Additional Action Reports
This page contains all non-episode-specific action reports. Scroll down to see them all. Beware that some contain spoilers for the series, so please scroll and read with caution.
Field Reports
Field Report #1 - The Pilots before the Races (featuring Team Satomi)
IGPX is a rigorous sport, requiring both mental and physical strength. The burden on the pilots competing in the top category, the IG-1, is significant. Not only do they have to live their regular lives, but even right before a race begins, the pilots don't slack in getting the necessary training to boost themselves up enough to compete. Let's look at Team Satomi as an example. They just entered the IG-1 this season; what do they do before races?
Liz is a natural team leader and not only trains herself physically but her Chinese martial arts training also becomes a kind of mental training for her. The genius of the team, Amy, studies attack patterns using a simulation machine. The ace of the team, Takeshi, tends to go on the race course when nobody is around. He stabilizes his mental frame of mind and boosts his resolve in order to fight well in each upcoming race.
Field Report #2 - Animal Navigation
There is a provision in the IGPX that allows registered animals to race with pilots who are recognized as having an emotional bond with their pet. Thanks to the current operating system developed by Ishigaki, the company that provides the Animal Navigation Systems used in IG mechs, the animals can instantly react to situations by providing feedback on machine operation and other information during the race.
However, it is difficult to be granted the privilege of using an animal during a race, not only for the pilots, but also for the animals. It became safe to use this system seven years ago, and currently, out of a total of 66 teams registered in the IGPX, a mere seven teams are equipped and granted permission to use animal navigation. Furthermore, of these seven teams, only four have actually used animal navigation in a real race. There are only two teams where we see animals being utilized in every race. Those teams are Team Edgeraid and Team Satomi.
As for the animal navigators, Luca and Sola, they appear in major pet supply companies' commercials. Because of the high status of being in the IGPX, these animals have great influence on the sales of the products.
Spoilers Below
The following action report contains a spoiler revealed in episode 26 (the final episode) of the series.
Don't scroll down any further if you want to avoid spoilers!
Post IGPX Report: Team Satomi's Midfield Mech Design
A Closer Look: The New Team Satomi Midfield Mech Design Specifications Overview
What was the secret to Team Satomi's two-year championship in the IG-1? Let's take a closer look at the mech that Team Satomi is currently using. Here is a report as it was written when it was featured in the issue of IGPX World from March of 2046.
"The New Team Satomi Midfield Mech Design Specifications Overview (Draft)" that was the centerpiece article in a 2046 issue of IGPX World was based on leaked information from a confidential document on the real design specifications. Also, the document included the wording of "Overview (Draft)", so these are guidelines for the preliminary design and please understand that this may differ from the exact specifications of the final design.
Because we'll be verifying this specification document, we received support from TAKEUCHI, who owns the independent designer Industrial Garage listed on page 1. But, although TAKEUCHI acknowledges that there are many features in common with the mechs that Team Satomi runs now and the actual specifications, they unfortunately wouldn't comment on its complete authenticity. Nonetheless, that doesn't change the fact that this document has become crucial for knowing the process of the development of IG mechs. This document was written before 2044, when Team Satomi was still in the IG-2. It was in 2046 that Team Satomi began to use a design very similar to what's in the specification document in all three of their mechs at the same time. Remember that Team Satomi would conquer the IG-2 and move up to the IG-1 at the end of the very next year.
Design Studio - Industrial Garage
TAKEUCHI boasts an 80% share of the industrial robot market and owns a design team known for its IG mech designs for Team Velshtein. Team Satomi's Midfielder mech design was the third project for Industrial Garage, who is an independent designer established as a separate entity from the design team.
Background of Team Satomi's Implementation of the New Midfield Mech
In 2044, when this specification document was submitted, Team Satomi was in its fifth year of competing in the IG-2. If you only look at the fact that they made it to the finals in the IG-2 in 2040 and 2042, you might have said that they were an excellent team. But for Satomi Heavy Industries, the company that owns the team, the results of those two seasons were crucial. The fact is that they didn't actually win either of those two seasons. They managed to avoid being demoted to the IG-3 for the five years, but with the remarkable rise of new teams promoted from the IG-3 in the previous few years, they were definitely on the brink of demotion. So, they wanted to do something to get them through this trying period. So, the owner of Team Satomi, Michiru Satomi, decided to completely change the model of one of the team's IG mechs.
To prepare to order the new design, Team Satomi analyzed the race results of the past five years in detail. What they discovered was that they lacked the ability to analyze opposing teams. Even in cases where the difference in movement ability between the opposing team's mechs and theirs was not significant, they were unable to immediately grasp the habits that opposing teams used during races and it took more time than expected to analyze their formations. As a result, their responses to their opponent's movements were delayed, and points that did not need to be lost slipped out of their hands.
