Research and Development

Research and Development

Research and Development (commonly called R&D or RnD) is the job of the Scientists. The department typically lies behind purple and grey doors. In the department typically exists a set of Lathe and R&D machines. Often you will see lockers with lab equipment in them.

R&D gameplay largely revolves around the acquisition and use of research points to gain new technologies for the station.

Point Generation

Research points can be acquired through a few different sources.

The most profitable form of point generation is Xenoarcheology, which is the process of analyzing and activating different randomly generated artifacts that can be found via events, salvage debris, and by ordering them from cargo. Most artifacts have more than one "Stimulus-Reaction" combination (known scientifically as Nodes), so make sure to scan and activate as many of them as you can before selling it to cargo, or keeping it around because its effects are cool enough to warrant keeping.

Another highly valuable source of research points is Anomalous Research. Most R&D departments come equipped with an Anomaly Generator, Anomalous Particle Emitters (A.P.E.) and Anomaly Vessels, which are used to spawn, interact with, and generate points from anomalies respectively. Anomalies can come in different forms, ranging from raging balls of pink-hot matter, to electrically-discharging motes of light, to radioactive gravity wells, so make sure to wear some protective gear while studying them.

Points can also be acquired through research disks, which can be found in maintenance, salvaged from space, or found on expeditions.

R&D System

The user interface of the R&D Console

In the R&D computer new technologies can be unlocked via points. To research a technology, click on it if it's in the Unlockable technologies column. Technologies in the Future technologies are locked behind others, requiring you to research a previous technology (in the Unlockable technologies column). Technologies in the Unlocked technologies section have already been researched.

Alternative Research

There is another method to research a technology, and that is using the Technology Disk Terminal. If there is no such console available within the station, it can be created after researching the Tier 1 Experimental Technology, "Alternative Research".

By spending 1000 research points, a technology disk would be dispensed, containing the recipe of a single random item (of any tier) for the lathes to fabricate. The random item ranges from a HAMTR Harness within the "Critter Mechs" technology, a redundant item you've already researched, to the highly-sought-after (and expensive) satchel of holding.

When used early into the round, it may reward the research department with end-tier items immediately at the cost of the primary research progress. This is essentially gambling with research points, so ensure that your department agrees with this plan. When used late into the round, it may grant the research department recipes of technologies that have been locked out of the direct research method of unlocking the technology.

Equipment

There are many different recipes that can be locked behind research. The Protolathe, Circuit Imprinter, Security Techfab, Medical Tecfab, and the Exosuit Fabricator are currently the only machines that directly benefit by gaining new recipes when you achieve certain research. The following section will only cover what recipes are unlocked through research, for a full list on what each machine can craft please check out the Protolathe, Circuit Imprinter, Security Techfab, Medical Tecfab, and Exosuit Fabricator pages.

Protolathe

The Protolathe is a machine capable of printing most of what you've researched. It can make things such from large beakers to microreactor batteries. Protolathes are mainly found at science but can (sometimes) be found in engineering or on salvage expeditions.

Industrial

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
high-capacity power cell	steel+glass+plastic+gold bar	Advanced Powercells	1	7,500
Mining drill	steel+plastic	Salvage Equipment	1	7,500
Grappling gun	steel+glass+gold bar
Welding gas mask	steel+glass
Experimental welding tool	steel+plasma	Advanced Tools	2	10,000
Power drill	steel+plastic
Jaws of life	steel+glass+plasma+gold bar
Ore bag of holding	steel+silver bar+plasma+uranium	Mass Excavation	2	12,500
Diamond tipped mining drill	steel+plastic+silver bar+refined diamond
Handheld mass scanner	steel+glass	Space Scanning	2	7,500
Holofan projector	steel+glass+plastic	Advanced Atmospherics	2	7,500
Bag of holding	steel+silver bar+plasma+uranium	Bluespace Storage	3	15,000
Satchel of holding
Duffelbag of holding
Microreactor power cell	steel+glass+uranium+gold bar	Portable Fission	3	10,000

Arsenal

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic+plasma	Explosive Technology	1	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic
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Template:Item icon	steel+plastic+glass
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+silver bar	Salvage Weapons	1	5,000
Template:Item icon	steel+gold bar	Experimental Battery Ammo	3	15,000

Experimental

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic	Basic XenoArcheology	1	5,000
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic+glass+plasma+silver bar	Anomaly Core Harnessing	1	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Basic Anomalous Research	1	5,000
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic	Local Magnetism	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel
Template:Item icon	steel+plasma+uranium	Deterrence Technologies	2	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel+plasma+glass
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Advanced Anomaly Research	2	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+uranium	Quantum Leaping	3	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+silver bar	Gravity Manipulation	3	10,000
Template:Item icon

Civilian Services

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic+glass	Advanced Entertainment	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	plastic+steel+glass	Advanced Cleaning	2	10,000
Template:Item icon	plastic
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Advanced Spray	2	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass
Template:Item icon	plastic	Faux Astro-Tiles	2	5,000
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Template:Item icon	steel+plastic	Biochemical Stasis	2	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic+silver bar	Quantum Fiber Weaving	3	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic+plasma+silver bar	Bluespace Chemistry	3	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+plastic+glass+plasma+silver bar

Circuit Imprinter

The Circuit Imprinter is a machine capable of printing machine boards used for creating machines and computers. They require steel, glass and gold.

Machine boards can be inserted into a Machine Frame whilst electronics can be inserted into computers or other machines built with Construction.

