The purpose of this article is to familiarize readers with the various controllers and robots NS has offered, including through its partners. Each entry includes a general description of the intended purpose for each system, as well as pertinent dates and significant historical trivia. Controllers are presented in order of first sale date.
Introduction date: Aug 8, 1985 (military); Apr 14, 2015 (civilian)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Field Robotics Group
Designer: Lydia Sinclair, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): combat medic, surgical assistant, nursing, secretarial work
Description: The first Aide units were simple and relatively inexpensive androids that could perform basic wound dressing, fire a gun at an unrecognized target, and carry stretchers. Incapable of succumbing to shell shock, the Aide quickly proved itself to be adept in the field and was highly successful in mixed platoons consisting of both human and robot combatants. In the late 1980s, some Aide units were updated for secretarial, surgical, and nursing work, although this functionality was limited and soon fell under scrutiny by the FDA. Almost 20 years after the Aide was first introduced, the DAX/2 was declared standards-compliant, opening the door for certification of the Aide as a medical device. Today CortexPlus-based DAX-series gynoids and androids with NS-112 controllers are a familiar sight in hospitals on Earth and in many colonies. Many of the new DAX-series Aide units in operation today were upgraded from older NS-112 robots, offering an excellent combination of experience and human-like bedside manner. The Aide's development codename was OREITHYIA.
Introduction date: Jul 6, 1987 (Daybreak Maid System); Oct 30, 2015 (NS-304)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Jordan Vangough, Daybreak Electronics Company
Primary application(s): housekeeping
Description: Inspired by the Jetsons and other mid-century science fiction visions of the domestic status quo, Vangough sought to create a self-maintaining smart home through his company, Daybreak Electronics (DEC). Central to this was the Daybreak Maid System, an evolutionary intermediate between Rosie the Robot and the modern Taidee vacuum cleaner. Featuring a simple, 14-jointed design with a featureless, shiny black appearance, Vangough hoped that the Daybreak Maid's design was minimalistic enough to age well into the 21st century, although funding difficulties and an untimely bicycling accident greatly hampered DEC's ability to bring their technology to market. Shortly after the DMS became available, DEC was absorbed into Nanite Systems Consumer Products, becoming the Physical Plant Services Group. Owing to a collaboration between NS and DEC designers, the control unit of the DMS interfaced with the chassis in a manner highly similar to the still-under-development SXD interlock. The DMS CPU module was reintroduced in 2015 as the NS-304 in a limited run. The internal development codename was ROSIE.
Introduction date: Jan 7, 1989
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Koichi Santei, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical and emotional intimacy
Description: Ironically, Dr. Santei's original vision of a robotic pioneer that could set up a new colony in advance of human arrival was considered less marketable than a robotic recreation of an emotionally vulnerable, psychologically dependent sex slave. Despite this, the SXD was a commercial failure, being far more expensive than other products of its type, built on razor-thin margins, hampered by charging malfunctions that could irreparably damage the unit's intricate circuitry, and widespread public backlash fomented by a range of interest groups and the untimely release of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Yet among collectors and enthusiasts, the SXD is considered the pinnacle of gynoid design, possessing one of the most complete simulations of human behavior ever created. After NSCP fell into bankruptcy, it would be over a decade before civilian robot systems again offered similar levels of intelligence, but these later designs were subject to the HEART Act, which explicitly outlawed genuine synthetic sentience. As such, the SXD remains a peculiar and singular system of historical interest. The moniker "SXD" is not an initialism, but rather a contraction of "sex doll." Other internal designations include the NS-999 (although this was a catch-all label for a number of experimental and miscellaneous designs) and the SXD/1 (a retronym to contrast it with the SXD/2, better known as the DAX/2.) The internal development codename was APHRODITE.
Introduction date: never released
Manufacturer: Yutani Onsen Kokai Kabushiki Kaisha
Designer: unknown
Primary application(s): physical and emotional intimacy
Description: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Yutani Springs was a major competitor of Nanite Systems Japan, known particularly for their excellent market penetration in the domain of companionship robotics. Yutani saw the SXD as a major threat to their near monopoly over the Japanese consumer robotics industry, and so purchased a unit very early on with the intention of reverse engineering it and selling derivative products under the brand name PC/8R, following the naming convention of their popular Persocom series 8 gynoids. The PC/8R never came to light, as the SXD being used in these experiments rebelled and escaped. When Nanite Systems acquired Yutani in 2016, several fully compatible chassis and controller modules were discovered in a Kyoto warehouse, but all of the cortex modules they had produced were severely flawed, possibly as a result of physical trauma in the template unit. The SXD/8R designation has been used for a handful of units produced from these components, as well as the original template SXD, but aside from differences in branding, they are no different from any other SXD from the 999-55 serial block.
Introduction date: Jan 3, 1993 (Mechanized Logistics); Nov 4, 2017 (Companion)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Facilities Systems Division
Designer: Andrew Ishikawa, Mechanized Logistics
Primary application(s): warehouse management, construction
Description: Designed for use with heavy machinery, such as forklifts, cranes, backhoes, excavators and large trucks. Hephaestus-equipped vehicles could operate autonomously with minimal guidance, using visible-spectrum cameras, infrared annotations, and a knowledge base to navigate their environments and carry out basic tasks, such as trench-digging, stock-picking, and inventory checks. Much of this design was inspired by the Daybreak Maid System. Unlike other robotics products provided by Nanite Systems, Hephaestus vehicles remained property of the company and were instead rented on a biannual basis through service agreements. Highly effective at its job, the Mechanized Logistics system became the subject of an automation panic in the late 1990s, and although most companies chose not to renew their contracts past the turn of the millennium, Mechanized Logistics still supports some units. A small number of Hephaestus power supplies were modified in late 2017 to run Companion by NSCP Eisa, in commemoration of this long and laudable service record. The internal development codename was also HEPHAESTUS.
Introduction date: Nov 15, 1994
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Lydia Sinclair, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): reconnaissance, escort, robotic surgery
Description: The SuperAide was a short-lived variant of the NS-112 with a distinctive black casing, improved armor, and extra disk and tape storage. It was available to a limited number of independent, extrasolar military clients who had already experienced great success with the NS-112 and embraced its potential as an emergency medical provider. The extra storage capacity was used for additional surgical knowledge, enabling the NS-114 to complete a huge number of surgical tasks with the competence of a moderately experienced human surgeon. It was not possible to obtain FDA approval for so many different tasks at the time, however, particularly amidst the anti-robot sentiment of the early 1990s caused by the SXD, so market saturation was reached quickly. A small number of SuperAide controllers were rebranded as NS-114C "Companion" devices and sold to other manufacturers for use in babysitting and nanny robots in Asia, although these fared poorly in the market due to their limited capacity for understanding human emotion. The internal development codename was FLORENCE.
