R&D (not to be confused with the RD) consists of scientists experimenting on individual objects found around the station by putting them in the Destructive Analyzer, which reverse-engineers and disintegrates the object. The R&D console will allow you to then use the technology from deconstructed objects to build more advanced and efficient versions of the original object, and even new tools such as laser cannons!
Essentially this means that a scientist in this modern world doesn't actually have to know any of the concepts he's working with; it's all about melting things down and playing with the resulting toys! Ain't life grand?
Note that this guide is just mostly about what type of technology different items are. There are many, many ways to do R&D.
R&D remake
Most of R&D levels, both origin techs and required tech levels, were remade recently. Here is some info about the new things if you are already familiar with the old system.
Origin level of items
Description
1
Easy to get items. These are common and easily obtainable from any place
2
Uncommon items that can still be found but there are less of these. They are still easy to make or build with a protolathe
3
Rare items. There are some of these items near R&D but they are usually items that you have to build with a protolathe. You need to get some basic levels first.
4
Very rare items. These are only found in some restricted places and are a little harder to build. It is still possible to make all of these after working a while with the earlier levels!
Level gate one
5
These items are not buildable in R&D lab but they are still easy to get. Try asking help from other departments such as xenobiology, cargo or botany. Don't forget to take some machine upgrades with you to make them happy!
Level gate two
6
These items are rather hard to get. They can be rare on the station or require even more help from other departments.
Level gate three
7
These items require luck and are very rare. Mostly obtainable from random events.
Here are some of the high level items needed to get high levels with the new system. These are just examples and there will most likely be more items and these level values can change.
Materials
Engineering
Plasmatech
Powerstorage
Bluespace
Biotech
Combat
Electromagnets
Data processing
Origin level 5
Durand armor, uranium sheet, golden apple
DNA syringe with powers
Phazon torso
Slime power cell
Bluespace banana and tomato
Human heart, blood tomato, some xenobio potions
Death nettle
Ghost chili
Walking mushroom, forensic scanner
Origin level 6
Diamond sheet, Gygax armor
DNA syringe with more powers
Glowberries, glowshrooms
Glowcap
Bluespace crystal
Sentience potion, alien brain
Combat shotgun, gatfruit
Lazarus injector
Mining drone AI upgrade
Origin level 7
Abductor helmet
Vortex anomaly
Pyro anomaly
Flux anomaly
Bluespace anomaly
Abductor baton, changeling egg
Sniper
Gravitational anomaly
Swarmer shell
Special items:
Strange items now have a 25% change of having a high tech level! Try them out!
DNA syringe give more (bio-)engineering levels the more powers they contain!
Anomalies have some very high tech in them so try to gather them with analyzer and remote signaller!
Deconstruction
Deconstruction is done through the Destructive Analyzer:
Sync the Destructive Analyzer to the research computer if it's not synced.
Insert an item into it.
Use the computer.
The computer will will show you tech levels of the item. Items of same or higher tech level in a category will raise tech level of that category by 1. It is possible to eject items from the Destructive Analyzer.
Tech categories
Materials Research
Development of new and improved materials.
Important category. Used commonly and needed especially in mining items. Deconstructing new materials can make this level higher.
Engineering Research
Development of new and improved engineering techniques.
Needed to produce some complex machines for the station.
Plasma Research
Research into the mysterious substance colloqually known as plasma.
The main reason for the entire research station but is not actually needed much. Still, many items require some plasma technology knowledge. Mostly obtainable from items related to plasma.
Power Manipulation Technology
The various technologies behind the storage and generation of electicity.
Helping with things related to power such as recharging, storing power or items that use power. There are many items such as batteries that can make this higher.
'Blue-space' Research
Research into the sub-reality known as "blue-space".
Many cool toys in science need this to be unlocked. Everyone wants some fun bluespace toys.
Biological Technology
Research into the deeper mysteries of life and organic substances.
Needed for items and machines related to medicine or biological items.
Combat Systems Research
The development of offensive and defensive systems.
As the name suggests, unlocks various weapons. All kinds of weapons can improve this technology.
Electromagnetic Spectrum Research
Research into the electromagnetic spectrum. No clue how they actually work, though.
Many items related to electricity and magnets need this technology. Get it higher for some fun electric toys.
Data Theory Research
The development of new computer and artificial intelligence and data storage systems.
Used for circuit boards and many artificial intelligence items.
Illegal Technologies Research
The study of technologies that violate Nanotrassen regulations.
Getting these levels up often needs illegal items. They unlock some reverse-engineered traitor items to help the station.
Table of Researchable Items
Notice: All the levels have not been updated to wiki yet. The first list has updated levels of items. Also refer the another list above for items that have a high tech level.
This table mostly uses the old levels and is mostly outdated.