Industrial

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Ripley APLU	1	7,500
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Power Generation	1	7,500
Template:Item icon
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Template:Item icon	steel+glass
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Industrial Engineering	1	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Mechanical Compression	1	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Salvage Equipment	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Atmospherics	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel+glass
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Advanced Power Cells	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Shuttlecraft	2	10,000
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Space Scanning	2	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Advanced Atmospherics	2	7,500
Template:Item icon

Experimental

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Basic XenoArcheology	1	5,000
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Basic Anomalous Research	1	5,000
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Basic Robotics	1	5,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Alternative Research	1	5,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Artifact Recycling	2	5,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+silver bar	Advanced Anomaly Research	2	10,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar

Civilian Services

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Basic Hydroponics	1	5,000
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Meat Manipulation	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Critter Mechs	1	7,500
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	steel+glass	Advanced Entertainment	1	7,500
Template:Item icon
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Template:Item icon	steel+glass	A/V Communication	1	5,000
Template:Item icon
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Template:Item icon	steel+glass+bananium	H.O.N.K. Mech	2	7,500
Template:Item icon
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Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Bluespace Cargo Transport	2	15,000
Template:Item icon	steel+glass+gold bar	Biochemical Stasis	2	7,500
Template:Item icon

Exosuit Fabricator

The Exosuit Fabricator is a machine that is capable of crafting a large variety of Cyborg and Mech parts. The Exosuit Fabricator is a material hungry machine and can use Template:Item icon, Template:Item icon, Template:Item icon, Template:Item icon, Template:Item icon, and Template:Item icon. The Exosuit Fabricator is a vital part of Cyborg creation and many of the advanced pieces are stuck behind research.

Industrial

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Ripley APLU	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Salvage Equipment	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Space Scanning	2	7,500
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Advanced Tools	2	10,000
Template:Item iconRCD cyborg module

Experimental

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Basic Anomalous Research	1	5,000
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Basic XenoArcheology	1	5,000
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Basic Robotics	1	5,000

Civilian Services

Item	Crafting Cost	Research	Tier	Research Cost
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Basic Hydroponics	1	5,000
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Robotic Cleanliness	1	5,000
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Advanced Entertainment	1	7,500
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	Mechanized Treatment	2	5,000
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon	H.O.N.K. Mech	2	7,500
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon
Template:Item iconX
Template:Item icon
Template:Item icon	Template:Item icon+Template:Item icon

Hyper Convection Machines

Hyper convection machine are a highly valuable upgrade that is obtained from the Industrial Engineering research node. Hyper convection machines will craft items at a 50% discount from the original cost. The trade-off when it comes to these powerful machines is that they produce an immense amount of heat. The heat that is produced from these machines can quickly become lethal if sufficient preparations are not made. One of the ways to make a safe enclosure for hyper convection machines is:

1. Un-wrench the machines and move the Template:Item icon, Template:Item icon, and Template:Item icon to the back wall. If there is a Template:Item icon, move it out of the way.

   

2. Build a 2x3 box of Template:Item icon. At the middle-right side of the box create a Template:Item icon.

   

3. Create an Template:Item icon and a Template:Item icon. Place the air sensor within the box at the center right, and the air alarm nearby for convenience.

   

4. Create one (required) or two (optional) Template:Item icon at the top-right and bottom-right of the box.

   

   4a. Set the space heaters to have High energy consumption and make sure that they are On.

   

5. Either hack the air alarm or ask an engineer to help you with networking. To hack the air alarm we must first use a Template:Item icon on it to open the panel. When the panel is open use a Template:Item icon tool on the air alarm itself. The lights above refer to the wires below. The wire that we are looking to cut is the ACC wire. The ACC wire is what controls who is authorized to network and control the Air Alarm.

   

   5a. Cut the wires from left to right (by clicking on them with a wirecutter in hand) until you get the ACC light to turn off. You may get unlucky like I did and hit a power wire before the ACC wire, you will get shocked because of this. Skip the power wire and continue until you reach the ACC wire. Once you have found the ACC wire repair all other wires (by clicking on them with a wirecutter in hand) and leave the ACC wire cut. Close the panel on the air alarm with the screwdriver.

   

6. Use a Template:Item icon or a Template:Item icon and click on the air sensor first, followed by the air alarm.

   

   6a. Click Add on the air alarm GUI and then close the GUI.

   

7. In a similar process, use a multitool or a network configurator and click on the windoor first, followed by the air alarm.

   

   7a. Click the Danger button and then click Close. Click on the Warning button and click Close. Finally, click the Normal button and then click Open. Then click the Done button.

   

8. Create the Template:Item icon at the Circuit Imprinter. Create or gather 1 matter bin and 1 igniter. Use a screwdriver to open the panel on the Circuit Imprinter.

   

   8a. Use a crowbar to deconstruct the imprinter into a machine frame.

   

   8b. Use a crowbar again to remove the parts from the machine frame.

   

   8c. Remove the Circuit Imprinter machine board from the stack of items. Click on the machine frame while holding the hyper convection Circuit Imprinter machine board. Shift click the machine frame and fill it with the rest of the materials that it requires. (You should have all the materials if the previous steps were followed).

   

   8d. Screwdriver the machine frame to finish the construction. (If this does not work you are missing materials).
9. Repeat step 8 through 8d with the Protolathe and Autolathe machines.
10. Congratulations! You have built a hyper convection machines and a safe setup! Good work fellow scientist!

Troubleshooting

"I can't get any points/I can't print anything"

The likely cause is that the Lathe/Imprinter/Computer isn't synced up with the RD server.

To fix this in the Lathe/Imprinter/Computer click Server list, click on ID x || RDSERVER and then exit the window.