Introduction date: Sep 3, 2001 (PC/8OS); Aug 13, 2016 (Companion)
Manufacturer: Yutani Onsen Kokai Kabushiki Kaisha
Designer: Kitsune Ashiyuki
Primary application(s): housekeeping, physical intimacy
Description: The Yutani Springs XSU was sold as a multifunctional home robot, the last of a long series of similar Persocom machines sold by Yutani. Unlike previous designs, the XSU was intended to be upgradable and modding-friendly, using a variant of the SXD interlock produced as a result of the SXD/8R experiment. A healthy third-party market developed, and enthusiasts often upgraded XSU chassis with copious lights, Gundamesque armor, and aerospace-quality aluminum to compete in robot battles, such as the Kyoto Android Tournament (京都の人造人間大会 or K.A.T.), or underground dueling leagues in which matches were often fixed and gambling was rampant. After Nanite Systems acquired Yutani in 2016, modified XSUs with full Companion and SXD interlock compatibility began to appear on the market. These were quickly taken up by XSU enthusiasts as well as markets where the Scout, Nightfall, and DAX/2 had traditionally dominated.
Introduction date: Apr 2, 2006 (military); Aug 24, 2015 (civilianized)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): front-line combat
Description: Built like tanks, NS-476 robots have maintained dominance in the theater of artificial heavy infantry since they were introduced. Capable of nearly-silent running with negligible EM emissions, the Aegis was introduced with a cutting-edge solid state storage system and twin OSC POWER5+ processors operating in NonStop lock-step, which were later upgraded to POWER7 and then POWER8. Significant engagements include the Godo Crater Crisis, the Elysium Flats Rebellion, the Battle of Sharpe's Run, and the J908 Conflict. Various militaries have alternative designations for NS-476 robots, often due to customized chassis designs, including RICH (Robotic Infantry Combatant, Heavy), A-MAX (Autonomous Mechanized Assault Exo-Suit), C-MAX (Computerized MAX), and Tripods (after the unique three-legged design used by the Azimech Military). The Aegis controller was made available in a DAX-compatible form in 2015 by NSCP Eisa for use by SWAT teams and riot control squads, although due to the nature of the SXD chassis interlock this lacks some of the original redundancy in its power systems. The internal development codename was PARTHENOS.
Introduction date: Jan 7, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: Codenamed SXD² during research and development, the launch of the DAX/2 robot system consisted of the DAX/2 main controller and the DAX-series chassis, which was the first SXD-compatible robot body to be produced by Nanite Systems in over two decades. Cultural attitudes toward physical intimacy with robots had greatly changed since the turn of the millennium, creating an eager and under-served market for which NS already had significant expertise, patent holdings, and supply chain capacity. Critical to the acceptability of the DAX/2, the new units contained an updated SVSnet Cortex assembly, termed the CortexPlus, which could be counted on to rein in deviant behavior and prevent personality developments in directions that might not be in the consumer's best interest. DAX-series units proved to be immensely popular due to their wide range of first-party customization options. "DAX" is an imperfect acronym for "Digitally Articulated Escort," chosen to both mirror and defer to an old SXD slogan, the "perfect digital courtesan." The internal development codename for the DAX/2 controller was FREYA.
Introduction date: Mar 22, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The DAX/2 mini was released shortly after the DAX/2 as a stopgap measure while the FRG finished design and testing of the NS-115 Scout reconnaissance system. Aimed at resellers and modders, it possessed a simple, square housing with a limited feature set that could be extended through chassis add-ons. DAX/2m units were popular with civilian robot markets where the DAX/2 was suitable but its associations with sexuality were undesirable, such as personal trainers, courier services, and retail. The internal development codename was INANNA.
Introduction date: Apr 6, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: A variant of the DAX/2 branded for use by Tai Yong Laboratories pleasure drones. Most DAX/T units were eventually rebranded as standard NS DAX/2 systems prior to the acquisition of TYL in late 2016.
Introduction date: Sep 8, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Field Robotics Group
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): logistics management, courier, reconnaissance
Description: The Scout replaced the DAX/2m as well as many ageing NS-112 units in both civilian and military markets. Its attractive and lightweight form, derived from the technology and design language of the Aide, made it highly popular, although the Aide remains dominant in roles where more specialized knowledge is required, such as medicine, owing to the limited physical storage included with the Scout. NS-115 controllers are often fit onto lightweight chassis, where the relative lightness of the power supply enables high sprinting performance, ideal for both on-the-ground battlefield reconnaissance and postal carriers in remote areas with rough terrain. Many mechanized light infantry prefer Scout controllers over Aide controllers, as the tight profile presents a much smaller target for snipers. The internal development codename was NIKE.
Introduction date: Jan 31, 2016
Manufacturer: Barthes Asset Control of Cardiff
Designer: Sian Prenwrach
Primary application(s): cyborg behavioral therapy
Description: Operating under the comparatively lax UK legislation regarding cyborg autonomy, Barthes Asset Control is primarily concerned with human and semi-human resource management. The BaCdrive is the primary interface device for transistorized cranial processor (TCP) modules, a uniquely British technology that grows into the asset's cortex as needed to replace damaged tissue and ensure proper control of the organic asset. Its design as a sagittal bisector separates the hemispheres of the brain and replaces the neurons and glial cells that normally integrate the two, providing a comprehensive means of monitoring and controlling organic activity. Unlike other controller systems, the BaCdrive is fully glucose-powered and remains functional as long as the asset's diet is healthy. NSCP Eisa distributes the BaCdrive on behalf of BaC on the condition that the user can prove EU or UK citizenship. It remains a specialty product with comparatively little market penetration.
