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Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor
- Thread starter Freefaller
- Start date
Omake: Elipur Speederwalker
New
Yacov
I trust you know where the happy button is?
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2021
- Messages
- 571
- Likes received
- 10,262
Omake: Elipur Speederwalker
Production Information
Manufacturer: Minda Imperial R&D
Model: L1-PR "Elipur" Speederwalker
Type: Speeder bike/Walker
Cost: 55,000 Credits new
Technical Information
Max Speed:
Armament:
Other Systems:
Cargo: 10 kg
Consumables: 2 days
——
Usage
Availability: Limited production run of prototypes
Role:
Description
"We have combined all the strengths of speeder bikes and walkers! Now nothing can stop us!"
"Except any weapon heavier than infantry weapons. Or someone with good aim with an infantry weapon." - Conversation at the Minda R&D celebration party following the completion of the first Elipur Speederwalker.
The L1-PR (Layout 1 Prototype) Speederwalker nicknamed the Elipur is an experimental vehicle produced by Minda R&D. An attempt to combine the speed of a speeder bike and the terrain maneuverability of a walker in one vehicle. Initial testing has proven the design is viable, if still able to benefit from some refinement.
Design
"No no, see here? We put the legs on the back, and they can deploy to walk around."
"Hard to make it out with the brandy stains, but I think I get it." - R&D scientists discuss the initial blueprints for the Elipur Prototype.
The impetus for the Elipur's creation was an incident where a Minda R&D scientist witnessed a Shekelesh gunship land in a spaceport before trundling along on its legs during one of his vacation days. It got him thinking if walker functionality could be added to spaceships, why couldn't it be added to something smaller like a speeder? After a trip to the cantina later that night, the Elipur project was proposed the next day with some alcohol-stained initial designs written on napkins.
The flagship component of the Elipur is its transformation system. This system allows the Elipur to switch from a speeder bike configuration to a walker configuration as needed in order to prioritize speed or rough terrain capability as needed. First the Elipur comes to a full stop to prepare to switch modes. When the TS is engaged in speeder bike mode the legs unfold from the rear of the vehicle and plant themselves on the ground. A small repulsor jump is done to boost up the body before settling into its walker configuration. When the TS is engaged in walker mode, the legs bend to allow the body to plant itself on the ground. The legs then fold into the rear before the repulsorlift is fully engaged to allow the Elipur to move in speeder bike mode. The TS' simplicity had allowed for a quick turnaround time from drawing board to working prototype for the Elipur.
In order to test the transformation system as throughly as possible, various accommodations have been made to the Elipur's design. The legs of the walker mode have been increased in size in order to ensure stability and ease of testing while in walker mode. Weight reductions were implemented in the form of less armor and a smaller, uncomplicated control system. The walker and speeder controls both use handlebars and sensor and electronic equipment is kept to a minimum despite the Elipur's scouting designation. The TS itself was designed to favor reliability and consistency over speed of switching between modes. Armaments were kept light to dedicate more power and chassis space to the TS while still allowing for some self defense capability.
Cost wise the Elipur comes in at significantly more costly than a AT-RT while costing less than a full on AT-ST. This was expected given the Elipur was a prototype and required non-standard parts by design. The Elipur is slower in walker mode and far less armed than the most other walkers such as AT-RT. Still the ability to travel long distances at over 200 kph is argued to be a potentially acceptable trade off. In terms of speeder bikes the Elipur is a bit on the slow end which limits its potential as a pursuit vehicle against speeder based forces.
Performance Review
"Well it doesn't actively kill the testers when they use it, so already better than a lot of prototypes. It just aids the enemy doing so with its slow transformation time." - Opinion of the commander of a scouting force assigned an Elipur for field testing.
The short turnaround from design blueprint to working model left the designers of the Elipur admittedly a bit over enthusiastic. They quickly did a limited production run to make a batch before rubber stamping their approval for field testing. These testing units were then sent out to scouting forces across the Sector to evaluate their performance. Reviews say the Elipur served adequately as a scout vehicle. However numerous areas of concern were brought up before any tester would recommend going into full production.
