Lab scientific equipment

[RandyT0001]

In this thread I'm hoping to generate a list of detailed equipment that might be found in a lab. Each peice should be written as we know it today and a more advanced version with it's new TL. The TL 8 equivelent (our present version) is given first then higher tech model. For totally new equipment built upon the "known" technology advances in the Traveller universe (such as equipment derieved from nuclear damper tech) the entry should include a brief description of what it looks like, size (in in dton, or fraction thereof, volume) and it basic operation. A price of the equipment should be included.

Electron Microscope
Originally TL 6, more advance version with better imaging capabilities by TL 8 (listed below).

An electron microscope uses electrons instead of visible light to image the sample. It is used in chemistry and biology fields. It uses magnetic 'lenses' to focus the image. Electron microscopes have a magnification of about 2,000,000 and a resolution of 2 nanometers. The electron microscope itself is a large 1.5m tall cylinder about 0.5m in diameter and is mounted on a table. It's associated equipment includes a vacuum pump and an imaging computer. Small model have a volume of 0.5 dtons while larger models can be as large as 1.5 dtons. A very thin sample is placed in the target chamber, the air is evacuated and the electon gun is activated. There are sensors either under the sample or around it to gather electrons and then it is processed by the imaging computer.
Price: $300,000+ or Cr100,000 for basic models.

Variable Particle Variable Frequency Microscope (VPVFM)
TL 12+

The VPVF microscope uses either photons or electrons to image the sample. The frequency of the photons used can be changed from the visible spectrum up to the gamma range. A series of magnetic (electron) or gravitic photon) 'lenses' are used to focus and image the sample. These microscopes have a magnification of about 200,000,000 and a resolution of 10 femtometers. The VPVF microscope itself is a large 1.8m tall cylinder about 0.7m in diameter and is mounted on a table. It's associated equipment includes a vacuum pump and an imaging computer. Small models have a volume of 0.5 dtons while larger models can be as large as 1.5 dtons. A very thin sample is placed in the target chamber, the air is evacuated the sample is imaged using the proper particle and frequency to obtain the desired resolution. There are sensor around the sample that gather the particles and the imaging computer process the information.
Price: Cr 500,000+

(The VPVF microscope is a layman's extrapolation of the electron microscope. It's magnification and resolution may have to be adjusted to account for the physics of using gamma frequency photons instead of light.)

This is my opening example of what I envision for this thread. Hopefully others, especially those with scientific expertise in varous fields, will add new items to the thread.

 

[RainOfSteel]

The first device is meant for starships, but an unruggedized set-piece version is likely available for Cr2,500.
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• TL-15: Standard Atmosphere Tester: Cr5,000 A large PDA-sized specialized computer and sensor. 12cm long x 5cm wide x 2cm deep, .5 kilos. Battery life, 2 weeks; recharge time, 1 hour. Charge life, 10 years. The computer has all the major atmosphere types loaded, plus five thousand known variants and special conditions. It can also store up to one billion biological signatures. The sensor is a combination mass-spectrometer, microscopic densitometer, x-ray, and molecular detector. Its purpose is to test and assure the safety of the present atmosphere, and it can do so with great accuracy. It requires only three seconds to fully analyze the basic atmospheric contents, and a mere sixty to test the safety of biologicals present. Its onboard database can be loaded and reloaded from any ship's computer. It is fully ready for rugged environments, and can withstand a six meter drop with no damage. The Imperial Scouts commissioned SuSag to create a new atmosphere tester in 990 shortly after Gavin ordered the Second Survey. SuSag completed the design in 991 and fielded the first devices into the IISS by 992. Even as late as 1116, a compliment of two is found as standard equipment in the ship's locker aboard all IISS operated vessels, and as many as twelve aboard survey vessels. Available to the public in non-IISS markings. Individualized designs are available for a Cr250 surcharge for single prints (with lower rates of Cr50 available for mass production). Its production is licensed to sector level corporations across the Imperium by SuSag, and it can be found for sale in starship outfitter shops anywhere.</font>
• TL-13: Mass Liquid Sample Processor: Cr50,000. 18 kilos empty. A large block shaped piece of no nonsense scientific equipment. It is 60 cm long x 45 cm wide x 35 cm deep. It is manufactured primarily by license from SuSag by various sector level corporations. It is powered from any standard wall outlet (it has a variable voltage transformer and variable frequency adjuster to assure smooth functioning in any electrical distribution network), and comes equipped with a variety of adapters. Scientists have a pressing need to mass test various liquids (or materials in liquid suspension) against a single liquid, even if the samples are but small variants of each other. This unit is equipped with three decks of pullout trays. Each tray can hold thirty vials, each capable of holding three centiliters. There are also two large tanks each capable of holding one liter. The unit comes with a package of one hundred vials and four one-liter tanks. This unit's materials are effectively acid and corrosion proof. By automatic internal robotics, the unit can withdraw liquids from any vial or tank, mix them together, apply any needed pressure or temperature requirements, and observe the results with various scanners. It can process its entire contents in thirty minutes to one day (depending on the number of pressure and temperature combinations requested. If biologicals are included in the samples, this can extend the time required to observe the results of any mixture, and could substantially increase the time required. The unit is useful in assisting long term research into the nature of the manner in which certain biologicals react to various other chemicals or biologicals. This can be particularly useful when developing new drugs or testing for pathogen toxicity.</font>

 

[mbrinkhues]

No full writeups (yet) but a labship would have

DNA Sequencer (TL8)

A large and complex system used in analysing the DNA of life forms, generating a map of the base pairs and markers.

