Embedded Files
Project Pluso
< BACK TO MAIN (RSEC | NO LINK)
Pilot Equipment
Part of a series about the HSRL
⊷ HSRL / RSEC | ⠧⠽⠞⠁⠇
DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF SHIP RACING, SPACECRAFT WERE SLOWER AND SIMPLER; ONLY REQUIRING THE PILOT TO WEAR STANDARD FLIGHT EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE A VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AS IMPROVEMENTS TO SPACECRAFT ALLOWED FOR FASTER SPEEDS, RSEC REALIZED THAT NORMAL HUMAN INPUT AND ANALYSIS CAN ONLY GO SO FAR.
Accessories
Accessory Modules
THESE ACCESSORY MODULES CONTAIN EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAIN TOPIC.
Synaptic Universal Operator Headbrace [SUO]
Abstract
Early HSRL headgear relied on advanced helmets that handled communication, ship interfacing, and health monitoring through an internal micro-computer that tracked vitals and chemical ratios, alerting health engineers when a pilot required a stimulant “cycle” to endure high-g stress. Although effective, these helmets were extremely heavy and created persistent strain, prompting frequent complaints discussed in RSEC meetings. In 2768, Epsilon and the RSEC introduced a lightweight headbrace attached to the pilot’s jaw and occipital bone, featuring rear connection ports designed to interface directly with the pilot.
Function
Operators in the HSRL recieve minor surgical implants that act as mounting points & synaptic terminals for the headbrace. All SUO devices function through synaptic connections for pilot monitoring, ship interfacing and communication; while also acting as a connection to an external adrilation device built into the ship (for cycling*). These headbrace packages have a secondary function as a Head and Neck Support [HANS] system, which restrains the movement of the head and neck as whiplash at racing speeds is generally fatal.
The SUO headbrace is attached to anchor points placed around a ship's headrest, automatically engaging extra support for the head and locking the jaw into place (an extra safety measure). To maintain communication once the jaw is locked, the pilot's voice is emulated using a synaptic translator, and sent through communications channels as an artificial-radio message (thought-to-speech).
*Cycle - the term used when pilots in high-g vehicles are boosted with stimulants in order to keep the body functioning under extreme physical and mental stress.A₃ 'Oversight' Device
The All-Around-Awareness [A₃] Oversight Device utilizes an array of high-framerate cameras positioned at calculated points across a ship's hull. These cameras capture visual data from multiple angles, which is then processed through the ship's computer and transmitted to the pilot's goggles. The system reconstructs this data into a seamless 210-degree panoramic view centered on the pilot's natural point of view, eliminating most of the cockpit structure from their visual perception.
The A₃ device also incorporates real-time radar visualization, displayed as a set of proximity indicators in the pilot's field of view. When another craft enters proximity range, the SUO's synaptic alert system triggers a subtle neural notification, which is experienced by pilots as an intuitive awareness of the approaching vehicle's position and relative velocity.
The goggles also maintain compatibility with the SUO's standard communication functions, displaying incoming audio transmissions as subtle visual identifiers that indicate which team member or race official is speaking.
Safety Protocols
In the event of system failure, the Oversight goggles switch off, allowing the pilot to maintain vision and control through the canopy and basic flight instrumentation. This failsafe ensures that camera malfunctions or processing errors cannot leave a pilot operating blind. The device also includes manual override controls accessible through the SUO interface, allowing pilots to instantly switch between augmented and natural vision modes if the expanded field of view becomes overwhelming during critical moments.
Headgear Package
Includes
S.U.O. Headbrace
A₃ Oversight Device
Standard Adrilator
Prior to the standardization of the SUO system, cycling procedures were handled through bulky helmet-mounted injectors that required manual activation by team personnel. These early systems were unreliable and often resulted in delayed response times during critical high-g maneuvers. Pilots frequently reported discomfort from the helmet-integrated needles, and medical staff struggled with dosage precision due to limited real-time biometric feedback.
With the help of Pharmatex*, Epsilon** would solve these issues in 2767. As part of their comprehensive redesign philosophy, Epsilon relocated all life support systems (including the cycling apparatus) from the helmet directly into the ship's infrastructure which allowed for the creation of a dedicated adrilation chamber within each cockpit. The chamber would be connected to the pilot through the SUO system.
* Pharmatex - Megacorporation specializing in various healthcare solutions.** Epsilon - Team participating in the HS300. Absorbed by the RSEC in 27XX after its parent company went into administration
Functions
The SUO headbrace actively monitors pilot vitals through the synaptic link, automatically calculating optimal stimulant mixtures based on g-force exposure, heart rate variability, and neural activity patterns. In the event that cycling is required, the headbrace will activate the Adrilator's circulation function, using the headbrace's mounting points to deliver precise doses within 0.3 seconds of detection. An integrated AI system prevents overdose scenarios by cross-referencing pilot medical profiles with current biometric readings, while also logging all cycling events for post-race medical review.
Safety protocols include automatic purging systems that can flush the delivery matrix in case of contamination, and emergency override capabilities that allow team medical staff to manually control dosage from the pit. The atmospheric delivery method also allows for gradual stimulant reduction as g-forces decrease, preventing the jarring physiological transitions that plagued earlier injection-based systems.
Since its introduction alongside the SUO standard in 2768, the Adrilator has reduced cycling-related medical incidents by 73% while improving pilot endurance metrics across all teams in the league.
Hotswap (Portable) Adrilator
The Portable Adrilator returns to a body-mounted configuration reminiscent of pre-SUO era equipment, but with improvements determined through years of ship-integrated development. The system comprises a compact backpack unit containing multiple pressurized canisters - active reservoirs for stimulant mixtures and an isolated waste canister for metabolic byproducts filtered from the pilot's system during cycling. The entire package weighs 15 pounds when fully loaded, sufficient for a standard endurance stint of 90-120 minutes under racing conditions.
While sprint racing kept the ship-integration of traditional adrilators, this new 'hotswappable' system between pilots became the standard for all endurance racing events.
Integration
Rather than interfacing directly with the ship's life support infrastructure, the Portable Adrilator maintains its own closed-loop system that connects to the pilot's SUO headbrace through reinforced biomedical tubing. When the pilot enters the cockpit, the backpack unit slots into a dedicated mounting bracket integrated into the seat assembly. This bracket provides structural support during high-g maneuvers while also establishing a data link between the portable unit and the ship's telemetry system, allowing team medical staff to monitor cycling status remotely.
When an extracting pilot initiates the swap procedure (usually during AG-assisted pit entry), the Portable Adrilator begins a controlled reduction cycle that gradually decreases stimulant delivery over 45-60 seconds while simultaneously increasing circulatory support compounds. This allows the pilot's body to adjust to normal operation without the shock previously associated with rapid disconnection. Once the cycle completes, the pilot can disengage from the SUO anchor points and exit the vehicle with the Portable Adrilator still attached, maintaining physiological stability throughout the transition.
The incoming pilot arrives with their own pre-loaded Portable Adrilator already synced to their medical profile. They simply enter the cockpit, slot their unit into the mounting bracket, engage the SUO anchor points, and the system automatically resumes cycling once the ship starts moving. For a well-oiled team, the total swap time can be as low as 80 seconds.
Pilot Adrilation Device
Includes
Standard Adrilator
Hotswap Adrilator
Google Sites
Report abuse