For one, the Elipur's main feature, its transformation system, takes a painfully slow 45 seconds to complete switching between modes. This is an eternity in combat and makes drivers incredibly stressed about their vulnerability during the process. Drivers were reluctant to transform even in relatively safety due to not wanting to be vulnerable outside of their main base. Multiple Elipurs being deployed on the same patrol helped alleviate that reluctance. Although it lengthened their patrol times as drivers would only transform one at a time while the other Elipurs guarded its vulnerable sibling.
These concerns were not heightened by the lackluster armor strength and coverage of the driver. Outside some coverage on front prow protecting the mid and lower torso, the driver is completely exposed to potential enemy fire. While there have been no fatalities, fears are constant of drivers being shot out from their seats in walker mode should Elipurs be brought into battle.
These fears of enemy fire are far less in speeder bike mode where speed is seen as armor. Although being slower than most other speeder bikes raises its own concerns among testers. This is exasperated by the Elipur's relatively poor handling. The bulky legs of the walker mode are stored in the back of the speeder mode. This leads to weight imbalance and drag at high speed and turns, which causes drivers to be more hesitant to engage in high speed maneuvers compared to other speeder bikes.
Technicians servicing the Elipurs pointed out their own areas of improvement, primarily concerning the transformation system. The TS is a relatively novel use of existing technology so most technicians understand the theory behind it. However even that level of novelty brings unfamiliarity. That unfamiliarity combined with debris occasionally having a habit of being caught in the system mid-transformation has led to increased maintenance times as technicians try to figure out how to repair and maintain this new system. Every time a driver breaks or stresses an Elipur in a new way out in the field, technicians not only have to figure out how to fix it, they have to fill out reports on their methods back to R&D so they can be inserted into new updates for the Elipur's technical manuals.
All these performance issues are well within the estimated levels for testing prototypes in the field. The Elipur was designed to prove a concept, not be the most optimal of vehicles. Most testers have agreed that the Elipur had at least met that low bar. The fact the Elipur can function in the field is already an achievement according to testers given how other "working" prototypes performed in that metric.
Conclusion and avenues for improvement
"Look I get the Elipur is not the most impressive vehicle. However not every prototype has to be an ultra high spec wonder weapon flash in the pan like the TIE Defender. That's what refinement and iterative design is meant for." - R&D scientist advocating for further funding to continue research into speederwalker technology.
Overall the Elipur is currently a passable scouting vehicle with multi terrain function. As a combat vehicle it is lacking, although it may work on lightly armed and unskilled infantry. Scouting forces that have received prototypes say the concept works, but it is obvious that there is room for improvement. Currently R&D has two options for improvement should funding be provided.
One option is to focus on limiting weight and improving the speed of the transformation system. This will make the new design geared entirely towards scouting and movement while minimizing combat potential. Focus on limiting weight should reduce the cost of individual units and allow the new design to be deployed to scouting formations to ensure the enemy has little terrain they can hide in. This reduction in cost should allow this new design to be converted for civilian and law enforcement use once the transformation system is no longer labeled a military secret.
The other option is to bulk the armor, armament, and hull of the new design into the mass of a small landspeeder. This would give the new design durability more suitable for combat roles. The reinforced hull will allow the new design to have front and side armor to protect the driver regardless of which mode it is in. It would however increase the costs of the new design which would impact the feasibility of mass production. While the transformation system will still leave the new design vulnerable when switching modes, outside of that vulnerability the new design should be equivalent of a light combat vehicle. A quicker and more maneuverable walker design compared to our AT-ST while still not being as technically complicated as the LECAs.
Either way, Minda R&D will register the Elipur as a sufficient proof of concept design. We at the lab hope to be allowed to further improve the concept in the future.
——
This is my attempt at making a realistic prototype and testing unit in Star Wars. I added a bit of a scientist report tone with this one for fun. Speederwalkers I think are new to Star Wars. However with stuff like the Vulture and the Shekelesh being able to go from ship flying to walking on the ground, I feel the pieces of technology are already there to make something like this. Of course just because they are there doesn't mean combining them for the first time isn't going to lead to some initial problems. Still I think the Elipur is good foundation for speederwalkers, even if it is not an optimal speederwalker itself.
The inspiration for this one is the GTF-13M, a snow bike that can transform into a walker from the Lost Planet game series. Lost Planet has some good designs for "down to earth" walkers.