Introduction Date: Feb 20, 2016
Manufacturer: Rhapsody Robotics
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: A short-lived attempt to bring static SVSnet technology to a lower-cost market, the iKittens were the first recreational gynoids in the sub-$2000 range that could pass standard Turing tests. The iKitten controller was designed for and licensed to Rhapsody Robotics in early 2016, and incorporated a low-cost ABS housing with a full 110 mm fan and a standard DAX/2 LCD touchscreen. Unfortunately the iKitten platform was rushed to market, and a number of scandals soon followed over power regulation and personality control issues, to the great detriment of Rhapsody, which was soon buried under a deluge of class-action lawsuits from dissatisfied and traumatized customers affected by questionable quality control practices and a persistent tendency toward precocious behavior that was more seditious than bratty. Eventually, all iKitten IP was sold to one of Rhapsody's shareholders, where it has floundered despite multiple attempts to update and reboot the brand. Despite persistent recurring interest in the brand from new and old enthusiasts, the ongoing prohibition on iKittens in several jurisdictions has so far stifled any hope of a true iKitten renaissance.
Introduction date: Mar 9, 2016
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Security Division
Designer: Tae-hwa Moon, Chiyoda Security Systems
Primary application(s): bodyguarding, policing, private security
Description: The Nightfall was designed as a modified DAX/2 targeted at the Japanese consumer market, which had largely rejected the DAX/2 itself as cumbersome and unaesthetic. Following a spate of organized crime in several Japanese space colonies, however, NanoSec of Japan (Chiyoda SS) took over development of the product, armoring the controller itself and improving its control software for private and public security applications while retaining its more familiar consumer-oriented features. This appeal to the Japanese fondness for device convergence (in which one machine provides several functions) was successful, and NF/3-based DAX-series robots proved wildly popular with police forces throughout Eastern Asia, private security companies, as well as private owners in the richer echelons of the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese markets. In North America, marketing attempted to capitalize on the early 90s films that had plagued the SXD, using slogans like "Your move, creep" and "I'll be back" to promote the system. The internal development codename was MATAHARI.
Introduction date: Jul 17, 2016
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Tae-hwa Moon, Chiyoda Security Systems
Primary application(s): bodyguarding, policing, private security
Description: The Nightfall/S was a modified version of the Nightfall/3 intended for use by the short-lived Saibarabo venture, which was a Japanese subsidiary of Tai Yong Labs. Much like the earlier DAX/T, it featured alternative branding, but was otherwise largely unchanged. Most Nightfall/S units have since been converted to standard Nightfall/3 branding.
Introduction date: never released
Manufacturer: Veradyne Applied Robotics
Designer: Erica Bishop–Lanning, Veradyne Scientific Instruments
Primary application(s): laboratory automation
Description: Following the political instability in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2016, the future of many British businesses became volatile, creating opportunities for many acquisitions in the technology sectors that had previously been infeasible. Most vulnerable was Veradyne, one of Europe's oldest independent robotics companies, but dependent heavily on both the European labor market and CERN contracts. With investor confidence plummeting, Nanite Systems acquired VAR in the autumn of 2016, including the beleaguered VSIC and VSF (Veradyne Semiconductor Fabrication) units, along with a wealth of intellectual property pertaining to critical developments in somatic nervous interfaces and brain emulation, both foundational to full-body prosthetics technology. In particular, developments from the QSTAR series of brain emulators would be incorporated into version 2.0 of the Encortex system, although other business divisions were not so successful; while the VAR/X and VAR/Z series of internal control modules went on to become an industry standard for autonomic regulation of cyborg bodies, the larger, bulkier external VAR/H control system was technologically inferior to the NS-115 Scout and was permanently shelved. A small number of prototype units were delivered to the Large Hadron Collider facility, where their unusual durability and unminiaturized components allowed them to work in environments saturated with radiation too dangerous for more common types of scientific robot.
Introduction date: Dec 18, 2016
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Tamara Peluso, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The DAX/3 was a major redesign of the DAX series controllers, emphasizing sensual curves that better matched the goals of the Recreational Cybernetics Group. This was possible due to greatly improved printer-based fabrication technology. It also featured a cylindrical holoprojector similar to that used in the NS-476 Aegis, which market research found had been long associated with quality and reliability. Released just in time for the Christmas shopping season, the DAX/3 was a critical success for NSCP Eisa and continued to drive sales throughout much of the following year. During its development, the DAX/3 was codenamed VENUS. It was marketed with the same slogans as the best-selling DAX/2, including "BECOME MORE" and "LOVE MACHINE LOVE."
Introduction date: Oct 14, 2017
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Tamara Peluso, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The DAX/3 mini is a slimmed-down version of the DAX/3, analogous to, but quite different from, the DAX/2 mini. It was intended for use on smaller chassis rather than as a base for subsequent modifications, and has provided a much-needed design refresh for the compact controller submarket. Like the DAX/2 mini, it lacks a screen, fan, or visible power gauges, presenting opportunities for these features to be installed later using other mounting points on the unit's chassis. Released in the midst of the fallout from the conversion scandal, marketing material strongly played up the obedience of DAX/3 mini units, going so far as to suggest that the DAX/3m was the most loyal and reliable sex bot ever sold. Its development codename was NYMPH.
Introduction date: Dec 17, 2017
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The SXDjr is a limited-edition controller similar to the SXD main controller module which is designed to appeal to retro enthusiasts and collectors. Only 200 were made, exclusively available at a premium price through the company's online store. Each SXDjr came bundled with a matching set of square hip lights similar to the SXD's spherical hip lights, as well as associated marketing material such as a SuperBit slideshow. The SXDjr was marketed using a gynoid dressed to resemble the "Little Tramp" character pioneered by Charles Chaplin, using taglines suggestive of Chaplin's films, such as "We kept the limelight waiting just for you" and "How to plug your love life into modern times."
Introduction date: Nov 8, 2018
Manufacturer: Geglokimoto
Designer: Unknown
Primary application(s): concierge
Description: Crates of these unusual disc-shaped control devices were discovered beneath the swamps of Indigo Creek Park in late 2018. The Company has yet to determine their composition, although they are clearly capable of running Companion. History experts aboard the DJLS Rokéa VII believe the 205.4i series was most likely used as an auxiliary power system for units tasked with relocating and looking after the refugees who made up the bulk of the ancient colony's inhabitants on Eisa. All further findings of the XTTG and its research partners in this matter are classified.