Icon
Item
Materials
Engineering
Plasma
Power
Bluespace
Biological
Combat
EMP
Data
Illegal
H.O.N.K. parts
2
2
Ripley torso
2
2
2
2
Ripley arms and legs
2
2
2
Gygax torso
2
3
3
2
Gygax head
2
3
3
2
Gygax arms and legs
2
3
2
Gygax armor plates
6
5
4
Durand torso
3
3
3
2
Durand head
3
3
3
2
Durand arms and legs
3
3
2
Durand armor plates
Odysseus head
2
3
Odysseus torso
2
2
2
2
Odysseus arms and legs
2
2
2
Ripley circut boards
3
Circuit board (Gygax Weapon Control and Targeting module)
4
4
Gygax non-weapon circuit boards
4
Circuit board (Durand Weapon Control and Targeting module)
4
4
Durand non-weapon circuit boards
4
H.O.N.K. circuit boards
4
Odysseus circuit boards
3
Intellicard
4
4
Chameleon-projector
4
4
Flash and synthetic flash
1
2
EMP flashlight
4
5
Laser pointer
2
Multitool
1
1
pAI card
2
Power sink
3
5
Tracking beacon
1
Syndicate encryption key/headset
3
Binary encryption key/headset
3
T-ray scanner
1
1
Health analyzer
1
1
Analyzer
1
1
Mass-spectrometer
2
2
Advanced mass-spectrometer
2
4
Mind batterer
3
3
3
Bruise pack
1
Ointment
1
Glass
1
Reinforced glass
1
Leather
2
Diamond
6
Uranium
5
Solid plasma
2
2
Gold
4
Silver
3
Bananium
4
Metal
1
Plasteel
2
Wood
1
1
Cardboard
1
Grass tile
1
Wood tile
1
Airlock painter
1
'Safeguard' AI Module
4
3
'OneHuman' AI Module
6
3
'ProtectStation' AI Module
4
3
'Quarantine' AI Module
4
2
3
'OxygenIsToxicToHumans' AI Module
4
2
3
Freeform AI Module
4
4
'Reset' AI Module
4
3
'Purge' AI Module
6
3
'Asimov' AI Module
4
3
'Asimov++' Core AI Module
4
3
'P.A.L.A.D.I.N.' Core AI Module
6
3
Custom Core AI Module
4
3
'T.Y.R.A.N.T.' Core AI Module
6
3
2
'Robocop' Core AI Module
4
'Antimov' Core AI Module
4
'Freeform' Core AI Module
6
3
Hacked AI Module
6
3
7
Cryptographic sequencer
2
2
Agent card
3
Match
1
Plastic explosives
2
Flamethrower
1
1
Large chem grenade
3
3
Classic EMP grenade
2
3
Flashbang
2
1
Viscerator delivery grenade
3
4
4
Carp delivery grenade
3
4
4
Syndicate minibomb
3
4
4
Handcuffs
1
Kitchen knife
1
Butcher's cleaver
1
Energy sword
3
4
Chain of command
4
Power cell
1
High-capacity power cell
2
Super-capacity power cell
5
Hyper-capacity power cell
6
Potato battery
1
Charged slime core [Yellow]
2
4
Rapid-construction-device (RCD)
2
4
Compressed matter cartridge
2
Scroll of teleportation
4
Lesser scroll of teleportation
2
Riot shield
2
Energy combat shield
4
3
4
Singularity hammer
4
5
Mjölnir
5
5
Bag of holding
4
Toolbox
1
Suspicious looking toolbox
1
1
Stun baton
2
Locator [for implants]
1
Hand tele
3
1
Wrench
1
1
Wirecutters
1
1
Welding tool
1
Industrial welding tool
2
Upgraded welding tool
3
Experimental welder
4
3
Crowbar
1
Dual energy sword
3
4
Igniter
1
Infrared emitter
2
Mousetrap
1
Proximity sensor
1
Remote signaling device
1
Timer
1
Voice analyzer
1
Optical Meson Scanner
2
2
Night Vision Goggles
2
Optical Material Scanner
3
3
Optical Thermal Scanner
3
Optical Meson Scanner [Syndicate item]
3
4
Medical HUD
2
3
HUDSunglasses
2
3
Welding mask
2
2
Gas mask [Syndicate item]
4
Brown shoes [Syndicate item]
3
Chameleon jumpsuit
3
Bluespace tomato seeds
3
Gatfruit seeds
3
Log
1
Nettle
1
Death nettle
3
Plant analyzer
1
1
Pickaxe
1
1
Silver pickaxe
3
Mining drill
2
2
3
Sonic jackhammer
3
2
2
Golden pickaxe
4
Plasma cutter
4
3
3
Diamond pickaxe
6
4
Diamond mining drill
6
5
4
Shovel
1
1
Uranium ore
5
Iron ore
1
Sand
1
Plasma ore
2
Silver ore
3
Gold ore
4
Diamond ore
6
Bananium ore
4
Brain
3
Alien brain
7
Man-Machine Interface
3
Radio-enabled Man-Machine Interface
4
Slime core
4
Slime egg
4
Pen [Syndicate item]
2
5
Ammunition box (9mm)
2
Ammunition box (10mm)
2
Ammunition box (.45)
2
Ammunition box (12mm)
2
Magazine (9mm)
2
Magazine (10mm)
