Arm Frame (FT)

Arm Frames, also known as Mecha, are bipedal, human-piloted walker designed to mimic the structure of the human body, used widely throughout the Human Sphere. Developed from mechanical exoskeletons and powered armour systems, these vehicles are typically used for industrial applications like load-lifting and construction. Due to their versatility, Arm Frames are also used by military forces for various purposes. Military Arm Frames designed for combat are sometimes known as Tactical Frames.

History
Humanity has had a fascination with developing humanoid vehicles for centuries, but walking vehicles in general only became viable in the mid-22nd century, with the development of quantronic core computing, neomaterial components, and Han-Wave gyroscopic systems. Early examples like the legendary Kanayachi Heavy Industries MX-1000 Load Lifter were simply enlarged versions of powered exoskeletons that had already been in use by humanity for decades. Deployed to the rough terrain of the untamed Southern Frontier, Arm Frames served as important tools for colonists, helping to clear terrain for settlements or establish mining operations.

While interest in Arm Frames and walking vehicles eventually died out on Ordis and the Inner Worlds, Arm Frames and walkers were highly appreciated in the Southern Frontier and became an integral part of colonist culture. The ubiquity of Arm Frames in the Southern Sphere resulted in their inevitable use as military equipment during the Southern Sphere Secession War, as guerrillas used industrial load-lifters to carry weapons and ordnance on the front lines as heavy infantry, giving rise to the first Tactical Frames.

To this day, Arm Frames remain highly common as industrial vehicles across the entire Human Sphere, with hundreds of models used by civilians and military forces alike. In some parts of the Empire and the Federation, Arm Frames are even used by law enforcement. One of the most popular Arm Frames is the ubiquitous Mitsuhishi Amplified Mobility Frame, which has been exported throughout the Southern Sphere.

In recent decades, Tactical Frames have increasingly fallen out of use as powered armour technology has largely replaced their battlefield niche, and dedicated combat walkers are far more capable as mobile cavalry. However, new models like the Unified States Commonwealth's T16 Dokkaebi and the Federation's AF-12 Vasanta have still been created in recent decades, suggesting that the Tactical Frame has not yet become extinct.

Arm Frames

 * Amplified Mobility Frame

Tactical Frames

 * AF-12 Vasanta
 * T16 Dokkaebi