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--- A Scientific Mecha Thread (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=4333)
Posted by Victoria on 27-07-2013 at 14:49:
A Scientific Mecha Thread
Let's have a serious discussion about the mechas.
I've been wondering about many things concerning the mecha Galactor created, from the fact that none of them seems the shatter the ground they walk on by their sheer weight (which is relevant to this thread's topic) to the fact that even after the number of attacks went up to double digists, ISO/UN still didn't have a proper emergency warning/evacuation system set up.
But as to this thread, I'd like to devote it to all the possible ways Galactor could come up with to cheat the square-cube law. Do they fill their mechas with helium? Store dark matter somewhere inside? Create them out of some cousin of whisker's?
Post your thoughts and theories. The more insane the better. If you feel like you have some other interesting observation concerning the giant robots, add them as well.
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Posted by ElectricWhite on 27-07-2013 at 15:16:
Just off-the-cuff: the mechas had to drink diet shakes and think really light thoughts! 
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Posted by Becky Rock on 27-07-2013 at 15:23:
Auto racing is constantly trying to make materials that are lightweight yet strong enough to withstand the G-Forces (no pun intended) that the cares go through and to keep the drivers safe.
Spectra is an alien culture. Maybe they have very light weight materials that can withstand space travel and a lot of weapons fire.
I wonder how much weight is required for something to break through the ground?
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Posted by Victoria on 27-07-2013 at 15:57:
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So, in other words, 'There is no spoon?' Maybe the crew of the mecha has synchronised existencialist/metaphysical thinking sessions.
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I don't know about surfaces like highways or roads, but for high-strenght concrete the tolerance is around 40MPa (=5800psi).
The Turtle King has pretty massive limbs, so if it's light enough, it can distribute its weight, but then there are mechas like the Mechadegon, which walks around on those thin, needly legs without ever getting stuck in the ground.
Then again, there are porous and nanoporous construction materials like metal or ceramic foam, foam glass and others, but I'm not sure if this would be enough when it comes to building-sized machines. Unless the cavities were filled with helium (or dark matter
). And even then.
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Posted by ElectricWhite on 27-07-2013 at 18:36:
Okay, I'll throw in a bit from a discussion among several people with assorted PhD's. that I'd listened to. Essentially, none of the mechas would work because each one violates the laws of physics or engineering principles.
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Posted by clouddancer on 27-07-2013 at 20:38:
I was wondering the same thing EW.
I view the mecha mechanics/design in the same I view all the Gatch/BOTP science. It is part of the hammerspace theory I heard about once - an extra-dimensional, accessible storage area which allows objects to be "pulled out of thin air". Or from pockets that should not be able to hold such an item, like when Joe pulls his gun/shuriken from the pocket in the leg of his pants.
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Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 27-07-2013 at 21:02:
Galactor, or Spectra?
Regrettably, that inverse-square law can't be gotten around. I doubt that there could ever exist materials light yet strong enough to allow the giant mecha to even move.
Some of the smaller mecha might be possible, although there are engineering questions (such as that chameleon-looking combining mecha in the episode with -- depending on version -- the Galactor traitor or the fugitive alien Zeno). The combining motorcycles and automobiles are right out.
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Posted by Tengu on 27-07-2013 at 21:31:
What are the biggest machines in existence?
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Posted by Victoria on 27-07-2013 at 21:43:
I wonder what's the tallest/heaviest mecha which can exist, at least in theory. In any way, I think it's quite impractical to have them walk. Swim or fly is much better.
Tiny robots like those ants/grasshoppers are also plausible. The MAST team (Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology) under BAE systems is financed by the US Army to develop tiny robots to perform surveillance instead of soldiers and cooperating with them is the Passadena-located Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Working on small-scale surveillance robots is also the DARPA in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Naval Research Laboratory, elaborating on blueprints created in 1994 by the RAND corp. It seems like there was a lot of obstacles, but there already are things like the Nano Hummingbird made by AeroVironment, which made DARPA contact the company (no specific information was disclosed)
All in all, quite a few laboratories and institutions work with the subject of nano robots. And not many on big mechas. In fact, the only one I'm aware of is the Suidobashi Heavy Industries' 4m Kurata. Personally I think it's a bit of a pity. Though the costs would be huge, I think a smaller mechas like this might be extremely useful when it comes to natural disaster management.
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My fanart is here
Posted by Victoria on 27-07-2013 at 21:47:
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Bagger 293, I'd say.
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My fanart is here
Posted by Becky Rock on 27-07-2013 at 22:35:
Wow. That thing is huge.
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Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 28-07-2013 at 20:15:
It doesn't do a lot of moving. It's too big to fiddle about with 'just a few yards over this way.'
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Posted by ElectricWhite on 28-07-2013 at 20:45:
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I'd hate to be anywhere near the twit who'd try that!
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Posted by Victoria on 29-07-2013 at 02:36:
Yes, and on a foggy day the excavator will suddenly give of a meneacing glow, and one of the workers, up until then enjoying a sandwich-and-coffee break will go- 'What is that?!'. Cue explosion and panicking people, and suddenly you have a giant spider mech going down the street. And in New York, on a UN Security Council meeting middle-aged men and women will give each other worried looks and argue about what to do, jets or no jets, ballistic missiles or no ballistic missiles, and suddenly a bemoustached man nobody had ever seen before will step forward and say: 'ladies and gentlemen, I just may know the perfect solution to this'. Cue 'dareda, dareda, daredaa-'
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Die Sonne tönt, nach alter Weise, In Brudersphären Wettgesang, und ihre vorgeschriebne Reise, vollendet sie mit Donnergang.
My fanart is here
Posted by Becky Rock on 29-07-2013 at 22:18:
Interesting start, Victoria. I wonder who that mustached man is???
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Posted by TheSolarSailor on 24-09-2013 at 08:10:
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Not that it really matters in this case, as both Gatchaman and Battle of the Planets have the enemy using alien technology. With BotP it is more obvious since everything comes from another planet, but in Gatchaman, Leader X is of alien origin (the planet Selectol, if I remember correctly) and obviously provides knowledge that goes well beyond Earth science. He employs Galactor with the world's greatest minds and such, but I think Leader X himself can be used to fill the void with some sci-fi explanations about how the mecha function and are possible. Dr. Nambu has said repeatedly that Galactor possesses scientific knowledge that surpasses their own.
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When you deal with make-believe, it can be gotten around. The series is not a science show that is grounded in what is real, but a fantasy where they bend the rules. As long as they adhere to in-universe laws and internal consistency, I am fine with it. I mean, we don't watch Superman films and then rag on it for the ridiculous science behind an alien from a planet with a red sun coming to Earth and it's yellow sun and suddenly being able to fly, shoot lasers from his eyes, be impervious to everything, have enhanced hearing, etc now do we? Of course not. We accept that this is possible inside of the Superman universe.
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Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 25-09-2013 at 23:15:
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I lampshaded that in one of my fics. Had Katse's loyal minion wondering how they'd beaten the laws of physics.
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