Robot Carrying Capacity

SFAndroid's picture
SFAndroid
August 6, 2016 - 8:47pm
Ok, has anyone seen (or made) a chart that shows the carrying capacity of the various robot types?

Could an anthropomorphic, human-type robot hold and fire a Sonic Devastator?

Could the same robot lift a skimmer off a person that was in a crash?

Enquiring minds want to know!
You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley
Comments:

Stormcrow's picture
Stormcrow
November 29, 2016 - 12:24pm
Or you could just... y'know... make something up.

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
November 29, 2016 - 7:44pm
Player: "How much can my robot carry?"

GM: "More than you can."
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website

JCab747's picture
JCab747
November 29, 2016 - 8:57pm
Shadow Shack wrote:
Player: "How much can my robot carry?"

GM: "More than you can."


Bingo!
Joe Cabadas

kinock's picture
kinock
December 6, 2016 - 8:37pm
I found this in an old Dragon magazine. Considering what it states maybe a standard robots strength should be 50%-70% of its stamina.

<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]-->

How do you determine a robot's Strength score?

The referee must decide this on a case-by-case basis. In general, a robot will be weaker than an average individual of the race that built it, unless the robot is specifically designed for warfare or security. (No society wants to risk the consequences that might arise if a superstrong robot malfunctions and goes berserk.) Construction and industrial robots will have cranes, forks, or lifting arms that are very powerful but these are designed to perform specific functions such as lifting bulk materials, compacting trash, excavating, etc. Decide how much strength a robot should have to get its job done (with some

extra strength as a safety measure).


Dragon 135 Sage Advice article
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]-->

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
December 6, 2016 - 9:10pm
kinock wrote:
In general, a robot will be weaker than an average individual of the race that built it

I'm placing heavy odds that the writer was a UAW employee that wasn't quite ready to give up his $25/hr-three-turns-of-a-screwdriver job in favor of the automation that was being proposed back then. ;)
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website

JCab747's picture
JCab747
December 6, 2016 - 9:43pm
kinock wrote:
I found this in an old Dragon magazine. Considering what it states maybe a standard robots strength should be 50%-70% of its stamina.

<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]-->

How do you determine a robot's Strength score?

The referee must decide this on a case-by-case basis. In general, a robot will be weaker than an average individual of the race that built it, unless the robot is specifically designed for warfare or security. (No society wants to risk the consequences that might arise if a superstrong robot malfunctions and goes berserk.) Construction and industrial robots will have cranes, forks, or lifting arms that are very powerful but these are designed to perform specific functions such as lifting bulk materials, compacting trash, excavating, etc. Decide how much strength a robot should have to get its job done (with some

extra strength as a safety measure).


Dragon 135 Sage Advice article
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]-->


An interesting find!

You'll note it does mention that the exceptions would be robots designed for warfare and security and I think cargo carrying robots.

But you would also think that the heavy duty mining models would be differnt too.
Joe Cabadas

JCab747's picture
JCab747
December 6, 2016 - 9:45pm
Shadow Shack wrote:
kinock wrote:
In general, a robot will be weaker than an average individual of the race that built it

I'm placing heavy odds that the writer was a UAW employee that wasn't quite ready to give up his $25/hr-three-turns-of-a-screwdriver job in favor of the automation that was being proposed back then. ;)


Foot in mouthFoot in mouthFoot in mouthFoot in mouthFoot in mouth

LaughingLaughingLaughingLaughing
Joe Cabadas

Stormcrow's picture
Stormcrow
December 28, 2016 - 8:59am
Just came across this in Polyhedron #19:

SFQ: Can level 1 mainentance robots carry backpacks and equipment overland? If so, about how many kg?
SFA: A level 1 maintenance robot salvaged from a ship or installation could probably follow a group or individual carrying some equipment, but it would have to be reprogrammed for those by a technician with the proper skills first. A standard body robot can carry 150 kg at normal movement rate, or double that at half normal movement.

Note: Polyhedron talks several times in this issue about a "technician" programming a robot.

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
December 28, 2016 - 8:48pm
IIRC a standard robot masses 100kg, that being the case these things must produce some exceptional torque to be capable of "carrying" three times their mass. Put into vehicular standards, a diesel pickup can tow double its mass --- with towing being the most efficient method of moving a given mass, whereas "carrying" AKA in the cargo bed would significantly reduce that figure to well below its own weight.
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website

JCab747's picture
JCab747
December 28, 2016 - 9:27pm
Stormcrow wrote:
Just came across this in Polyhedron #19:

SFQ: Can level 1 mainentance robots carry backpacks and equipment overland? If so, about how many kg?
SFA: A level 1 maintenance robot salvaged from a ship or installation could probably follow a group or individual carrying some equipment, but it would have to be reprogrammed for those by a technician with the proper skills first. A standard body robot can carry 150 kg at normal movement rate, or double that at half normal movement.

Note: Polyhedron talks several times in this issue about a "technician" programming a robot.


Neat find.
Joe Cabadas

JCab747's picture
JCab747
December 28, 2016 - 9:31pm
Shadow Shack wrote:
IIRC a standard robot masses 100kg, that being the case these things must produce some exceptional torque to be capable of "carrying" three times their mass. Put into vehicular standards, a diesel pickup can tow double its mass --- with towing being the most efficient method of moving a given mass, whereas "carrying" AKA in the cargo bed would significantly reduce that figure to well below its own weight.


More good points.

For my proposed idea, I am trying to take into account that not all robots are created equal. The maintenance robot is not a combat robot, a service robot is not a heavy duty robot designed to break up gravel. A tracked robot might have a better carrying capacity than a hover vehicle -- though there would be exceptions.

Anyway, I will need to put something together as an addendum story... though a much shorter one than Robots Rules of Order Revised.
Joe Cabadas

parriah's picture
parriah
January 20, 2017 - 6:35pm
Not to mention a purpose built robot. Standard body, 4legs, various bins, compartments, straps, etc. The above mentioned dispel confusion answer, 150 kilos.
FIAWOL TANSTAAFL!!