Guide to Research and Development

Research & Development

The main purpose of Research & Development (short R&D or RnD) is to provide upgrades to the various machines around the station, to contribute to the various station objectives, to equip the crew with better equipment and to offer robotics more possabilities through higher research levels.
To perform the R&D role, you will need to construct and deconstruct various items, in order, to get Research Levels, which in turn grants access to more complex and powerful items.
Do note that some items require Toxins research, performed in the toxin test area (see Guide to Toxins), Illegal Technologies Research, acquired by deconstructing Syndicate Items and Alien Research, obtained by deconstructing Abductor Gear.

In order to use any of the machinery in R&D you will need to use the R&D console, which's interface looks like this:

It contains the:

• Disk Operations
• Destructive Analyzer Menu
• Protolathe Menu
• Cicuit Imprinter Menu
• Settings
• Research Branches with their current Research Level

Deconstruction

The Destructive Analyzer deconstructs items in order to increase the Research Levels of the Console and therefore allows to unlock further technologies for the Protolathe and Circuit Imprinter.
The deconstruction process is as follows:

• Place the item to be deconstructed into the Analyzer
  
• Use the R&D console and go under the tab 'Deconstructive Analyzer Menu'
  
• Use the 'Deconstruct Item' (D) button, to deconstruct the item or the 'Eject Item' (E) button, to eject the item

There are also information given about the current item in the Deconstructive Analyzer:

• A: Research Branch
• B: Research Levels of the item
• C: Research Levels of the Database

If the item is then deconstructed the Research Levels of the Database can be increased by 1:

• If B and C are equal. (This is the suggested methode as items with higher tech levels can be deconstructed later on to archieve higher tech levels.)
• If B is larger than C.

There are also exceptions to this, like some tech notes from the Sol Traders.

Basic research (Tech Levels up to 5) can be fully archieved by just deconstructing items from the Protolathe and Circuit Imprinter,
while advanced research (Tech Levels from 5 upwards) will most of the time require items from other departments (including Xenobiology and Robotics).

The R&D List allows for the completion of basic research, do note however that this list is not necessarily the most efficient and experimentation and additional investigation is recommended.
The R&D List is what is often reffered to when talking about performing R&D, instead of handing out items and upgrading machinery.
Here is a helpful tool for simulating items you can deconstruct, should you wish to experiment. The 'filter' button will filter for items that will only improve the selected tech level.

Protolathe

The Protolathe allows for the creation of a variety of items, ranging from bluespace constructions, medical tools and implants, stock parts for all kind of machinery, over to weaponry. (See Protolathe for a full list)
However, it only starts out with the most basic items avaiable, akine to an Autolathe, which can be deconstructed to unlock better technologies.
The stronger/advanced/better the items, the more materials and a larger variety of them are required (resulting in R&D being dependent on mining), along side higher Research Levels.

• A: Material/Chemical Storage (allows for the ejection of materials/chemicals in different quantities)
  

• B: Search Bar (for tracking specific items)
• C: Different Categories (for producing multiple similiar items, e.g. stock parts or implants)
  

If you found the item you were searching for it can look like this:

• A: Name of the Item
• B: Materials required
• C: Missing Materials

Items can also be printed once, five times or ten times.

Circuit Imprinter

The Circuit Imprinter allows for the creation of boards for different consoles and machinery. (See Circuit Imprinter for a full list)
Functions pretty much like the Protolathe, with the exception of only requiring glass and a handful of times metal or diamonds for it's boards.

Server Saving

Server Saving is an integral part of R&D, as it will update the server on station, creating a back-up of the Database.
Syncing will save the best Research Levels of both the server and R&D console on both devices, meaning it can also be used to redownload the back-up on the server in case the R&D console got destroyed.
This back-up can also be used by Robotics and is essential for Robotics to operate successfully, as it will grand them better technologies for their exosuit fabricators.
Furthermore the Research Director can access the R&D server management computer and either transfer or delete research blueprints to other computers on station.

To sync just head into the settings of the R&D console.

From there everything is pretty self explanatory, with Device Linkage Menu allowing for the disconnecting and reconnecting from the nearby devices. (Destructive Analyzer etc.)

