Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To provide an exoskeleton as both a standalone project and as a component for future armor
- Image Source: here modified by yours truly
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: some components/design details are evolutions of the earlier Gundark Power Armor
- Manufacturer: Lucerne Personal Defense
- Affiliation: Directorate, Silver Jedi, Jedi Order, Closed-Market
- Model: Uller series Exoskeleton
- Modularity: Highly; frame size (to accommodate different species), modular back hard point (stand-alone use), various fixtures for adding on tools and other devices
- Production: Mass-Produced.
- Material: Phrik-condensed-matter composite laminated exoskeleton frame, Insulfiber padding, Laminasteel farraday cage- duraplast covered compartments for servos and electronics, servomotors, various electronics
- Classification: Strength-enhancing exoskeleton
- Weight: Very Light
- Resistances:
- Energy: Low
- Kinetic: Low
- Lightsabers: Low
- EMP/ION: High
- Modular: Uller is extremely basic and utilitarian in its stock form, but it is designed to be highly modular in order to be customizeable to the user. Most commonly, this means adding larger and/or additional servos to increase the exoskeleton's strength, but it also has traditional armor hardpoints on both its gauntlets and back. In civilian applications, these are often tools or devices like the Kinrath Intelligent Handless System. It could theoretically take weapons, energy shields, and other military devices. The exoskeleton's operating system is open-source and designed specifically to be almost universally compatible with most standard galactic technology formats.
- Redundant Power Cells: Taken from the older Gundark Power Armor design, the Uller retains an octet of power cells encased in armored compartments on the armor's back. They not only provide power for the basic functions of the exoskeleton, but also can provide power for any devices attached to the exoskeleton. These power cells can be changed out in the field with assistance. This can also be removed and replaced with a power cable for more static civilian uses, such as factory or speeder garage work. High-end users often replace these power cells with small generators.
- Biomechatronic Design: Like the earlier Gundark, Uller's onboard computer is designed to learn its user's typical movement patterns, making the suit much more responsive and instinctive to use than many of its counterparts. This allows the users to retaining much of their natural grace, agility, and movement patterns. This computer also has safety protocols that are specifically designed to limit user injury based on normal range of motion. This means that if the user's limb is somehow broken or injured, it is not as likely to make a movement that could further injure the user based on lack of feedback from the user. It is also designed to integrate directly with cybernetic implants, such as brain-control interfaces like the famous AJ^6 cyborg construct.
- Lightweight Design: Uller is designed to be exceptionally light through its use of Phrik and minimalist design. This makes it relatively easy to move around in the exoskeleton if the user somehow loses power and simultaneously ensures that the lifting and movement capabilities of the exosuit are maximized. This minimalist design also enables it to function potentially as the base frame for military power armors.
- Shock Absorption: Uller is designed to be exceptionally good at absorbing shock through hydraulic buffers (especially noticeable on the feet) and through the use of an absorption-absorbing condensed-matter composite to absorb vibrations. This makes using the Uller a safe and relatively comfortable experience even when bounding up and down an obstacle course with hard surfaces or catching heavy falling objects
- Enhanced Physical Performance: Uller's greatest asset is that it enhances the existing strength, endurance, and mobility of its user. At its base model, this is roughly three times the maximum equivalent of these three attributes of a normal human, but it has optional mounting points for additional and/or larger servos to increase these attributes even further. This of course uses much more power, which drains more of the power supply on more mobile variants.
- EMP Resistant: Taking a cue from its earlier Gundark-class Power Armor, the electronic and mechanical portions of the Uller are encased in laminasteel farraday cage to protect it from widespread EMP attacks, while further covered in duraplast to provide additional protection against direct Ion/EMP attacks. This makes it fairly difficult to disable for a civilian piece of equipment.
- What user protection? The Uller exoskeleton isn't designed to provide any intentional protection to the user itself, and it shows in its open-frame design. While convenient and comfortable for civilian use, it provides almost no cover to the user in combat.
- Limited Durability: The Uller's frame is designed for resilience foremost in civilian use of picking things up and moving around, and thus much of its structure is actually focused on withstanding stress from various body mechanics and its associated vibrations. This unusual alloy is not very durable against most common battlefield threats.
Exoskeletons are an old concept in the galaxy - Who doesn't want to be faster and stronger for longer periods than the average person? While Lucerne Personal Defense had previous experience with building powersuits with its earlier Gundark Power Armor, it sought both to make an exoskeleton that was focused more intently on its base purpose, allowing it thus to be used extensively in the civilian market where its basic features would be more cost-effective than military-grade power armors. Simultaneously, keeping the exoskeleton relatively small and lightweight would allow it to serve as the basis for future power armors. Lucerne Personal Defense's CEO, Tresk Ek'ala, feels like the Uller series has successfully met these goals.
Uller uses a relatively lightweight frame that uses biomemetic design principles to be relatively comfortable to wear and walk around. By having the exoskeleton's onboard computer learn the user's habits and limitations, and not just having the user learn the exoskeleton, it becomes relatively straightforward and intuitive for users to quickly begin working with the exoskeleton. While some users use the Uller in base configuration, most modify it slightly to suit their specific needs. The most common change is the power source, with many industrial concerns preferring to tether the exoskeleton to power cables to lower operating costs and ensure that the exoskeletons 'don't walk off' while more independent users often add more power cells or replace the power cells with a generator in order to conduct extended operations. The second most common modification is to replace or augment the servo-motors themselves, a task that is relatively easy to anyone who has experience repairing droids or walker-type vehicles. Other modifications typically involve adding specialized tools or equipment to the external frame for ease of access. In industrial use, these are items like plasma welders and fusion cutters. Explorers and other outdoor types often add auxiliary weapons or sensors. A handful of Directorate-affiliated mercenaries and fringers have begun to modify the exoskeletons into custom power armors, pre-empting Lucerne Personal Defense's own program to release a power armor based on the design. Regardless of their use, it seems likely that the Uller will remain in production for a while.
