Freelance Traveller

Portable Low Berth

by Ewan Quibell

This article originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of the downloadable magazine.

CraftID:  Portable Low Berth, TL9, Cr 54,786
Hull:     1/2, Disp=1.024, Conf=0USL Open, 
          Armour=1D, Unl=1.13312tons, Load=1.140486tons
Power:    1/2, Batteries=0.1145 Mwh, 
          1/2, Solar=0.0228 Mw
          Duration=1 hour/unlimited
Loco:     1/2, StdGrav=1.145 tons, 
          MaxAccel=0.0039G, NOE=1.05 kph, Cruise=3.15 kph,
          Top=4.2 kph
Comm:     Interface=Power
Sensors:  -
Off:      Hardpoints=1
Def:      Def DM=+2
Control:  Control=Electronic×1
Accom:    Crew=1 (Operator (external)),
          Low Berth=1
Other:    Cargo=0.0073 kliters, ObjSize=Small, EmLevel=Faint
Comment:  Cost in Quantity=Cr 43,814

This is the Daud Enterprises’ Portable Low Berth. Using a standard ship’s low berth Daud Enterprises affixed an open distributed frame housing a standard gravatic drive and simple controls.

With just the low berth and controls powered up the solar panels can run the low berth indefinably; in addition they can charge the batteries in 30.29 hours. While running on batteries the low berth and controls can run for 76.333 hours.

Powering the grav drive will nullify the weight of the low berth and causes it to rise 1m from the ground where the operator can push it around freely, or as long as there is physical contact from the operator have it move forward at a slow walking pace. The batteries are able to power the portable low berth for an hour.

A power interface is provided to attach the berth to an external power source as may be necessary. The frame itself costs Cr 4,768 (or Cr 3,814 in quantity), and is manufactured in such a way as to be able to attach shipboard low berths to it without losing continuity of power thus allowing the berth and occupant to be moved between ships without the need for them to be woken.

CraftID:  Portable Low Berth, TL10, Cr 54,002
Hull:     1/2, Disp=1.02, Conf=0USL Open, 
          Armour=1E, Unl=1.12233tons, Load=1.126293tons
Power:    1/2, Batteries=0.113 Mwh, 
          1/2, Solar=0.0321 Mw
          Duration=1 hour/unlimited
Loco:     1/2, StdGrav=1.13 tons, 
          MaxAccel=0.0032G, NOE=0.9 kph, Cruise=2.7 kph,
          Top=3.6 kph
Comm:     Interface=Power
Sensors:  -
Off:      Hardpoints=1
Def:      Def DM=+2
Control:  Control=Electronic×1
Accom:    Crew=1 (Operator (external)), 
          Low Berth=1
Other:    Cargo=0.00396 kliters, ObjSize=Small, EmLevel=Fait
Comment:  Cost in Quantity=Cr 43,202

This is the Daud Enterprises’ TL10 upgrade to their Portable Low Berth.

With more efficient solar panels the gravatic drive can be reduced in size to reduce cost. The solar panels can run the low berth and controls indefinitely and recharge the batteries in a split second over 24 hours. The batteries can keep the low berth and controls working for 75.33 hours, and can power the drive for an hour.

Powering the grav drive will nullify the weight of the low berth and causes it to rise 1m from the ground where the operator can push it around freely, or as long as there is physical contact from the operator have it move forward at a slow walking pace.

A power interface is provided to attach the berth to an external power source as may be necessary. The frame itself costs Cr 4,002 (or Cr 3,202 in quantity), and is manufactured in such a way as to be able to attach shipboard low berths to it without losing continuity of power thus allowing the berth and occupant to be moved between ships without the need for them to be woken.