Upgrading

Upgrading is the process of improving machinery by replacing their components with their better counter parts, e.g. a matter bin being replaced with an advanced matter bin.
In addition to stock parts, like matter bins, the term component includes beakers, materials and igniters, of which the latter two have no better counter parts.
The process of upgrading a machine improves the machinery's capabilities, along with enabling it in some cases to serve new functions. (See Advanced Constructions for more details)
There are three methodes avaiable in order to upgrade machines, ordered from worsed to best:
Reconstructing the machine

• Screw the panel of the machine open
• Use the crowbar to remove all the components along with the circuit board
• Reinsert the circuit board into the machine frame
• Insert the new components
• Screw the panel back in place

While this methode consumes out of all methodes the highest amount of time to perform, certain components, like beakers, can only be replaced via this methode.
However, it also ejects all the materials stored within the machine, potentially causing a loss of some materials, e.g. half a diamond.

RPED (Rapid Part Exchange Device)

• Print a RPED via the protolathe
• Insert the components into the RPED (you can just click on a pile of stock parts with the RPED in hand and they will be all inserted)
• Screw the panel of the machine open
• Click on the machine to replace the components (you might have to use it several times if there are two better kinds of one stock part)
• Screw the panel back in place

The replacement step happens instantaneous.
On the other hand the RPED can only be constructed at certain Research Levels and can only store stock parts instead of all components.
In addition to that, it's storage limit is relatively easily reached when trying to upgrade the whole station and using this methode resets the machine, like reconstructing does. In the case of the R&D machinery they need to be reconnected to the console.

Bluespace RPED (Bluespace Rapid Part Exchange Device)

• Print a Bluespace RPED via the protolathe
• Insert the components into the Bluespace RPED (you can just click on a pile of stock parts with the Bluespace RPED in hand and they will be all inserted)
• Click on the machine to replace the components (you might have to use it several times if there are two better kinds of one stock part)

The replacement step happens instantaneous and can be performed remotely.
However, the Bluespace RPED can only be constructed at certain Research Levels and can only store stock parts instead of all components.
In addition to that, it's storage limit is much greater than that of the RPED and using this methode does not reset the machinery.

Technology Disks

Technology Data Storage Disks (short Tech Disks) are used to store Research Levels on a physical disk, they can be used to:

• Transfer Research Levels between different devices (necessary to transfer Toxins Research from the tachyon-doppler array to the R&D console)
• Complete your Job Task (by letting Cargo ship Tech Disks with basic research off station)

To load Research Levels on the Tech Disks (you can make more with the Protolathe):

• Insert a Tech Disk into the R&D console
• Go under the tab 'Disk Operations'
• Use the 'Load Tech to Disk' button

• Use the 'Copy to Disk' button (B) to download the Research Levels of the respective Research Branch

A: The Research Branches required for the completion of the Scientists Job Task

Now you have a Tech Disk with research loaded onto it in the R&D console.

In comparison to an empty Tech Disk you can now not only eject it but also:

• Upload it to the Database
• Clear the Disks research to copy new ones onto it

A Love Letter to R&D

Research and Development is one of the, if not the most tedious and repetitive task on the entire station.
Therefore, here are some ideas on how to make your stay in R&D more pleasant for yourself and others:

• Be proactive about handing out items (This can range from handing out items to people, they didn't even ask for but are yet useful to them, to going around the station with a locker full of useful equipment)
• Along side upgrading already existing machinery, also contruct new ones
• Remodel R&D into a more efficient set up
• Set up a Quantum Pad network
• Construct a back-up Telecomms
• Experiment with the different items R&D can create

As R&D is able to construct most of the machinery on the Cyberiad along with everything on the Telecoms Satellite, you are also able to redesign and improve R&D with new capabilities.

Mad Scientist

R&D can provide some of the best equipment on station, allowing you to use the newest cutting edge tools, implants and even weaponry, if you have an emagg to crack the lockboxes, containing them, open.
Be aware, while it is unsuspicious for you to print jaws of life or advanced grenade casings for yourself, there will be questions if someone happens to witness you slipping a handheld crew monitor into your pocket.
Furthermore you are able to construct nearly any console and machine there is on station, allowing for a stealthy approuch to sabotaging the station and the creation of everything other departments are capable of creating.