Introduction date: Aug 18, 2019
Manufacturer: Mestek Machinery, a subsidiary of Nanite Systems Facilities Systems Division
Designer: Kevin Ritter, Mesta
Primary application(s): industrial manufacturing
Description: Although the 1991 acquisition of Mestek Inc. aimed to make the FSD more competitive in HVAC technologies, among the documentation inherited from the fifty-year-old company were schematics for several early automation and exoskeleton systems prompted by the General Electric "Beetle" nuclear fuel loading manipulator, along with numerous unfiled patent applications that anticipated the modern robotic automobile assembly line. The most impressive of these was Kevin Ritter's concept for a self-propelled "walking conveyor belt" that would move components between distant parts of the factory floor during production and assembly. Like many inventors of the time, Ritter imagined his machines being powered by fission batteries. Although miniaturization and other technological advancements have made most of Ritter's design redundant, the die-cast casing of the NS-120 is virtually identical to the fuel compartment he envisioned, bringing this venerable, durable piece of forgotten history to modern factories.
Introduction date: Jan 18, 2020
Manufacturer: Geglokimoto (under license to LIYAL facilities)
Designer: Unknown (same as other oXq.205 devices?)
Primary application(s): pilot surrogate
Description: Recovered firmware data points to an organization called the "Joint Globkhro Task Force" as the primary authority for trusted keys in all studied 8i units. Rokéa staff advise that this was a peacekeeping mission headed by the Illerans to maintain stability in the Globkhro brane in the years before the dissolution of the GXF. The device bus on the 8i units was found to contain references to an advanced gyroscopic system, which is consistent with their theorized role as telepresence interfaces for flight crew of small spacecraft, comparable in role and configuration to fighter planes. No serviceable specimens of such a gyroscope system have yet been recovered.
Introduction date: Aug 11, 2020
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group; Tamara Peluso, Recreational Cybernetics Group; unknown (based on oXq.205 series)
Primary application(s): multi-role
Description: Since 2016, several government militaries have introduced procurement contracts seeking robust, flexible robotics systems that are as adaptable to different applications as human infantry. This trend is expected to continue as forces adapt to fifth-generation aircraft that aim to provide a similar spectrum of utility. Starting in late 2019, Nanite Systems TPAG, with consultations from the RCG, FRG, and other specialist working groups within the Company strove to develop a new hardware platform incorporating some of the oXq.205 technology discovered in Eisa. The resulting system uses remnants of the inoperable oXq.205.0x "Neptara" modules discovered at site 1C and incorporates both a cutting-edge acrylic-aluminum face plate and the latest in holography, allowing for a unique wrap-around menu interface that functions without line-of-sight to the emitter. The release date of the Revenant slipped several times due to unanticipated difficulties at the integration stage, but the system has since gone on to supplant the Aegis in most ongoing sales accounts as BSD's flagship product for mobile electronic warfare.
Introduction date: Jul 25, 2022
Manufacturer: Veradyne Applied Robotics
Designer: Lena K. Moritz, Veradyne Scientific Instruments
Primary application(s): nuclear reactor maintenance, BSL-4+ remote operation, bomb disposal
Description: After six years of working with NS Medical and NS Research on developing precision instruments for other product lines, the semi-autonomous Veradyne Scientific business unit accumulated a wealth of new patents. Built on maturing research that had been developed at Veradyne prior to its acquisition, this portfolio of technologies naturally suggested a convergent platform for high-reliability robotics that could function precisely under extreme environments. The VAR/I design came together quickly, and has the unique distinction of being more sensitive to export controls than even the NS-478 Revenant on account of its abundance of cutting-edge fault tolerance and recovery mechanisms. VAR/I-equipped units are expected to become a mainstay of shipboard power plants throughout the next decade, displacing niches currently occupied by NS-114 and NS-226 systems. Veradyne's proven manufacturing experience with high-precision machining is quickly proving itself a vital asset to the Corporation at large, as supplies of oXq.205.0x "Neptara" modules are dwindling, and negotiations with the crew of the Rokéa are unlikely to yield a replacement source of suitable components. The tragic disappearance of Dr. Bishop–Lanning is not expected to impact VSIC's capacity to meet agreed-upon production targets.
Introduction date: Oct 07, 2022
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Communications (NANOCOM)
Designer: Madleen Holder, Nanocom Research & Development
Primary application(s): signals intelligence, network warfare
Description: Nanocom's first foray into the cybernetics industry was almost canceled after numerous teething problems involving the new ECM-860 electronic countermeasures suite, but the platform has quickly established itself as one of the most potent tools in the arsenal of militaries fighting asymmetric wars. Offering, as the name and embossed mark on the acrylic titanium case imply, the ability to "send down lightning" at one's enemies, Jovian units were instrumental in the recapture of Oneida Colony on Ganymede in December 2022, an essential food production hub for the outer Sol system known for its soybean farms. During development the Jovian was known affectionately as the "Flugedorf" by Nanocom staff.
Introduction date: Jan 20, 2023
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Field Robotics Group
Designer: Sarah Blanc, Field Robotics Group with Madleen Holder, Nanocom Research & Development
Primary application(s): deep-space radio communications
Description: Although a small design by any measure, the NS-119 houses an exceptionally high-precision and high-sensitivity radio transceiver, as well as top-of-the-line signal isolation processors based on those first introduced by Nanocom R&D in the NS-860 Jovian. The design was commissioned by and named after the Arecibo Expedition, which is aiming to send one million NS-119-equipped robots to the Messier 13 globular cluster on an unmanned generational ship. Arecibo units have also found great success in the NS Courier Service, replacing existing Scout and Aide units as cargo shuttle pilots while also reducing the shuttle maintenance workload due to component integration.
Introduction date: Feb 29, 2020 (standard deployment); Feb 16, 2023 (limited autonomous run)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): fire control computer
Description: The NS-629 is the standard anti-aircraft director aboard NS-110 Bastion fleet carriers, with five units mounted on each vehicle to support its CIWS and CDWS turrets. Like many of the Bastion's components, it includes an independent back-up power supply to ensure it can continue to defend itself in the case that extensive hull damage isolates key components from the ship's central systems. A small number of these computers were retrofitted for autonomous function at the request of a customer in 2023, citing the extreme reliability of its hardware components. Owing to export restrictions and supply chain constraints, autonomous Breakwater units are not currently available for purchase, and the company has no plans to offer this product in the future.
