Some better documentation would be nice explaining how each research method works, how to get your first kits, etc. I was expecting a Barky video doing a mod showcase explaining alot of this but i cant find anything.

I've got the same question regarding the Remote field research kit vs the field research kit with built in micro-analyzer

Okay, I can do a quick overview for the kits. What they all have in common is that they allow pawns to do field research (analyzing buildings, trees, and other immovable objects) when the research project theyre working on has a required research bench/facility.

• Simple field research kit - equivalent to the simple research bench. Made at either the crafting spot or a tailoring bench.
  
• Field research kit - equivalent to the hitech research bench. Made at the smithy or machining table.
  
• Field research analyzer-kit - equivalent to the hitech research bench + a multianalyzer. Made at the machining table.
  
• Remote field research kit - equivalent to the hitech research bench OR whatever bench you have thats connected to a multianalyzer + its facilities, made at the machining table. This one is here mostly for compatability with mods that add new research benches or facilities, but it does also provide the work speed stat bonuses of the bench its connecting to. Made at the machining table.

So if I use Vanilla Furniture Extended's lab tables to absolutely juice my Research Lab, the Remote kits are better?

Take a look at mod settings, vanilla method is slowed to 75%, while reverse engineering can be done 5 times at 200% speed.
https://imgur.com/a/hcd6VtG
This mod is supposed to pull your colonists away from research bench to use oter methods

Originally posted by PeteTimesSix:

• Remote field research kit - equivalent to the hitech research bench OR whatever bench you have thats connected to a multianalyzer + its facilities, made at the machining table. This one is here mostly for compatability with mods that add new research benches or facilities, but it does also provide the work speed stat bonuses of the bench its connecting to. Made at the machining table.

You might want to put that explanation into the in-game description. I came here because I could not understand the distincion between the last two lits in-game.

Does your colonist ever do the research in the field? For the most part it seems like a waste because they spend so much more time walking than they benefit from researching because they keep wandering out to get an item, spend 10 seconds researching, then take it back to storage.

Originally posted by Lord451:

Does your colonist ever do the research in the field? For the most part it seems like a waste because they spend so much more time walking than they benefit from researching because they keep wandering out to get an item, spend 10 seconds researching, then take it back to storage.

As with all things Rimworld, path optimization is key. Since all projects have tooling and material studies, you want your lab close to your workshop.
Many plant-related topics require field studies though.

Also, this mod is more about flavour, nothing really beats Vanillas guy sitting at a bench.

Field research has a huge bonus to researching objects. Its like twice the research for a portion of the time.

Fun fact : If you find something in the wild - say some solar panels on a quest - you can swap research to Solar Panels, have one of your pawns with a research kit analyze it, and then swap back to what ever you where doing.

Feels really 'immersive', really makes the sending a reasercher on the road sometimes. I kind of wish you could have them always have the option of 'analyzing' anything that isn't researched. I end up hoarding stuff for future research sometimes.

Originally posted by TheVillain:

Fun fact : If you find something in the wild - say some solar panels on a quest - you can swap research to Solar Panels, have one of your pawns with a research kit analyze it, and then swap back to what ever you where doing.

Feels really 'immersive', really makes the sending a reasercher on the road sometimes. I kind of wish you could have them always have the option of 'analyzing' anything that isn't researched. I end up hoarding stuff for future research sometimes.

This is one of the coolest aspects of the mod.