A New Innovation in Low Berth Hardware: Low Berth Clusters!

[Terry Mixon]

So, during the process of working on more advanced emergency low berths, a different idea occurred to me. As the really expensive parts of a robotic low berth don't need to be duplicated for multiple low berths in the same robotic housing, more can be put in while reducing the cost vs multiple separate low berths.

Thus, the low berth cluster was born. It has the same footprint as an emergency low berth but can hold three passengers rather than four. The tubes in an emergency low berth are cramped, but the ones in a low berth cluster are full sized. The only thing that must be sacrificed to make this work is there is no internal storage for the passengers' belongings. Those need to be stored elsewhere.

Let's compare costs. First, I'll list the cost of a standalone robotic low berth, then the cost of three of them, then the cost of a low berth cluster of with the same capabilities (in this case, the economy models where available).

(I updated my copy of the robot design worksheet to correct some rounding issues, so the prices here are to two significant places and will be different than those posted earlier. I also dropped the 20% discount in favor of 10% across the board. Apologies in advance.)

Basic: one=51,900, three=155,700, one three-person cluster: 110,600

Advanced: one=61,400, three=184,200, one three-person cluster: 122,700

Advanced+: one=77,100, three=231,300, one three-person cluster: 144,800

Superior: one=81,600, three=244,800, one three-person cluster: 158,300

Deluxe: one=278,300, three=834,900, one three-person cluster: 354,900

Iridium: one=468,600, three=1,405,800, one three-person cluster: 544,700

As you can see, the savings when you intend to have a lot of low berths is significant.

Here are the details:

 

[Terry Mixon]

Okay, so I've been obsessing over tidying up MixCorp's product low berth line. In doing so, I renamed the products AutoBerths to reflect their dual AutoDoc and Low Berth capability, and for brand identity, of course.

In doing so, I realized that what I was labeling as emergency units were actually "compact" units as each person still had their own tube. Compact as in everyone was stuffed inside a tube that was smaller than the usual berths. The usual 50-slot medical chambers are for humans massing up to 150 kilograms (330 lbs.). A medical chamber sized for an adult human occupant requires a minimum of 32 slots, so it will hold 2/3 (.64 to be precise) of the full-sized chamber capacity or, in other words, most people.

So, while I kept that line, I relabeled them as "compact units" and then made emergency units using one big (though not really big enough) chamber that can hold FIVE average adult human occupants (even if just barely!). That will be a key selling point, I'm sure.

Also, I discovered that a medikit is good for covering up to 8 ambulatory crew and passengers, so I believe one will be good for the number of sophants asleep in the tubes, allowing me to drop the extra ones. The crew will be responsible for topping them off as needed.

I also eliminated one model and redesignated the units as basic, improved, enhanced, advanced, and superior like most rankings in Traveller. As this isn't the Advanced Low Berth in the Robot Handbook, but a different beast entirely, I'm fine with that distinction.

To be sure I had the AutoDoc functionality, I added a bioreaction chamber to grow tissue as needed. One thing missing is vacuum protection (it was pricy enough to make these less competitive). The original units I made didn't have it either, so it's not like I'm removing it now, just not adding it. The exception are the emergency units. If you're using them, you need the extra protection for sure.

MixCorp advises its customers to take steps to protect their passengers by vacuum proofing the compartments in which these units are housed. MixCorp is not responsible for injuries or deaths due to the improper housing of these units.

With that done, I updated the profit/loss charts. Here is the one with them laid out in order of product line.



And here they are in order of profitability. No profit is listed for the emergency units as they are not meant to generate revenue. If someone were to use them during normal operations, well, that's not MixCorp's responsibility.

 

[Terry Mixon]

The single occupant AutoBerths.

 

[Terry Mixon]

The three-person AutoBerth Clusters.

 

[Terry Mixon]

The four-person clusters (compact).

 

[Terry Mixon]

The five-person emergency AutoBerths. Unlike the rest, these are vacuum rated.

 

[MasterGwydion]

Now we just need the military versions that cover unit sized groups of The Frozen Watch.

Designed for rapid awakening during combat actions. Possibly for full equipped Drop Marines or other such units.