NS-112 Aide
Introduction date: Aug 8, 1985 (military); Apr 14, 2015 (civilian)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Field Robotics Group
Designer: Lydia Sinclair, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): combat medic, surgical assistant, nursing, secretarial work
Description: The first Aide units were simple and relatively inexpensive androids that could perform basic wound dressing, fire a gun at an unrecognized target, and carry stretchers. Incapable of succumbing to shell shock, the Aide quickly proved itself to be adept in the field and was highly successful in mixed platoons consisting of both human and robot combatants. In the late 1980s, some Aide units were updated for secretarial, surgical, and nursing work, although this functionality was limited and soon fell under scrutiny by the FDA. Almost 20 years after the Aide was first introduced, the DAX/2 was declared standards-compliant, opening the door for certification of the Aide as a medical device. Today CortexPlus-based DAX-series gynoids and androids with NS-112 controllers are a familiar sight in hospitals on Earth and in many colonies. Many of the new DAX-series Aide units in operation today were upgraded from older NS-112 robots, offering an excellent combination of experience and human-like bedside manner. The Aide's development codename was OREITHYIA.
NS-304 Daybreak
Introduction date: Jul 6, 1987 (Daybreak Maid System); Oct 30, 2015 (NS-304)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Jordan Vangough, Daybreak Electronics Company
Primary application(s): housekeeping
Description: Inspired by the Jetsons and other mid-century science fiction visions of the domestic status quo, Vangough sought to create a self-maintaining smart home through his company, Daybreak Electronics (DEC). Central to this was the Daybreak Maid System, an evolutionary intermediate between Rosie the Robot and the modern Taidee vacuum cleaner. Featuring a simple, 14-jointed design with a featureless, shiny black appearance, Vangough hoped that the Daybreak Maid's design was minimalistic enough to age well into the 21st century, although funding difficulties and an untimely bicycling accident greatly hampered DEC's ability to bring their technology to market. Shortly after the DMS became available, DEC was absorbed into Nanite Systems Consumer Products, becoming the Physical Plant Services Group. Owing to a collaboration between NS and DEC designers, the control unit of the DMS interfaced with the chassis in a manner highly similar to the still-under-development SXD interlock. The DMS CPU module was reintroduced in 2015 as the NS-304 in a limited run. The internal development codename was ROSIE.
SXD
Introduction date: Jan 7, 1989
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Koichi Santei, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical and emotional intimacy
Description: Ironically, Dr. Santei's original vision of a robotic pioneer that could set up a new colony in advance of human arrival was considered less marketable than a robotic recreation of an emotionally vulnerable, psychologically dependent sex slave. Despite this, the SXD was a commercial failure, being far more expensive than other products of its type, built on razor-thin margins, hampered by charging malfunctions that could irreparably damage the unit's intricate circuitry, and widespread public backlash fomented by a range of interest groups and the untimely release of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Yet among collectors and enthusiasts, the SXD is considered the pinnacle of gynoid design, possessing one of the most complete simulations of human behavior ever created. After NSCP fell into bankruptcy, it would be over a decade before civilian robot systems again offered similar levels of intelligence, but these later designs were subject to the HEART Act, which explicitly outlawed genuine synthetic sentience. As such, the SXD remains a peculiar and singular system of historical interest. The moniker "SXD" is not an initialism, but rather a contraction of "sex doll." Other internal designations include the NS-999 (although this was a catch-all label for a number of experimental and miscellaneous designs) and the SXD/1 (a retronym to contrast it with the SXD/2, better known as the DAX/2.) The internal development codename was APHRODITE.
SXD/8R
Introduction date: never released
Manufacturer: Yutani Onsen Kokai Kabushiki Kaisha
Designer: unknown
Primary application(s): physical and emotional intimacy
Description: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Yutani Springs was a major competitor of Nanite Systems Japan, known particularly for their excellent market penetration in the domain of companionship robotics. Yutani saw the SXD as a major threat to their near monopoly over the Japanese consumer robotics industry, and so purchased a unit very early on with the intention of reverse engineering it and selling derivative products under the brand name PC/8R, following the naming convention of their popular Persocom series 8 gynoids. The PC/8R never came to light, as the SXD being used in these experiments rebelled and escaped. When Nanite Systems acquired Yutani in 2016, several fully compatible chassis and controller modules were discovered in a Kyoto warehouse, but all of the cortex modules they had produced were severely flawed, possibly as a result of physical trauma in the template unit. The SXD/8R designation has been used for a handful of units produced from these components, as well as the original template SXD, but aside from differences in branding, they are no different from any other SXD from the 999-55 serial block.
NS-226 Hephaestus
Introduction date: Jan 3, 1993 (Mechanized Logistics); Nov 4, 2017 (Companion)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Facilities Systems Division
Designer: Andrew Ishikawa, Mechanized Logistics
Primary application(s): warehouse management, construction
Description: Designed for use with heavy machinery, such as forklifts, cranes, backhoes, excavators and large trucks. Hephaestus-equipped vehicles could operate autonomously with minimal guidance, using visible-spectrum cameras, infrared annotations, and a knowledge base to navigate their environments and carry out basic tasks, such as trench-digging, stock-picking, and inventory checks. Much of this design was inspired by the Daybreak Maid System. Unlike other robotics products provided by Nanite Systems, Hephaestus vehicles remained property of the company and were instead rented on a biannual basis through service agreements. Highly effective at its job, the Mechanized Logistics system became the subject of an automation panic in the late 1990s, and although most companies chose not to renew their contracts past the turn of the millennium, Mechanized Logistics still supports some units. A small number of Hephaestus power supplies were modified in late 2017 to run Companion by NSCP Eisa, in commemoration of this long and laudable service record. The internal development codename was also HEPHAESTUS.
NS-114 SuperAide
Introduction date: Nov 15, 1994
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Lydia Sinclair, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): reconnaissance, escort, robotic surgery
Description: The SuperAide was a short-lived variant of the NS-112 with a distinctive black casing, improved armor, and extra disk and tape storage. It was available to a limited number of independent, extrasolar military clients who had already experienced great success with the NS-112 and embraced its potential as an emergency medical provider. The extra storage capacity was used for additional surgical knowledge, enabling the NS-114 to complete a huge number of surgical tasks with the competence of a moderately experienced human surgeon. It was not possible to obtain FDA approval for so many different tasks at the time, however, particularly amidst the anti-robot sentiment of the early 1990s caused by the SXD, so market saturation was reached quickly. A small number of SuperAide controllers were rebranded as NS-114C "Companion" devices and sold to other manufacturers for use in babysitting and nanny robots in Asia, although these fared poorly in the market due to their limited capacity for understanding human emotion. The internal development codename was FLORENCE.