Normally, it is commonplace in the IGPX to develop and introduce three new mechs at the same time, and considering that the formation of the three mechs is the most important aspect of a team during a race, it is unthinkable to develop one mech without considering the balance between development and introduction of the mech into the team's playbook. However, Team Satomi was short on time. Pressure from Satomi Heavy Industries was increasing greatly day by day. Therefore, a model change for the Midfield mech, which was the core of the team and the mech that the team leader was piloting at the time, was given top priority.
The client for the new design was, surprisingly, an outside entity. This was the first time that Team Satomi had commissioned an independent design studio to design one of its mechs. Naturally, there was a great deal of opposition from Satomi Heavy Industries, which was also the owner and had its own IGPX development project office. In order to curb the opposition from the designer team, some of the designs that had been decided upon were later redesigned in-house. However, Team Satomi would later benefit greatly from having been able to outsource the work at that time. They won the IG-2 championship just two years after the introduction of their new Midfield mech. Then, when they were in their first IG-1 season in 2048, they became the first team to have the honor of becoming champions in their first season in the IG-1.
Team Satomi's Midfield Mech New Design Specifications (Draft)
The design specification document, spanning over 50 pages, is mainly separated into 3 parts: the specifications of the exterior, the specifications of how it controls, and the specifications of the engine. There are quite a few details that we want to share, but it would be boring to share all of them since most of the document is written using technical language, so we'll share a simple version of what the concepts and main points are.
1 The Basic Design and Standards
The design base is based on the standard used by TAKEUCHI, which is said to be the most popular. Care has been taken to ensure that no more labor than necessary was used in the procurement of common parts or in the production of parts. Though costs were cut, the company has aggressively introduced new materials and new plans for one-of-a-kind parts. The machine design is based on the "conic joint" advocated by O.F.P., a heavy machinery manufacturer that has influenced many IG mechs, and uses a design with sharp angles to create a stealth effect that is resistant to communication interference and interception. This sharp-edged design creates an integrated line between the upper and lower arms while in Speed Mode, which also helps to improve aerodynamics.
2 Device for Information Processing
Due to IGPX regulations, the DPE (data processing equipment) for information processing is installed on the side of the engine block, which is an area that is not directly exposed to where potential attacks could occur (likely attacks of a striking nature). In addition, the wing above the DPE is equipped with external sensors. In order to compensate for the weakness created by the adoption of a lightweight body, the "dodging ability" has been improved. In the cockpit, there is space for an optional Animal Navigation bay. The Animal Navigation system, which has been perfected in recent years, adds agility to the "dodging ability". It is also expected to dramatically improve the efficiency of accurate calculation of team formations and instructional operations for piloting.
3 Next-Generation Light Metal and A New Engine ("SIHOO42E")
A new generation of light metal is used not only for the exterior body, but also for the joint operating parts. Not only do these improve compatibility with the mainframe and drive capabilities, but these also make it possible to reduce the number of wires in each part by utilizing imprinting technology (integrating wiring patterns into the frame). The engine to be installed is assumed to be the SIHOO42E, manufactured by Satomi Heavy Industries. The basic performance is the same as last year's SIHOO42C, but the engine's 7.3% higher energy conversion rate and the synergistic effect of the "conic joint," which incorporates imprinting technology, will enable more nimble movement. In addition, speeds approaching those of Forward mechs can be expected even in Speed Mode. In order to respond to the recent acceleration in the diversification of racing tactics, the increased mobility and speed of Midfield mechs should become an essential factor.
4 The String-Egg System for Protecting Pilots
To protect the pilot from damage caused by the lightweight body, the cockpit employs the "String-Egg System," which is the latest technology. The "String-Egg System," which reduces interference from the mainframe by stretching wires inside the cockpit shell, is no different in terms of safety from the "Floating-Egg System," which uses a gel-like substance as a cushioning agent. However, it reduces the total weight of the mech by 2 to 3 kg.
Conclusion
About 15 months after the "Design Specifications" draft was written, Team Satomi revealed a new IG mech. It can be inferred that some polishing was done during that time, but the reason it took longer than usual was largely due to a problem in the Satomi Heavy Industries IGPX Development Project Office, whose pride was apparently hurt by having to outsource the mech design to an external party. It was the plant manager at the time, Ichi, who organized the project. According to TAKEUCHI, Ichi said this regarding the Inner Edge, which had been incorporated during the design phase: "If we don't incorporate this, I simply have no interest in making a mech that won't win." However, the Inner Edge was either cut down or the mech was able to achieve kinetic performance close to what was found in the "Design Specifications" draft. This was not a case of a company making something "half-baked", as Team Satomi would later prove by doing so well in the seasons after this new mech was revealed.
More Action Reports coming soon!!!
Stay tuned for more reports coming in January and February of 2025!