Crossposted on SB and SV
Production Information
Manufacturer: Minda Imperial R&D
Model: L1-PR "Elipur" Speederwalker
Type: Speeder bike/Walker
Cost: 55,000 Credits new
Technical Information
Max Speed:
- 70 kph (walker)
- 280 kph (speeder bike)
Armament:
- 2 light blaster cannons
Other Systems:
- Transformation system (non-combat)
Cargo: 10 kg
Consumables: 2 days
——
Usage
Availability: Limited production run of prototypes
Role:
- Long mixed terrain patrols
- Scouting
- Exploration
- Imperial scouting forces in the Myto Sector
Description
"We have combined all the strengths of speeder bikes and walkers! Now nothing can stop us!"
"Except any weapon heavier than infantry weapons. Or someone with good aim with an infantry weapon." - Conversation at the Minda R&D celebration party following the completion of the first Elipur Speederwalker.
The L1-PR (Layout 1 Prototype) Speederwalker nicknamed the Elipur is an experimental vehicle produced by Minda R&D. An attempt to combine the speed of a speeder bike and the terrain maneuverability of a walker in one vehicle. Initial testing has proven the design is viable, if still able to benefit from some refinement.
Design
"No no, see here? We put the legs on the back, and they can deploy to walk around."
"Hard to make it out with the brandy stains, but I think I get it." - R&D scientists discuss the initial blueprints for the Elipur Prototype.
The impetus for the Elipur's creation was an incident where a Minda R&D scientist witnessed a Shekelesh gunship land in a spaceport before trundling along on its legs during one of his vacation days. It got him thinking if walker functionality could be added to spaceships, why couldn't it be added to something smaller like a speeder? After a trip to the cantina later that night, the Elipur project was proposed the next day with some alcohol-stained initial designs written on napkins.
The flagship component of the Elipur is its transformation system. This system allows the Elipur to switch from a speeder bike configuration to a walker configuration as needed in order to prioritize speed or rough terrain capability as needed. First the Elipur comes to a full stop to prepare to switch modes. When the TS is engaged in speeder bike mode the legs unfold from the rear of the vehicle and plant themselves on the ground. A small repulsor jump is done to boost up the body before settling into its walker configuration. When the TS is engaged in walker mode, the legs bend to allow the body to plant itself on the ground. The legs then fold into the rear before the repulsorlift is fully engaged to allow the Elipur to move in speeder bike mode. The TS' simplicity had allowed for a quick turnaround time from drawing board to working prototype for the Elipur.
In order to test the transformation system as throughly as possible, various accommodations have been made to the Elipur's design. The legs of the walker mode have been increased in size in order to ensure stability and ease of testing while in walker mode. Weight reductions were implemented in the form of less armor and a smaller, uncomplicated control system. The walker and speeder controls both use handlebars and sensor and electronic equipment is kept to a minimum despite the Elipur's scouting designation. The TS itself was designed to favor reliability and consistency over speed of switching between modes. Armaments were kept light to dedicate more power and chassis space to the TS while still allowing for some self defense capability.
Cost wise the Elipur comes in at significantly more costly than a AT-RT while costing less than a full on AT-ST. This was expected given the Elipur was a prototype and required non-standard parts by design. The Elipur is slower in walker mode and far less armed than the most other walkers such as AT-RT. Still the ability to travel long distances at over 200 kph is argued to be a potentially acceptable trade off. In terms of speeder bikes the Elipur is a bit on the slow end which limits its potential as a pursuit vehicle against speeder based forces.
Performance Review
"Well it doesn't actively kill the testers when they use it, so already better than a lot of prototypes. It just aids the enemy doing so with its slow transformation time." - Opinion of the commander of a scouting force assigned an Elipur for field testing.
The short turnaround from design blueprint to working model left the designers of the Elipur admittedly a bit over enthusiastic. They quickly did a limited production run to make a batch before rubber stamping their approval for field testing. These testing units were then sent out to scouting forces across the Sector to evaluate their performance. Reviews say the Elipur served adequately as a scout vehicle. However numerous areas of concern were brought up before any tester would recommend going into full production.
For one, the Elipur's main feature, its transformation system, takes a painfully slow 45 seconds to complete switching between modes. This is an eternity in combat and makes drivers incredibly stressed about their vulnerability during the process. Drivers were reluctant to transform even in relatively safety due to not wanting to be vulnerable outside of their main base. Multiple Elipurs being deployed on the same patrol helped alleviate that reluctance. Although it lengthened their patrol times as drivers would only transform one at a time while the other Elipurs guarded its vulnerable sibling.