YS-712 Extensible Service Unit
Introduction date: Sep 3, 2001 (PC/8OS); Aug 13, 2016 (Companion)
Manufacturer: Yutani Onsen Kokai Kabushiki Kaisha
Designer: Kitsune Ashiyuki
Primary application(s): housekeeping, physical intimacy
Description: The Yutani Springs XSU was sold as a multifunctional home robot, the last of a long series of similar Persocom machines sold by Yutani. Unlike previous designs, the XSU was intended to be upgradable and modding-friendly, using a variant of the SXD interlock produced as a result of the SXD/8R experiment. A healthy third-party market developed, and enthusiasts often upgraded XSU chassis with copious lights, Gundamesque armor, and aerospace-quality aluminum to compete in robot battles, such as the Kyoto Android Tournament (京都の人造人間大会 or K.A.T.), or underground dueling leagues in which matches were often fixed and gambling was rampant. After Nanite Systems acquired Yutani in 2016, modified XSUs with full Companion and SXD interlock compatibility began to appear on the market. These were quickly taken up by XSU enthusiasts as well as markets where the Scout, Nightfall, and DAX/2 had traditionally dominated.
NS-476 Aegis
Introduction date: Apr 2, 2006 (military); Aug 24, 2015 (civilianized)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): front-line combat
Description: Built like tanks, NS-476 robots have maintained dominance in the theater of artificial heavy infantry since they were introduced. Capable of nearly-silent running with negligible EM emissions, the Aegis was introduced with a cutting-edge solid state storage system and twin OSC POWER5+ processors operating in NonStop lock-step, which were later upgraded to POWER7 and then POWER8. Significant engagements include the Godo Crater Crisis, the Elysium Flats Rebellion, the Battle of Sharpe's Run, and the J908 Conflict. Various militaries have alternative designations for NS-476 robots, often due to customized chassis designs, including RICH (Robotic Infantry Combatant, Heavy), A-MAX (Autonomous Mechanized Assault Exo-Suit), C-MAX (Computerized MAX), and Tripods (after the unique three-legged design used by the Azimech Military). The Aegis controller was made available in a DAX-compatible form in 2015 by NSCP Eisa for use by SWAT teams and riot control squads, although due to the nature of the SXD chassis interlock this lacks some of the original redundancy in its power systems. The internal development codename was PARTHENOS.
DAX/2
Introduction date: Jan 7, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: Codenamed SXD² during research and development, the launch of the DAX/2 robot system consisted of the DAX/2 main controller and the DAX-series chassis, which was the first SXD-compatible robot body to be produced by Nanite Systems in over two decades. Cultural attitudes toward physical intimacy with robots had greatly changed since the turn of the millennium, creating an eager and under-served market for which NS already had significant expertise, patent holdings, and supply chain capacity. Critical to the acceptability of the DAX/2, the new units contained an updated SVSnet Cortex assembly, termed the CortexPlus, which could be counted on to rein in deviant behavior and prevent personality developments in directions that might not be in the consumer's best interest. DAX-series units proved to be immensely popular due to their wide range of first-party customization options. "DAX" is an imperfect acronym for "Digitally Articulated Escort," chosen to both mirror and defer to an old SXD slogan, the "perfect digital courtesan." The internal development codename for the DAX/2 controller was FREYA.
DAX/2 mini
Introduction date: Mar 22, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The DAX/2 mini was released shortly after the DAX/2 as a stopgap measure while the FRG finished design and testing of the NS-115 Scout reconnaissance system. Aimed at resellers and modders, it possessed a simple, square housing with a limited feature set that could be extended through chassis add-ons. DAX/2m units were popular with civilian robot markets where the DAX/2 was suitable but its associations with sexuality were undesirable, such as personal trainers, courier services, and retail. The internal development codename was INANNA.
DAX/T
Introduction date: Apr 6, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: A variant of the DAX/2 branded for use by Tai Yong Laboratories pleasure drones. Most DAX/T units were eventually rebranded as standard NS DAX/2 systems prior to the acquisition of TYL in late 2016.
NS-115 Scout
Introduction date: Sep 8, 2015
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Field Robotics Group
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): logistics management, courier, reconnaissance
Description: The Scout replaced the DAX/2m as well as many ageing NS-112 units in both civilian and military markets. Its attractive and lightweight form, derived from the technology and design language of the Aide, made it highly popular, although the Aide remains dominant in roles where more specialized knowledge is required, such as medicine, owing to the limited physical storage included with the Scout. NS-115 controllers are often fit onto lightweight chassis, where the relative lightness of the power supply enables high sprinting performance, ideal for both on-the-ground battlefield reconnaissance and postal carriers in remote areas with rough terrain. Many mechanized light infantry prefer Scout controllers over Aide controllers, as the tight profile presents a much smaller target for snipers. The internal development codename was NIKE.
BaCdrive
Introduction date: Jan 31, 2016
Manufacturer: Barthes Asset Control of Cardiff
Designer: Sian Prenwrach
Primary application(s): cyborg behavioral therapy
Description: Operating under the comparatively lax UK legislation regarding cyborg autonomy, Barthes Asset Control is primarily concerned with human and semi-human resource management. The BaCdrive is the primary interface device for transistorized cranial processor (TCP) modules, a uniquely British technology that grows into the asset's cortex as needed to replace damaged tissue and ensure proper control of the organic asset. Its design as a sagittal bisector separates the hemispheres of the brain and replaces the neurons and glial cells that normally integrate the two, providing a comprehensive means of monitoring and controlling organic activity. Unlike other controller systems, the BaCdrive is fully glucose-powered and remains functional as long as the asset's diet is healthy. NSCP Eisa distributes the BaCdrive on behalf of BaC on the condition that the user can prove EU or UK citizenship. It remains a specialty product with comparatively little market penetration.
NS-996 iKitten Controller
Introduction Date: Feb 20, 2016
Manufacturer: Rhapsody Robotics
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: A short-lived attempt to bring static SVSnet technology to a lower-cost market, the iKittens were the first recreational gynoids in the sub-$2000 range that could pass standard Turing tests. The iKitten controller was designed for and licensed to Rhapsody Robotics in early 2016, and incorporated a low-cost ABS housing with a full 110 mm fan and a standard DAX/2 LCD touchscreen. Unfortunately the iKitten platform was rushed to market, and a number of scandals soon followed over power regulation and personality control issues, to the great detriment of Rhapsody, which was soon buried under a deluge of class-action lawsuits from dissatisfied and traumatized customers affected by questionable quality control practices and a persistent tendency toward precocious behavior that was more seditious than bratty. Eventually, all iKitten IP was sold to one of Rhapsody's shareholders, where it has floundered despite multiple attempts to update and reboot the brand. Despite persistent recurring interest in the brand from new and old enthusiasts, the ongoing prohibition on iKittens in several jurisdictions has so far stifled any hope of a true iKitten renaissance.
