Rules Addendum: Drone Construction

Overview

  Drone construction differs from Robot Consruction rules due to the relative simplicity of the drones vs the complexity of a fully autonomous unit that is even the base Standard AI available to the Robotics Category. Still, the process uses many of the same steps and even some parts of it, as well as borrowing from the Super-Vehicle Construction section and other areas.

One thing to note about Robotic Construction Section is that the prices are considered to be Market Prices; Hardware characters wishing to do the construction themselves can general consider half the price to be base material costs, and half the price the cost of workmanship/construction; ergo, by buying the materials themselves, the forgo the labor portion of the cost by doing it themselves. other exceptions/additions will be noted below.

  Remot Probe Option: In the Robotics Construction Section, an option to add a remote probe is listed, providing general specifications of the remote probe for a cost of $10000. Note that the probe itself can be purchased for half of this cost on it's own, if it is not to be intergrated into another robot, which further means that the cost can be reduced down to $2500 for those wishing to purchase the parts and assemble/build it themselves. The unit comes with the following hardware:

• Wheeled Frame ($100)
• Dedicated Power Supply ($1500)
• Telescopic Camera & Audio pickup ($448.50) [Camera, Audio pickup chip, data storage, and two RAM chips for the inputs]
• Remote Control ($200.50) [Microprocessor with a Recieving and Transmitting chip, 2 RAM chips]
• Wheeled Movement ($250) [Speed Class 4]

 

Resources

A significant portion of developing drones will involve the microchip section from Ninjas & Super Spies, as that provides a basis of the small-scale electronics and additive development for providing various functions to the drone. The prices for the chips ARE the base material cost - they are NOT reduced by 50% when building yourself - consider these prices the wholesale cost of the items.
 

Components

Each Drone will need the following components accounted for in it's base construction:

• Frame - can either be custom made, or use an existing form-factor.
• Power Supply - Almost all drones will be battery operated, but some may use other sources in lieu of or addition to battery power. A dedicated battery pack can be used (lots of power, but does not support the rapid discharge needed for energy weapons), or one can opt for E-Clips or even E-Packs, which can also support limited on-board energy weapons or extreme speeds
• Electronics - the "brains" of the drone, created with various chips.
• Locomotion (Technically optional, but encouraged)

   

  Frames

Frames can either be custom-made (~$100 if doing it yourself, but could be up to 10x that if outsourced) or the drone can use an existing vehicle or frame; If used on full-sized vehicles (so that you may remote-pilot them or so they can drive themselves following a limited program), an additional cost of $1000 will be needed to add the appropriate actuators and sensors to make use of the existing controls via remote operation. Animal frames suitable for drone use can be purchased for 10% of the robotic cost.
   

Power Supply

The Following Power Supplies are what are typically used in Drones; if an alternative is desied, it will have to be a GM-approved ex ception:

• Dedicated Power Supply (Micro) - $5: used cases where the power supply does not have to operate the drone's locomotion - limited actuators and electronics power only.
• Dedicated Power Supply (Mini) - $50: used for exceptionally small drones, cannot manage more than 2 Micrprocessors and Speed Class 3, any weapons will need their own power supply
• Dedicated Power Supply (Standard) - $500: Useful for most mundane tasks, can handle up to 6 microprocessors and up to Speed Class 6, any weapons will need their own power supply
• Dedicated Power Supply (large) $1500: High-end power source, can handle up to a dozen microprocessors and Speed Class 12, and two can be linked for higher capacity motors; any weapons will need their own power supply
• E-Clip $3000: a popular method of powering units, especially from a military or galactic exploration standpoint. These are effectively Large power supplies that support rapid discharg, so they CAN be used to power onboard weapons (but tend to seriously drain the E-Clip, usually about 5-10% per shot) as well as support speed classes beyond 12.
• E-Pack $28,000 - capable of 10x the power storage of a standard E-Clip, these units are heavy and typically only advised for the largest or heaviest of drone. Their power capactiy means they can support both general power needs and on-board weapons systems, but too much use of any energy weapons will still drain the E-Pack rapidly.
  

