Battle Automaton

A **Battle Automaton** or **Attack Automaton** is a type of military weapon, and is its own class of warfare, separate to vehicles, planes, ships, spaceships, guns and explosives. They are often humanoid-esque, remotely operated or artificially intelligent (or both) soldiers.

Originally developed as a large armour equipment for soldiers to increase their resistance to damage and their abilities to handle large and heavy objects, Automatons became separate in about 1785 (Mt), when planets begun to fill robotic armour sets with their own internal computers that could be remotely controlled, to trick invaders. These remote control computers would go on to become far more advanced, and allow for soldiers and operators to control these machines and act as virtual soldiers.

In around the 1960s (Mt), Artificial Intelligence was adapted into numerous automatons, allowing them to manage themselves based on group orders. Since then, AI for automatons (AI-A) has become significantly more advanced and allowed for survival tactics when a connection to an operator is lost or when there is insufficient manpower.

## Definition

Defining automatons as separate from other vehicles can be difficult, and as such there are a number of definitions. One is that an automaton must be fitted with AI or remote control sufficient to emulate the role of a soldier. Another definition which is more applicable to a wider range of 'automatons' is a robotic, artificially or remotely operated machine with anthropomorphic features.

## Sizes

There are numerous sizes of automatons that have been developed since they first emerged. The original automatons were roughly human height, about 6'0"-6'6" to emulate armour. These would later be considered 'medium automatons'.

### Medium-Sized Automatons

Also known as M-S Automatons, or Large Droids, Medium-Sized Automatons are approximately human height, and can range from 5'6" to 6'9". They typically emulate humanoid sizes, and emulate the functions of a basic humanoid soldier, with the capability to handle weapons, engage in physical combat, use stealth, et cetera.

### Miniature Automatons/ Droids

Droids, also known as Miniature Automatons, are remotely controlled or fitted with AI and are usually smaller than a human's average height, at at about 5'5" or smaller. They may have regular anatomical features such as legs and arms, however they may equally have very few of these features. As such, there is some question as to whether these can be defined as automatons, or whether 'droids' constitute a separate being. The first 'droids' were first created by the Brohan Empire is the 1900s (Mt), and later used in warfare in other planets such as Gre Rormid, Warhammer, Demark, Doloosioo.

### Large Automatons

Large Automatons are humanoid-like machines with anthropomorphic features usually over 6'10", capable of carrying much heavier objects than any humanoid. They typically can reach up to 12'0".

### Mega-Automatons

Some large vehicles have been classed instead as 'mega-automatons', for instance those intended to mimic anthropomorphic features, such as the crab tank, spider vehicle or stegosaurus-mobil.

## Types

### Common Battle Automatons

Those of medium, miniature, large or 'mega' automatons are considered 'common' battle automatons. They are the most abundant class of automatons in the armed forces across the KC, and in many armed forces, the only type of automaton available. They can range from [sq]85,000 to [sq]4.5million to make or buy, and in some cases, are considered expendable, with one soldier having access to numerous automatons. Many contemporary Common Battle Automatons are both upgrade-able and repairable, these features often reducing battle qualities.

### Tactical Battle Automatons

Typically ranging from [sq]2million to [sq]85million to make or buy, tactical automatons can be used in recon missions, special operations, espionage, or high-stakes military situations. Given their usual price, they are less expendable than common battle automatons usually are, and have more technological capabilities, improving artificial military intelligence. Fewer armed forces throughout the KC have access or possession of this class of automatons.

### Nuclear-Equipped Battle Automatons (NEBA)

More commonly referred to as 'bots', NEBAs are heavy-duty battle automatons with extremely powerful destructive capabilities. They are often equipped with laser, plasma, or nuclear technology, the ability to channel concentrated nuclear energy or high-energy proton or laser beams. Typically, NEBAs unleash destructive sufficient to preclude the involvement of biological soldiers, hence their use as automatons. They are usually built to withstand extreme conditions, making them capable of surviving the damage they give out. Sub-types include 'stealth bots' and 'death bots', and examples include the p.800 Death bot.