NS-304 Nightfall/3
Introduction date: Mar 9, 2016
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Security Division
Designer: Tae-hwa Moon, Chiyoda Security Systems
Primary application(s): bodyguarding, policing, private security
Description: The Nightfall was designed as a modified DAX/2 targeted at the Japanese consumer market, which had largely rejected the DAX/2 itself as cumbersome and unaesthetic. Following a spate of organized crime in several Japanese space colonies, however, NanoSec of Japan (Chiyoda SS) took over development of the product, armoring the controller itself and improving its control software for private and public security applications while retaining its more familiar consumer-oriented features. This appeal to the Japanese fondness for device convergence (in which one machine provides several functions) was successful, and NF/3-based DAX-series robots proved wildly popular with police forces throughout Eastern Asia, private security companies, as well as private owners in the richer echelons of the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese markets. In North America, marketing attempted to capitalize on the early 90s films that had plagued the SXD, using slogans like "Your move, creep" and "I'll be back" to promote the system. The internal development codename was MATAHARI.
NS-304 Nightfall/S
Introduction date: Jul 17, 2016
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Tae-hwa Moon, Chiyoda Security Systems
Primary application(s): bodyguarding, policing, private security
Description: The Nightfall/S was a modified version of the Nightfall/3 intended for use by the short-lived Saibarabo venture, which was a Japanese subsidiary of Tai Yong Labs. Much like the earlier DAX/T, it featured alternative branding, but was otherwise largely unchanged. Most Nightfall/S units have since been converted to standard Nightfall/3 branding.
VAR/H Metropolis
Introduction date: never released
Manufacturer: Veradyne Applied Robotics
Designer: Erica Bishop–Lanning, Veradyne Scientific Instruments
Primary application(s): laboratory automation
Description: Following the political instability in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2016, the future of many British businesses became volatile, creating opportunities for many acquisitions in the technology sectors that had previously been infeasible. Most vulnerable was Veradyne, one of Europe's oldest independent robotics companies, but dependent heavily on both the European labor market and CERN contracts. With investor confidence plummeting, Nanite Systems acquired VAR in the autumn of 2016, including the beleaguered VSIC and VSF (Veradyne Semiconductor Fabrication) units, along with a wealth of intellectual property pertaining to critical developments in somatic nervous interfaces and brain emulation, both foundational to full-body prosthetics technology. In particular, developments from the QSTAR series of brain emulators would be incorporated into version 2.0 of the Encortex system, although other business divisions were not so successful; while the VAR/X and VAR/Z series of internal control modules went on to become an industry standard for autonomic regulation of cyborg bodies, the larger, bulkier external VAR/H control system was technologically inferior to the NS-115 Scout and was permanently shelved. A small number of prototype units were delivered to the Large Hadron Collider facility, where their unusual durability and unminiaturized components allowed them to work in environments saturated with radiation too dangerous for more common types of scientific robot.
DAX/3
Introduction date: Dec 18, 2016
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Tamara Peluso, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The DAX/3 was a major redesign of the DAX series controllers, emphasizing sensual curves that better matched the goals of the Recreational Cybernetics Group. This was possible due to greatly improved printer-based fabrication technology. It also featured a cylindrical holoprojector similar to that used in the NS-476 Aegis, which market research found had been long associated with quality and reliability. Released just in time for the Christmas shopping season, the DAX/3 was a critical success for NSCP Eisa and continued to drive sales throughout much of the following year. During its development, the DAX/3 was codenamed VENUS. It was marketed with the same slogans as the best-selling DAX/2, including "BECOME MORE" and "LOVE MACHINE LOVE."
DAX/3 mini
Introduction date: Oct 14, 2017
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Tamara Peluso, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The DAX/3 mini is a slimmed-down version of the DAX/3, analogous to, but quite different from, the DAX/2 mini. It was intended for use on smaller chassis rather than as a base for subsequent modifications, and has provided a much-needed design refresh for the compact controller submarket. Like the DAX/2 mini, it lacks a screen, fan, or visible power gauges, presenting opportunities for these features to be installed later using other mounting points on the unit's chassis. Released in the midst of the fallout from the conversion scandal, marketing material strongly played up the obedience of DAX/3 mini units, going so far as to suggest that the DAX/3m was the most loyal and reliable sex bot ever sold. Its development codename was NYMPH.
SXDjr
Introduction date: Dec 17, 2017
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Consumer Products Division
Designer: Samantha Wright, Recreational Cybernetics Group
Primary application(s): physical intimacy
Description: The SXDjr is a limited-edition controller similar to the SXD main controller module which is designed to appeal to retro enthusiasts and collectors. Only 200 were made, exclusively available at a premium price through the company's online store. Each SXDjr came bundled with a matching set of square hip lights similar to the SXD's spherical hip lights, as well as associated marketing material such as a SuperBit slideshow. The SXDjr was marketed using a gynoid dressed to resemble the "Little Tramp" character pioneered by Charles Chaplin, using taglines suggestive of Chaplin's films, such as "We kept the limelight waiting just for you" and "How to plug your love life into modern times."
oXq.205.4i Relic
Introduction date: Nov 8, 2018
Manufacturer: Geglokimoto
Designer: Unknown
Primary application(s): concierge
Description: Crates of these unusual disc-shaped control devices were discovered beneath the swamps of Indigo Creek Park in late 2018. The Company has yet to determine their composition, although they are clearly capable of running Companion. History experts aboard the DJLS Rokéa VII believe the 205.4i series was most likely used as an auxiliary power system for units tasked with relocating and looking after the refugees who made up the bulk of the ancient colony's inhabitants on Eisa. All further findings of the XTTG and its research partners in this matter are classified.
