact-Gloves are an ultra thin button control system which fits over the hands. They work by having different ares of the fingers on both hands act as buttons which can be connected only using the thumb of the same hand - particularly the interior of the hand and topside (those easily accessible by the thumb) with each joint of the finger (distal medial and proximal phalanges) becoming buttons (six total per finger, 22 switches per hand). They are also able to act as basic scrolling surfaces, a simplified joystick and the system can be enabled or disabled by pressing the tip of the smallest finger into its bottom joint (curling it into a U). Force-feedback in the form of a physical click can be added and the system is also pressure sensitive.

While not strictly necessary, they can perform the same functions as the keys in the cockpit of the EM1 if the pilot is outside of the frame or be designated specific functions.

• See Contact Gloves

The interior of the cockpit contains gel-like cushioning plates around the pilot. Each features a zipper and is usually filled with rations or equipment. In addition, the interior space for the pilot's arms is quite roomy and is hinged at the shoulders, providing room for additional equipment and personal items stuck to the interior walls.

The front of the cockpit can blister into a large bubble, extruding into an over-sized coffin, allowing a pilot to move their arms freely with an interior space roughly equivalent to the accommodations in a capsule hotel. This allows a pilot to access objects in the interior walls of the cockpit without having to unseal it. In this mode, armor panels do not intersect over one another, though those with a claustrophobic disposition can fit additional armor over the cockpit. ACCESS mode in this way doubles as a TANDEM configuration for two pilots.

The Winter II is designed with a wide variety of ejection modes intended to address different circumstances. Some of these are intended especially for use during atmospheric flight, while others are more suited for space where there is no atmosphere and the environment is extremely hazardous. The mode is selected automatically by the frame's onboard intelligence based upon situational data, however it may be overridden manually by the user.

In all cases, the Scout Sphere or Automatic Companion travels with the user.

The pilot is ejected in pilot-suit alone. Similar to that of most platforms. Offers no special protection.

The simplest and fastest of the three modes, quicksave surrounds the interior core of the cockpit around the pilot (including rations) with multiple layers of picojelly foams. Beginning with the outermost layer, the quicksave is able to withstand atmospheric re-entry and automatically ablate into a simple parachute.

The main layers beneath are water-proof and are able to act as a dingy. The pico-jelly itself is able to grow and replicate if chunks are buried, able to be grown to form shelter and coverings.

The innermost layers, known as superfoams are extremely reliant to different temperature climates: One dyed orange which is able to withstand great heat from the sun and another silver which has been dyed pale blue which excels in retaining heat. Like the other picojelly, the superfoams can also be grown.

The stasis module is included with the quicksave.

Stasis mode, is available as an addition to all modes. When activated it engages a Lazarus stasis system; This puts whatever is left in a state of very low power consumption while an internal quantum transponder and subspace radio call for help. In theory, stasis mode can operate for decades. The operator can also be periodically awoken, informed of current conditions, offered the option to preform any specific repairs as needed and then return to stasis.

The stasis system can be shut down or re-activated when special computer programmed conditions are met (such as long distance travel).

The torso, head and intermediaries are ejected as a single module. the result resembles a strange shuttle-craft, with the front of the torso lifting with the mandibles to form a nose-cone and intermediaries along with wing arrays providing the main source of thrust.

The power-plant may optionally be ejected or taken with the craft in this mode. If components and parts from other platforms can be salvaged, much of the frame can be rebuilt and improvised depending on the quality of the parts.

The EM1 is designed with modularity and upgradability in mind. As such, many of its basic components are designed to be swapped out.

The head of the EM1 is a seperate component from the helmet, which fits around the pilot and can be thought of as a helmet over a stump. The head of a frame generally dictates specialist sensor systems – not those used for locating distant objects but those used in assessing and identifying those objects individually.

The head itself is typically made up of the bulk of the head, the upper and the lower face-plates which are usually able to open, revealing the helmet and visor beneath. Those in turn can be opened, revealing the helmet of whatever pilot suit is used or the naked head of the pilot themselves, providing three layers of protection. The head itself and neck are shock protected with an additional pair of spines.

Mounting onto the back of the torso, the backpack is a tactical extension of either the main computer, powerplant, sensors or communications systems. It usually stores sub-computers and specialist components which are designed to be rapidly swapped out.

Fitted over the front of the lower EM1, skirting usually contains equipment which works best when forward facing - drone launchers, small turrets and countermeasures being common - as well as a central balancing thruster. Often, small thrusters are also present on the hips.

Contained inside an armored sphere internally between the pilot's thighs, the powerplant is an isolated housing designed typically for the aura master-unit, though fusion powerplants and other systems may be used instead if desired. Importantly, the powerplant can be ejected in the event of an emergency and is linked to the energy exchange, cooling and fuel exchange systems within the spines of the EM1.

Segmented extrusions from the torque-bus spine of the Sarcophagus, armatures are designed to mount equipment which can be repositioned for the purpose of transformation or to improve a range of mobility. They are ideal for the mounting and use of heavy weapons and are able to slide up and down the central torque-bus spine of the cockpit system on a rail systems, like trains upon a track.

Arms for example, can be slid down to mount not on the shoulders but instead on the hips. Critically, while armatures are prehensile, the device in question must still dock to a real hardpoint (shoulder, hip, etc) to receive power as armatures themselves while self-healing, don't cope with heavy lifting loads well when strssed or aggressively struck - acting as a hand carrying equipment, rather than a holster or fixture, as such.

Located in what becomes the parent frame's torso, mandible arms are compacted personal-scale manipulators. Their shoulder joint is driven by that of the pilot, with the pilot's hands, arms and controls filling the bicep and the fore-arm mounted on the end on a balljoint. They offer an additional layer of protection when compact and when opened, can carry a heavy power-armor grade weapon. In this way, the frame is able to manipulate doors and switches or carry people if necessary. Notably, the fore-arms are able to extend telescopically up to 1.3 meters for rapid retrieval of objects.

In some special cases, the mandible fore-arms (not containing any part of the pilot) may be replaced with specialist equipment.

osakanone created this article on 2016/02/13 13:18.