Project THOUGHT Simplified Joint

Designed from the high performance prototype Project THOUGHT Frictionless Hybrid Joint's, Mechanical/Legacy mode, this joint was designed for use in a next-generation Mecha as both a limb joint and potentially for thrust vectoring nozzles. It is intended to be able to move with strength and precision, while still keeping a sufficient degree of speed and ease of manufacture/maintenance.

For two years, Kage Yaichiro had been attempting to remove the bottlenecks from the limb manipulation speed and flexibility systems existing in Power Armors of the time, and had explored multiple concepts under the name Project THOUGHT. While this successfully resulted in the Project THOUGHT Frictionless Hybrid Joint, the joint was time-consuming to produce and calibrate, and also was only beneficial when an enhanced computer or digital brain system could issue commands fast enough to take advantage of its true potential.

In an effort to design a system which could be more easily produced and maintained as well as used by those either not able or trained well enough to fully utilize the high performance version, a solely mechanical variant was produced. Rather than return to a standard joint system, however, this simplified joint was based fully on the Mechanical/Legacy Mode of the original prototype to allow a comparable range of motion as well as compatibility with the same manufacturing sites.

The type of joint used is more often than not a ball and socket which allows for notable play and movement, though the same techniques can easily be applied to simpler lever or axle-type joints. It uses solely mechanical movement, but allows a great deal of precision and strength as well as a respectable response time when compared to normal joints. It is easier to calibrate and manufacture than its high-performance sibling.

It is still difficult to apply armor to protect the joints, so it uses a very similar joint cover.

NOTE: Not all ball and socket joints using this technology actually use the ball as the fulcrum. This can cause confusion when conducting repairs or analyzing movement.

This joint is a bit more complex than a normal joint, but far simpler than the hybrid version while affording a comparable range of motion. Its production is relatively simple, allowing them to be cranked out quickly and with relatively little calibration needed. Its speed is ample for inexperienced pilots, as well as pilots without optimized brains like the NH-22C Yamataian or NH-29. Its joints are also relatively easy to replace as well as fabricate.

The basic joint can be seen below, with its cover removed for the sake of simplicity:

This simple joint lacks the ability to change modes, and is only able to utilize mechanical energy. Due to this, the bulk of the complex components have been removed and the joint's socket streamlined. There is still a Yamataium Faraday Cage built into the socket's walls, but this is merely to isolate it from stray magnetism rather than any internal magnetic forces. It is usually constructed out of Durandium Alloy, Yama-Dura, or Yamataium.

It should be noted that since the anchors are permanently extended, they are more solid and in fewer segments which has also allowed the addition of curved surfaces for better force distribution. This results in a strength slightly greater than the Hybrid Joint's Mechanical/Legacy mode alone, but still less than when both modes are simultaneously engaged (Meganical/Legacy Mode with the Frictionless systems aiding).

The joint can rotate thanks to a system which allows the shaft to rotate within the ball, completely independent of the socket. It is a very simple system, and the same used in the Mechanical mode of the more complex model.

The same cover as the one on the Frictionless Hybrid Joint is used on this joint, though it is also slightly simplified. There is no forcefield, and the cover is always sealed as in its sibling's Mechanical/Legacy Mode. It also has a Yamataium mesh to complete the Faraday Cage, rather than the impregnated Yarvex Mesh of the more advanced joint.

The overlapping rings are able to slide over each other as well as the surface of the socket (or can be bolted to the socket if so desired) with merely the shaft of the joint exposed. The cover is closed completely over the joint and makes a air/water/vacuum-tight seal to completely enclose it.

The function of the cover is to protect the joint against attack as well as stray electromagnetic forces. Most combat grade covers can be several centimeters thick at minimum assuming the joint to be mecha-scale, usually constructed of Yamataium to protect against normal wear as well. The exposed part of the joint, the shaft pictured above, is quite thickly armored Yamataium typically, with power and data flowing through yarvex-lined conductors in its core. While supplemental armor is always desired if possible, these measures afford more than adequate protection to the joints without restricting their range of motion.

This joint is designed to appear in joints for Mecha designed as part of Project THOUGHT's Beta generation of designs, though it is also considered an option for thrust vectoring both Mecha and Starfighter engines. Other uses may exist, but this is the main reason for the system's development. The unit is designed to be simpler than the Frictionless Hybrid design, while still adequate for most tasks as well as training units.

This unit does not have the same speed as the more advanced version, but again its not supposed to. Yamataians and NH-29 who are able to utilize this system to its limits should move to the high performance variant. While this unit is not as advanced as the other, it is intended to be produced swiftly and quickly.

In the end, this joint is to be used when parts are scarce, when units need fielded faster than production and training for adequate use the other type of joint will allow, for cheaper units to be used by races not capable of the enhanced features of the other design, or even simply for the production of training units.