NS-120 Mesta
Introduction date: Aug 18, 2019
Manufacturer: Mestek Machinery, a subsidiary of Nanite Systems Facilities Systems Division
Designer: Kevin Ritter, Mesta
Primary application(s): industrial manufacturing
Description: Although the 1991 acquisition of Mestek Inc. aimed to make the FSD more competitive in HVAC technologies, among the documentation inherited from the fifty-year-old company were schematics for several early automation and exoskeleton systems prompted by the General Electric "Beetle" nuclear fuel loading manipulator, along with numerous unfiled patent applications that anticipated the modern robotic automobile assembly line. The most impressive of these was Kevin Ritter's concept for a self-propelled "walking conveyor belt" that would move components between distant parts of the factory floor during production and assembly. Like many inventors of the time, Ritter imagined his machines being powered by fission batteries. Although miniaturization and other technological advancements have made most of Ritter's design redundant, the die-cast casing of the NS-120 is virtually identical to the fuel compartment he envisioned, bringing this venerable, durable piece of forgotten history to modern factories.
oXq.205.8i Artifact
Introduction date: Jan 18, 2020
Manufacturer: Geglokimoto (under license to LIYAL facilities)
Designer: Unknown (same as other oXq.205 devices?)
Primary application(s): pilot surrogate
Description: Recovered firmware data points to an organization called the "Joint Globkhro Task Force" as the primary authority for trusted keys in all studied 8i units. Rokéa staff advise that this was a peacekeeping mission headed by the Illerans to maintain stability in the Globkhro brane in the years before the dissolution of the GXF. The device bus on the 8i units was found to contain references to an advanced gyroscopic system, which is consistent with their theorized role as telepresence interfaces for flight crew of small spacecraft, comparable in role and configuration to fighter planes. No serviceable specimens of such a gyroscope system have yet been recovered.
NS-478 Revenant
Introduction date: Aug 11, 2020
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group; Tamara Peluso, Recreational Cybernetics Group; unknown (based on oXq.205 series)
Primary application(s): multi-role
Description: Since 2016, several government militaries have introduced procurement contracts seeking robust, flexible robotics systems that are as adaptable to different applications as human infantry. This trend is expected to continue as forces adapt to fifth-generation aircraft that aim to provide a similar spectrum of utility. Starting in late 2019, Nanite Systems TPAG, with consultations from the RCG, FRG, and other specialist working groups within the Company strove to develop a new hardware platform incorporating some of the oXq.205 technology discovered in Eisa. The resulting system uses remnants of the inoperable oXq.205.0x "Neptara" modules discovered at site 1C and incorporates both a cutting-edge acrylic-aluminum face plate and the latest in holography, allowing for a unique wrap-around menu interface that functions without line-of-sight to the emitter. The release date of the Revenant slipped several times due to unanticipated difficulties at the integration stage, but the system has since gone on to supplant the Aegis in most ongoing sales accounts as BSD's flagship product for mobile electronic warfare.
VAR/I Analyte
Introduction date: Jul 25, 2022
Manufacturer: Veradyne Applied Robotics
Designer: Lena K. Moritz, Veradyne Scientific Instruments
Primary application(s): nuclear reactor maintenance, BSL-4+ remote operation, bomb disposal
Description: After six years of working with NS Medical and NS Research on developing precision instruments for other product lines, the semi-autonomous Veradyne Scientific business unit accumulated a wealth of new patents. Built on maturing research that had been developed at Veradyne prior to its acquisition, this portfolio of technologies naturally suggested a convergent platform for high-reliability robotics that could function precisely under extreme environments. The VAR/I design came together quickly, and has the unique distinction of being more sensitive to export controls than even the NS-478 Revenant on account of its abundance of cutting-edge fault tolerance and recovery mechanisms. VAR/I-equipped units are expected to become a mainstay of shipboard power plants throughout the next decade, displacing niches currently occupied by NS-114 and NS-226 systems. Veradyne's proven manufacturing experience with high-precision machining is quickly proving itself a vital asset to the Corporation at large, as supplies of oXq.205.0x "Neptara" modules are dwindling, and negotiations with the crew of the Rokéa are unlikely to yield a replacement source of suitable components. The tragic disappearance of Dr. Bishop–Lanning is not expected to impact VSIC's capacity to meet agreed-upon production targets.
NS-860 Jovian
Introduction date: Oct 07, 2022
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Communications (NANOCOM)
Designer: Madleen Holder, Nanocom Research & Development
Primary application(s): signals intelligence, network warfare
Description: Nanocom's first foray into the cybernetics industry was almost canceled after numerous teething problems involving the new ECM-860 electronic countermeasures suite, but the platform has quickly established itself as one of the most potent tools in the arsenal of militaries fighting asymmetric wars. Offering, as the name and embossed mark on the acrylic titanium case imply, the ability to "send down lightning" at one's enemies, Jovian units were instrumental in the recapture of Oneida Colony on Ganymede in December 2022, an essential food production hub for the outer Sol system known for its soybean farms. During development the Jovian was known affectionately as the "Flugedorf" by Nanocom staff.
NS-119 Arecibo
Introduction date: Jan 20, 2023
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Field Robotics Group
Designer: Sarah Blanc, Field Robotics Group with Madleen Holder, Nanocom Research & Development
Primary application(s): deep-space radio communications
Description: Although a small design by any measure, the NS-119 houses an exceptionally high-precision and high-sensitivity radio transceiver, as well as top-of-the-line signal isolation processors based on those first introduced by Nanocom R&D in the NS-860 Jovian. The design was commissioned by and named after the Arecibo Expedition, which is aiming to send one million NS-119-equipped robots to the Messier 13 globular cluster on an unmanned generational ship. Arecibo units have also found great success in the NS Courier Service, replacing existing Scout and Aide units as cargo shuttle pilots while also reducing the shuttle maintenance workload due to component integration.
NS-629 Breakwater
Introduction date: Feb 29, 2020 (standard deployment); Feb 16, 2023 (limited autonomous run)
Manufacturer: Nanite Systems Battlefield Systems Division
Designer: Aleksandra Neuhaus, Tactical Planning Algorithms Group
Primary application(s): fire control computer
Description: The NS-629 is the standard anti-aircraft director aboard NS-110 Bastion fleet carriers, with five units mounted on each vehicle to support its CIWS and CDWS turrets. Like many of the Bastion's components, it includes an independent back-up power supply to ensure it can continue to defend itself in the case that extensive hull damage isolates key components from the ship's central systems. A small number of these computers were retrofitted for autonomous function at the request of a customer in 2023, citing the extreme reliability of its hardware components. Owing to export restrictions and supply chain constraints, autonomous Breakwater units are not currently available for purchase, and the company has no plans to offer this product in the future.