Why do ACs needs heads?

[zenos]

you could just have sensors on the core itself and make it lighter

[🎃MaximusBlastalot🎃]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Call Sign: Raven:

Meanwhile, the OP isn't talking about realism, he just wants to be able to make his mech lighter.

Steam lol

From a "realism" standpoint:

I always assumed in ac (especially given things in the various games like pulverizes and phantasma) that they can in most situations (outside say some bigger/smaller things like the helicopter make the vehicles) whatever shape they want with similar functionality and thus mt/ac are humoniod shaped because it more optimally lines up with muscle tracing being human shaped as they basically skate/fly around any way.

It also tracts with acs generally being deptict as being more agile then various mechs that are less humioniod shaped, and with the implication that they "deflect" from the os tuning why such mechs would be pragmatically more durable if they mentally "fit" better even if they otherwise have similar material in construction.

[Army of Optimists]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Belmont:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Army of Optimists:

As Belmont said, mechs in the AC universe are based off Muscle Tracer tech. The earliest mechs were exoskeletons designed to mimic natural movement and they evolved from there into the variety of designs we see now. The Human+/Augmented Human tech further allowed the pilot control over the mech via neural input, but as the ALLMIND notes state, it works better if the AC is humanlike so it controls as close to the pilot's body as possible.

"But what about tank/quad legs?"

...shut up.

Quads for a compromise between tank treads and bipeds. aka a mobile weapons platform that can carry heavier artillery but will be able to to traverse land while maintaining stability.

Mostly just pointing out the contradiction in the lore there. Lorewise, the reason ACs are humanoid is to make them easier to pilot since the muscle tracing tech can map the natural movement of the pilot's body to the limbs of the AC.

But then they went and made non-humanoid ACs. The ALLMIND notes indicate a lot of those are experimental designs to see how far they can push the tech, especially with the advantage of Human Augmentation, so it fits. The surface level explanation just seems inconsistent.

[Kain]

What, do you want to play as Kevin from The Office?

[REhorror]

It's cool and we can have different heads.

[Blackguard]

Some AC chest parts do actually have some extras parts on them like that, like the first core part has a big camera on it. But as it's said in its description, that's a scout AC, which isn't made for combat.

See, the core is theoretically the part that will take the most damage in a fight, especially against another AC as it's the centre of mass, (and because that's also where you, the pilot are located) so, that needs to be as armoured as possible which leaves less room for more fragile things like sensors to see outside of the AC.

Previously, the head was only a sensor for the pilot to see outside of the AC really, and they needed an extra radar suite on a shoulder to have any map or radar functions. These new types of ACs in 6 have their radar and scanner built into the head now too, which leaves them with a free shoulder for an extra weapon.

[JtDarth]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Army of Optimists:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Belmont:

Quads for a compromise between tank treads and bipeds. aka a mobile weapons platform that can carry heavier artillery but will be able to to traverse land while maintaining stability.

Mostly just pointing out the contradiction in the lore there. Lorewise, the reason ACs are humanoid is to make them easier to pilot since the muscle tracing tech can map the natural movement of the pilot's body to the limbs of the AC.

But then they went and made non-humanoid ACs. The ALLMIND notes indicate a lot of those are experimental designs to see how far they can push the tech, especially with the advantage of Human Augmentation, so it fits. The surface level explanation just seems inconsistent.

It doesn't really contradict though? As the tradeoffs in ease of use would, obviously, be measured against the advantages that those alternate shapes allow, such as greater weight capacity and more aerial mobility.

[Blackguard]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Army of Optimists:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Belmont:

Quads for a compromise between tank treads and bipeds. aka a mobile weapons platform that can carry heavier artillery but will be able to to traverse land while maintaining stability.

Mostly just pointing out the contradiction in the lore there. Lorewise, the reason ACs are humanoid is to make them easier to pilot since the muscle tracing tech can map the natural movement of the pilot's body to the limbs of the AC.

But then they went and made non-humanoid ACs. The ALLMIND notes indicate a lot of those are experimental designs to see how far they can push the tech, especially with the advantage of Human Augmentation, so it fits. The surface level explanation just seems inconsistent.

