Freelance Traveller

by Terry Carlino

TL10 Contragravity Module

Also called "sky hooks", contragrav modules are flat saucer shaped disks with rings and brackets for attaching loads. Contragravity modules use a rD cell to provide lift and a vectored thrust reactionless thruster to control movement. They contain a control unit which consists of a tiny dedicated robot brain which can be programmed to autonomously move cargo. A short range radio allows the unit to be remotely controlled by a human operator or the ship's computer. This unit is rated for a 1 ton load. Multiple units can be used in tandem to lift heavier loads.

Subassemblies: Vehicle -3, Body -3.

Power & Propulsion: 18,000-kWs rechargeable power cell, 2,000 lbs. lift contragrav generator, 0.5 lbs. thrust super thruster (vectored thrust; no access space).

Occupancy: 2,000-lbs Load.

Equipment

Body: routine vehicle operation program (piloting-12, C2); tiny computer (complexity 3; dedicated); cargo handling program (C1); short range radio communicator (500-mile range; receive only); 0 lbs. hard point.

Statistics

• Size: [LxWxH] 1.95 x 0.488 x 0.244 Payload: 2,000 lbs. Lwt: 2,018 lbs. Volume: 0.232 cf
• Maint: 322 Hrs (0.298 man-hrs./day) Price: $3,855
• HT: 5 HP: 4 [Body].
• Air Performance: Motive Thrust 0.5 lbs., Top Speed 20 mph, aAccel 0 mph/s, aMR 0, aSR 3, aDecel 0 mph/s.

Design Notes*:

• TL10 medium frame standard materials [Vehicle]. TL10 DR 5 expensive metal [Vehicle].
• Operating Duration: 2 H 28 M 8 S.
• Vehicle Features: computerized controls, no streamlining.
• Volume: 0.232 cf [Body].
• Area: 2.5 sf [Body].

* Designed using GVB. This device was suppose to be equivalent to the Contragrav Module from UTI p116. Under VE2 design rules (as modified by GTp104,157) this device costs slightly less but has much better performance. Unlike the device in Ultra-Tech it includes a robot brain, remote control radio and a tiny reactionless thruster unit to provide propulsion. It is also able to support a ton for almost 2 1/2 hours as opposed to the 6 minute limit of the UT unit.