Electronics

This section will use the Microchip Technology section from N&SS
All drones must have at least one Microprocessor per simultaneous task (including piloting itself) as the heart of the electronics package, and nearly all will also have some way to communicate via radio with a remote operator (even if it's just to update the drone) (basic radio communications can be handled on the same processor as movement/piloting)

Beyond that, you can add any various hardware and software to your drone. Here some helpful considerations;

• If you have hardware that is recieveing information/input, you will need memory to store it (minimum of 1 RAM chip per input, but can be RAM or BRAM)
• If you want your drone to be able to do something autonomously; such as pilot itself to a specified set of coordinates, follow a specified target, or use it's optics to scan for something, it will need an appropriate program ( or a few) to do so, stored in either EPRAM or BRAM
• Different hardware components can share the same program, so long as it applies to each of them.
• Micro-processors can be lined to share input, programs, and data among all the connected devices
• For items not listed, such as controling a device physically via an actuator, one slot is used be device to be controlled. Such hardware typically does NOT need memory or a program to operate
  

Be aware that the given capabilities of the chips are obviously a bit dated, and their capabilities will be more up-to-date when put into play. for example;

• the 8x8 visual sensor (2"x2") will provide crystal-clear, 4K resolution video, while the audio range is much greater
• Typically, only a single BRAM chip would be needed for data storage (though a dedicated chip is needed for each program, as there are extensive libraries and databases that are consulted/used to emulate such skills)
• The Dislpay Chip represents up to 1 square inch of screen.
• The Math Chip is only needed when higher-level functions are required, which may be called for with some skill programs (Chemistry: Analytical, Computer Hacking, etc)
• The Laser Chip can also be used as part of a laser targeting system
• Radio Emitting Chips have a range of 1 mile, and also serve the full range of wireless frequencies (2.4 G, 5G, bluetooth)
  

  Also note that anyone with Computer Programming can attempt to program a skill they know for a drone (Computer Programming roll, a Starts at base, -3% for every 5% added to the programmed skill, not to exceed the programmer's own skill percentage: Skills that require extensive higher-level thought from the user cannot be properly programmed for a Drone - See Standard or Advanced AIs.) Those wanting to purchase such programs are referred to either publiuc markets (for benign skills, such as domestioc skill sued by an automated house drone) or on the Black Market.   Skills are ONLY needed when the drone is doing something on its own; so long as it is being controlled by an operator, the operator uses THEIR skills when piloting the drone. Any use of onboard weapons must utilize the Weapons System skill to apply any bonus to the roll.  

Locomotion

For the purposes of purchasing speed class for drones, use the Super-Vehicle Construction Section. Most small drones will qualify as either Bike or Helicopter in terms of what column to use. Be aware that your chosen power supply may limit the speed class of the drone - faster motors require more capable power sources. For wheeled vehicles, the expected range is 8 hours at cruising speed; for Aircraft, it is 3 hours at up to 3/4th top speed. Methods of locomotion other than what is presented on th list - such as legs/a walker-type of drone - will need to be worked out with the GM
 

Extras

Most Modifications/additions/gimmicks should come from the Super-Vehicle Construction section, as the drone's relatively simple construction does not need all the intricaies and sensores associated with a fully automatied AI-driven robot. Furthermore, due to the (generally) small nature of drones, the costs of the modifications can be reduced to just 10% of the listed price (not applicable to weapons there is, likewise, a reduciton of any SDC gained via armor by the same amount (the AR stays the same). Aircraft have a default max payload of thier size, up to 100 lbs (which armor and other features may reduce), while wheeled/terrestrial drones have a default max payload of 2x their size, up to a maximum of 250 lbs (which armor and other features may reduce) vehicular-sized drones (the size of a dirt bike or larger) have a payload equal to their closest vehicular equivalent.