Genetic Sequencer (late TL9 /late TL 13)

Developed as part of the Uplift programs the Terrans applied to various earth species, this advanced system can not only map the base pairs but also identify individual genes and in species close to Terran species, the interaction between them and their effects, thereby allowing Genetic Scientists to plan their alterations with considerable less wasted specimins

The late TL-13 version uses an advanced robot brain to analyse genetic sequences outside the Terran-based family (i.e Aslan) and generate the necessary mapping information for the detail analysis without human supervision

 

[mbrinkhues]

Spectrum Analyser (late TL 6)

A system of cameras and prisms it generates a stars spectrum allowing scientists to deduce it's age and composition by comparing the spectrum with others

Star Mapping System (TL9(

As above but the system does the spectrum analysis by itself using extensive information. It then reports estimated age, actual size and type, estimated remaining lifetime and similar information.

 

[RandyT0001]

Another example:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer
Originally TL 6, more advance version with better imaging capabilities by TL 8 (listed below).

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC/MS) is an instrument (or collection of two main instruments) that can identify the chemical components in a tested sample. The gas chromatograph seperates the sample into it's various compounds and chemicals which is then fed into the mass spectrometer for precise identification. The CG/MS is used in a variety of fields: chemisrty, biology, astrophysics, and forensics to name a few. At TL 6/7 GC/MS equipment is large at about 1 dton in size. By TL 8 they have gotten smaller to about 0.5 dtons for labratory versions. Small, portable but less capable versions might be about 0.3m to a side.
Price: Cr 100,000 for laboratory versions, portable versions Cr 2000

Nuclear Damper gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (ND-GC/MS)
TL D+

Nuclear damper gas chromatography-mass spectrometer is an instrument (or collection of three instruments) that can identify the chemical components in a tested sample. The gas chromatograph seperates the sample into it's various compounds and chemicals which is then fed into the mass spectrometer for precise identification. The nuclear dampers are used to preserve chemicals with an extremely short half life. The ND-CG/MS is used in a variety of fields: chemisrty, biology, astrophysics, and forensics to name a few. At TL D ND-GC/MS equipment is large at about 1 dton in size. By TL F they have gotten smaller to about 0.5 dtons for labratory versions. Small, portable but less capable versions might be about 0.3m to a side.
Price: Cr 300,000 for laboratory versions, portable versions Cr 5000

 

[RandyT0001]

Glove Box
TL 6+

A glove box is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects while being in a different atomsphere to the object. Built into the side of the glove box are two gloves which allow the operator to perform tasks without breaking the seal or harming the operator's hands. There are two types of glove boxes. The first type uses an inert gas inside the container to protect the sample from chemical reaction to normal air. The second type has radioactive protection (usually a lead lining) built into the box and gloves. The typical glove box is about 1.5m wide, 1m tall and 1m deep and is positioned on a table for use. Each unit occupies about 0.3 dtons. Models used for radioactive samples are usually permenantly mounted in place. Multiple units can be linked together to form a chain in order to perform multiple tasks on the sample. By TL 9 advances in material chemistry can make the seals and gloves completely impermeable to gases and water, a disadvantage over older models that would leak over time and use. By TL 8 collapsible inert gas types are available for set-up and use in the field and by TL D the use of nuclear damper technology makes the lead lining for the radioactive types unnecessary.
Price: Cr3000 per unit; +Cr1000 for lead lining or nuclear damping; adjust price -10% per two TL's after introduction (a TL 8 version costs Cr2700 and a TL A version costs Cr 2430)

 

[Icosahedron]

VR Glove Box TL10+ ?

At higher TLs the Glove box becomes a two-part Virtual Reality remote interface system, keeping the operator completely isolated from the holographic camera and prosthetic hands in the sample chamber.

 

[ravells]

Waldos! You're talking about Waldos! First coined by Robert Heinlein!

Ravs

 

[fredofmars]

A Glove Box at TL5, and perhaps even at TL4 is quite possible, though they would be less capable, and more prone to leaks. The windows would be small bullseye affairs rather than the plate glass sides at higher TLs.

 

[Icosahedron]

Originally posted by ravs:
Waldos! You're talking about Waldos! First coined by Robert Heinlein!

Ravs

One of the many authors I have yet to read, I'm afraid. (Real Life - sigh!)

Not wishing to take RH's credit, but we have remote handling for dangerous materials today, it just seemed a logical progression to use Holo-VR instead of TV and near-perfect pseudo hands instead of mechanical pincers. Why get your scientist anywhere near hazardous stuff at those TLs?