ATV or alternative vehicle

[savage]

Sometime ago we had this ART gallery discussion on ATVs. Many ATV links we're shared.
http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Gal...dex.php?n=1428

The ATV popularity in SciFi probably started with the Lost in Space ATV, Chariot. Fans recently build one from scratch for conventions in the North East. BSG also had an ATV and the movie Damnation Alley had a wheeled ATV.
http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/?p=2609

Assuming grav is not available, I came across a couple interesting Soviet designs for any surface that I thought I'd share in a general discussion. Might inspire someone.

https://auto.mail.ru/article/58421-n...tskie_mashiny/
Go down the page and checkout the "thread ATV" (5) and the "pneumatic ball ATV" (6). Also, the military transport tracked ATV Витязьis (Knight) pretty interesting (7). Looks bigger than the MT-LB.

Enjoy and share any thoughts on alien world vehicles.

[Timerover51]

Personally, I am biased to the DUKW from World War 2, and then you have the 8-wheeled BTR-60 line of Russian APCs. Those have better mobility than tracks under a lot of conditions.

[Condottiere]

There two main reasons to use them, you're not allowed to use grav vehicles, or you can't afford to use grav vehicles.

[Enoki]

Look at reality. How often do you really need an armored ATV for something? It's more likely you'll go with the local equivalent of a four wheel drive or SUV rental vehicle...

That is, assuming you aren't planning on going into a war zone or major combat...

[Hyphen]

Depends on the local fauna and the weather conditions. The canonical APC was presumablt able to be used like a well-built campervan.

[Timerover51]

The Honomon ATV (all terrain vehicle) is e vacuum-oriented variant of the more common wheeled ATV; it boasts continuous tracks and a completely sealed interior plus an air recycler. The vehicle masses 9.5 tons and measures 4.5 meters wide, 7.5 meters long, and 4.5 meters high. it is fitted with a collapsable undercarriage which allows total height to be reduced to 3.0 meter for storage and shipment. The power plant is mounted left and forward on the vehicle and provides energy for electric motors in the seated undercarriage driving the continuous tracks.

That is the description for the ATV used in Mission to Mithril. It is not the standard ATV, which is described in the Starter Edition book. The following is not the full description.

The ATV is designed to serve admirably on many different wor lds under widely varying conditions, including vacuum and insidious atmospheres and high or low gravity. An ATV requires one driver. Passengers can number up to 16; the vehicle is fully pressurized and contains complete (though cramped) eating, sleeping, and travel facilities for eight. The vehicle may be lightly armored and can carry a turret mounting a laser or other local combat weapon.

The picture looked a bit like a modified Russian BTR-80 eight-wheeled APC with the side hatch, compared to the BTR-60. The front could use some work as the pictured front would not work for an amphibious vehicle.

[flykiller]

Depends on the local fauna

yeah man, over in the wilderness thread they're talking about exploding animals. and you gotta watch out for hunter rabbit kill-bunnies, those lagamorphs shoot back. not to mention the recent thread regarding mortar trees and pop beetles. dude, you can never have too much armor.

[savage]

But the safari ship only has air rafts.

[Spartan159]

Oh, so it's the anti-aircraft missile birds we need to worry about. (Insert image of an angry bird here)

[savage]

Originally Posted by Spartan159

Oh, so it's the anti-aircraft missile birds we need to worry about. (Insert image of an angry bird here)

You known some of the critters that have been created are no where near friendly. Outside of secure compounds, like in Terra Nova, an enclosed vehicle may be the preference. Or on Earth II. Also, an ATV can bring a lot of strength into a situation.
Some worlds, because of these critters, may have amber zones to simply keep starships within the starport to keep these bad boys on world and not hitching a ride to the next stop.

ATVs are also heavy. Great videos on youtube about Russian ATVs getting stuck in Siberian muddy roads. They like traveling in groups to solve this situation.