These concerns were not heightened by the lackluster armor strength and coverage of the driver. Outside some coverage on front prow protecting the mid and lower torso, the driver is completely exposed to potential enemy fire. While there have been no fatalities, fears are constant of drivers being shot out from their seats in walker mode should Elipurs be brought into battle.
These fears of enemy fire are far less in speeder bike mode where speed is seen as armor. Although being slower than most other speeder bikes raises its own concerns among testers. This is exasperated by the Elipur's relatively poor handling. The bulky legs of the walker mode are stored in the back of the speeder mode. This leads to weight imbalance and drag at high speed and turns, which causes drivers to be more hesitant to engage in high speed maneuvers compared to other speeder bikes.
Technicians servicing the Elipurs pointed out their own areas of improvement, primarily concerning the transformation system. The TS is a relatively novel use of existing technology so most technicians understand the theory behind it. However even that level of novelty brings unfamiliarity. That unfamiliarity combined with debris occasionally having a habit of being caught in the system mid-transformation has led to increased maintenance times as technicians try to figure out how to repair and maintain this new system. Every time a driver breaks or stresses an Elipur in a new way out in the field, technicians not only have to figure out how to fix it, they have to fill out reports on their methods back to R&D so they can be inserted into new updates for the Elipur's technical manuals.
All these performance issues are well within the estimated levels for testing prototypes in the field. The Elipur was designed to prove a concept, not be the most optimal of vehicles. Most testers have agreed that the Elipur had at least met that low bar. The fact the Elipur can function in the field is already an achievement according to testers given how other "working" prototypes performed in that metric.
Conclusion and avenues for improvement
"Look I get the Elipur is not the most impressive vehicle. However not every prototype has to be an ultra high spec wonder weapon flash in the pan like the TIE Defender. That's what refinement and iterative design is meant for." - R&D scientist advocating for further funding to continue research into speederwalker technology.
Overall the Elipur is currently a passable scouting vehicle with multi terrain function. As a combat vehicle it is lacking, although it may work on lightly armed and unskilled infantry. Scouting forces that have received prototypes say the concept works, but it is obvious that there is room for improvement. Currently R&D has two options for improvement should funding be provided.
One option is to focus on limiting weight and improving the speed of the transformation system. This will make the new design geared entirely towards scouting and movement while minimizing combat potential. Focus on limiting weight should reduce the cost of individual units and allow the new design to be deployed to scouting formations to ensure the enemy has little terrain they can hide in. This reduction in cost should allow this new design to be converted for civilian and law enforcement use once the transformation system is no longer labeled a military secret.
The other option is to bulk the armor, armament, and hull of the new design into the mass of a small landspeeder. This would give the new design durability more suitable for combat roles. The reinforced hull will allow the new design to have front and side armor to protect the driver regardless of which mode it is in. It would however increase the costs of the new design which would impact the feasibility of mass production. While the transformation system will still leave the new design vulnerable when switching modes, outside of that vulnerability the new design should be equivalent of a light combat vehicle. A quicker and more maneuverable walker design compared to our AT-ST while still not being as technically complicated as the LECAs.
Either way, Minda R&D will register the Elipur as a sufficient proof of concept design. We at the lab hope to be allowed to further improve the concept in the future.
——
This is my attempt at making a realistic prototype and testing unit in Star Wars. I added a bit of a scientist report tone with this one for fun. Speederwalkers I think are new to Star Wars. However with stuff like the Vulture and the Shekelesh being able to go from ship flying to walking on the ground, I feel the pieces of technology are already there to make something like this. Of course just because they are there doesn't mean combining them for the first time isn't going to lead to some initial problems. Still I think the Elipur is good foundation for speederwalkers, even if it is not an optimal speederwalker itself.
The inspiration for this one is the GTF-13M, a snow bike that can transform into a walker from the Lost Planet game series. Lost Planet has some good designs for "down to earth" walkers.
Crossposted on SB and SV
Heidao
Know what you're doing yet?
- Joined
- May 11, 2025
- Messages
- 151
- Likes received
- 1,286
Bro did you just offer the Imperial Sentinel but capable of hovered flight?
Cause I'd buy that