I mean, humans drive tanks and technically quad-legged mechs today (the kuratas mech). Elon Musk hasn't quite figured out how to get his brain tech Neuralink working with them yet, but I'm sure he will eventually.

[Sabaithal]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Blackguard:

I mean, humans drive tanks and technically quad-legged mechs today (the kuratas mech). Elon Musk hasn't quite figured out how to get his brain tech Neuralink working with them yet, but I'm sure he will eventually.

Kuratas is a four wheeled vehicle that LOOKS like it has legs. Its not a true quadruped walker, or a walker at all.

[frowningmirror]

There is a head so light, devoid of function and low energy drain it might as well not be a head in this game.

A lot of this can be just hand waved by whatever logic you make up, we have augmented humans who can handle booster speeds that would liquify the pilots inside.

I just miss my ultimate weapons, the weapons arms and extensions.

[Quillithe]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Aldain:

A head can turn and adjust, fixed cameras require the entire frame to move.

Basically picture how inconvenient having your eyes on your chest would be.

Presumably they could just put more sensors on instead of the effort of a whole head.

Honestly if you start really asking questions why do they have hands to hold guns on their arms. Mechs are always kinda silly, just go shoot stuff, no questions.

[Blackguard]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Sabaithal:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Blackguard:

I mean, humans drive tanks and technically quad-legged mechs today (the kuratas mech). Elon Musk hasn't quite figured out how to get his brain tech Neuralink working with them yet, but I'm sure he will eventually.

Kuratas is a four wheeled vehicle that LOOKS like it has legs. Its not a true quadruped walker, or a walker at all.

I did say 'technically'. It has a typical mech with arms upper body and 4 legs that end with wheels instead of feet, and what are feet if not just an alternate version of wheels in the world of mechs. ¯\(°uo)/¯

[Sabaithal]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Blackguard:

I did say 'technically'. It has a typical mech with arms upper body and 4 legs that end with wheels instead of feet, and what are feet if not just an alternate version of wheels in the world of mechs. ¯\(°uo)/¯

Many bulldozers have limbs. Does that make them mechs?

You can make something appear to be something else, that doesn't mean it truly is. Iguazu thinking he's a hotshot for example.

[Blackguard]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Sabaithal:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Blackguard:

I did say 'technically'. It has a typical mech with arms upper body and 4 legs that end with wheels instead of feet, and what are feet if not just an alternate version of wheels in the world of mechs. ¯\(°uo)/¯

Many bulldozers have limbs. Does that make them mechs?

You can make something appear to be something else, that doesn't mean it truly is. Iguazu thinking he's a hotshot for example.

I mean, technically yeah? If said vehicle has a giant robot body controlled by a pilot with arms on it, and one of those arms is a crane, then what's truly the difference? Tank tread ACs are a thing afterall, and according to lore n prior games ACs 'were' used in construction.

[ImHelping]

I mean, for actual reasons they have them in the head because AC are designed to swap heads around to squeeze the last bit of power balance out of your build preferences, And that is easier for a pilot's build tuning than having to also decide your torso on sensor power.

Crying "But headshots are a weakpoint call of duty taught me that!" doesn't really change that.

In past games early heads didn't even HAVE radar or even anything beyond short term memory, and you had to use a back mount weapon slot for a radar you came with until you could afford a head with build in radar/bio sensors/mapping.

Which is another thing that really puts the tired "Why robot have head? Head on robot stupid" reaction into a failure context when it comes to AC. Armored Cores can stuff a lot of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ inside themselves or on top of themselves. But have always had worse trouble with sensors and mech computing being standardized that someone crying "Minovsky particles did it!"

[Serikos]

what I think is that if you put the entirety of the head in the core then you waste part of all functions of the core.

Your core would likely have less space for energy efficiency modules, less armour/defense, may have to cut core extensions etc.
Obviously that makes the sensor being outside with its own armor component more sensible as it is not a requirement for your survival in the mech while the core is.