Topic: Robot computer software
There are a few threads in the forum about various client side enhancements that could be solved with a simple robot software system.
Imagine software programs that enhance the robot UI as a part of the robot computer. You buy a stock robot, then you can buy software for it. This will be licensed per robot and destroyed on removal. Each bot class will have a few slots (memory banks) where you can upload these programs. They LOWER your total CPU available for modules (since they are using processor resources) and lower your accumulator recharge rate (the robots CPU has to work more). However this is only done when you actually activate the software (i.e. launch the program). If you don't have enough free CPU power or you are out of energy, they cannot be started (or stop running in case your accum drops to 0).
Now for the actual usage. These are CLIENT SIDE enhancements (they are based purely on client visible data) and as such will usually reduce the client performance (FPS being the most affected I guess). However they could provide mostly visual enhancements to the robot, some examples:
1. Highlight a specific item group on the ground. F.e plants of a specific type, specific robot type etc ...
2. Show the optimal ranges of active modules - kind of a tactical overlay
3. Show LOS on target
4. Provide night vision
5. More target information or scanner data enhancers ...
The possibilities are quite large. Basically these would be UI upgrades that the DEVs create and as such can be used as regular modules. They can be restricted to robot type or even specific robot (i.e. Zenith only). Or they can enhance the output of a specific module and are useless when the modules is not fited or inactive (artifact scaner triangulation interface, signal detector data enhancer ...).