Edit- This is all @Geir 's fault for writing such an awesome book! Thank you Geir!

 

[Terry Mixon]

Now we just need the military versions that cover unit sized groups of The Frozen Watch.

Designed for rapid awakening during combat actions. Possibly for full equipped Drop Marines or other such units.

Edit- This is all @Geir 's fault for writing such an awesome book! Thank you Geir!

Buy them in 1-ton blocks and it will work.

 

[mavikfelna]

You have the Iridum Low Berth Cluster in place of the Superior AutoBerth Cluster. Other than that, they look awesome! Thanks for these.

 

[Terry Mixon]

You have the Iridum Low Berth Cluster in place of the Superior AutoBerth Cluster. Other than that, they look awesome! Thanks for these.

I spotted that, too. Fixed!

 

[mavikfelna]

For the Emergency berths, are those vacuum rated? While all the others don't really need it, the Emergency ones should have it

 

[Terry Mixon]

For the Emergency berths, are those vacuum rated? While all the others don't really need it, the Emergency ones should have it

Fixed.

 

[mavikfelna]

Are these all 1 ton except the single berth? I see the size is Large, but I don't see a tonnage or weight listed. Also, the person carrying capacity and max size of the person being carried would be handy in the tech information listing
As a personal note, I'm 6'4" and 330 lbs so knowing that me and 4 of my crewmen could actually fit into an emergency berth would be nice.

 

[Terry Mixon]

Are these all 1 ton except the single berth? I see the size is Large, but I don't see a tonnage or weight listed.

Yes. Size 8 is 1 ton. Size 7 is 1/2 ton.

Also, the person carrying capacity and max size of the person being carried would be handy in the tech information listing

The sheet doesn’t currently have a description box. I’ll add one tomorrow and update them.

As a personal note, I'm 6'4" and 330 lbs so knowing that me and 4 of my crewmen could actually fit into an emergency berth would be nice.

Nope. You’d need a full 50 slots out of the 160 (32 slots per person) in the emergency version. Might only get three more in with you. Andre the giant might have needed one by himself.

 

[Terry Mixon]

Are these all 1 ton except the single berth? I see the size is Large, but I don't see a tonnage or weight listed. Also, the person carrying capacity and max size of the person being carried would be handy in the tech information listing.

I've added a description field that makes that clear along with all the other relevant details.

 

[mavikfelna]

So this is maybe controversial but TL15 and 16 military ships with frozen watches should be keeping them in the advanced and superior emergency autoberths. You get 5 personnel per ton instead of 2 and they have vacuum protection, just in case. This also gives you an advanced autodoc for every ton. And revival is pretty much 100% in 1D minutes for everyone so you get the crew out quickly.
What do you think?

 

[Terry Mixon]

So this is maybe controversial but TL15 and 16 military ships with frozen watches should be keeping them in the advanced and superior emergency autoberths. You get 5 personnel per ton instead of 2 and they have vacuum protection, just in case. This also gives you an advanced autodoc for every ton. And revival is pretty much 100% in 1D minutes for everyone so you get the crew out quickly.
What do you think?

Agreed. And it costs half what a normal emergency low berth does.

 

[rinku]

Yeah. See, that bothers me a little. Although frozen watches would not be using emergency berths; those are very specifically for rapid freeze, long term storage.

But if you can make a cheaper, more compact version that works better, why do they exist?

 

[Terry Mixon]

Yeah. See, that bothers me a little. Although frozen watches would not be using emergency berths; those are very specifically for rapid freeze, long term storage.

But if you can make a cheaper, more compact version that works better, why do they exist?

I think a million credits has always been too much. 20 times the cost of a standard low berth is extreme for what you get. They should drop the price on them to something more reasonable then I couldn’t undercut them.

 

[mavikfelna]

Yeah. See, that bothers me a little. Although frozen watches would not be using emergency berths; those are very specifically for rapid freeze, long term storage.

But if you can make a cheaper, more compact version that works better, why do they exist?

Hence, why I said it was a controversial take. But I admit, with the way they are built by Terry, I would definitely use them for Frozen Watch and even for commercial transport.