2
Magazine (12mm)
2
Magazine (.50ae)
2
Magazine (.75)
2
Laser gun
3
2
Laser cannon
3
3
4
Xray laser gun
3
5
2
2
Laser tag gun
1
2
Energy gun
3
2
Advanced energy gun
5
3
3
Ion rifle
2
4
Floral somatoray
2
3
3
Stun revolver
3
2
3
Energy crossbow
2
2
5
Temperature gun
4
3
3
2
Submachine gun
2
4
Uzi
2
5
8
C-20r SMG
2
5
8
L6 SAW
1
5
2
Tommy gun
1
5
2
Silenced pistol
2
2
8
Gyropistol
3
Stechkin pistol
2
2
2
Detective revolver
2
2
Mateba
2
2
Russian Revolver
2
2
Shotgun
2
4
Combat shotgun
2
5
Double-barreled shotgun
1
3
Projectile gun
2
2
Chem sprayer
3
3
3
Retractor
1
1
Hemostat
1
1
Cautery
1
1
Surgical drill
1
1
Scalpel
1
1
Circular saw
1
1
Surgical drapes
1
Bluespace crystal
3
4
Artificial bluespace crystal
2
Global positioning system
2
2
Telepad beacon
3
Drone shell
4
2
Icon
Item
Materials
Engineering
Plasma
Power
Bluespace
Biological
Combat
EMP
Data
Illegal
Construction
See here how to build machines out of the components you discover. This is where advanced technology you discovered by increasing tech trees will be made. Nothing exciting at first can be built, but you will get increasingly more fun devices as tech trees increase. Some high tech items may malfuction every once in a while, but putting them back in the Analyzer will allow you to see what went wrong and fix the problem, creating a more efficient device. You will unlock items for the Exosuit Fabricator as well.
Upgrading Machines
All machines are composed of components. There are better versions of many components, attained through research. These instructions only show you how to construct the very basic form of e.g. Exosuit Fabricator. But if you build an Exosuit Fabricator with the most complicated versions of the components instead of the regular ones, you'll get different advantages:
Better Matter bin makes you have more storage space.
Better Manipulator improves build speed.
Better Laser improves materials efficiency.
Bigger Beaker increases the reagent storage size.
Once you unlock advanced components, people around the station will probably want you to upgrade the machinery. The process is simple.
Screwdriver on the machine.
Crowbar on the machine.
Take the board and re-insert it into machine.
Insert parts you want to use.
Screwdriver.
Alternately, you can use RPED (Rapid Part Exchange Device):
Load RPED with parts.
Screwdriver on the machine.
Click on it with RPED.
Screwdriver again.
Protolathe
The Protolathe requires materials such as metal, glass and mineable minerals, each sheet gives 3750 units when inserted into a Protolathe. It allows you to build objects such as stock parts, mining equipment, power cells and many more. Weaponry can also be built but will require a firing pin from the armory or ordered from cargo if you wish to use it for combat.
WT-550 Auto Gun Armour Piercing Magazine (4.6×30mm AP)
1
1
6000
600
WT-550 Auto Gun Incendiary Magazine (4.6×30mm IC)
1
1
6000
1000
600
WT-550 Auto Gun Uranium Magazine (4.6×30mm TX)
1
1
6000
600
2000
Stun Shell
3
3
200
Unloaded Technological Shell
3
4
3
3
1000
200
Universal Suppressor
5
6
3
2000
500
One-Point Bluespace-Gravitational Manipulator
5
4
4
4
5
6000
6000
7000
7000
6000
3000
Mining Drill
2
3
2
6000
1000
Diamond Mining Drill
6
5
5
6000
1000
2000
Plasma Cutter
3
3
2
1500
500
400
Advanced Plasma Cutter
4
2
4
3
3
3000
1000
2000
500
Sonic Jackhammer
7
6
5
5
6000
2000
2000
6000
Modification Kit
5
4
4
3
4
8000
1500
1500
1000
Super-Kinetic Accelerator
5
4
4
3
4
8000
1500
2000
2000
Hyper-Kinetic Accelerator
7
5
5
4
5
8000
1500
2000
2000
2000
Upgraded Resonator
4
3
4
3
4000
1500
1000
1000
Tracking Beacon
1
150
100
GPS Device
2
2
500
1000
Bag of Holding
5
5
6
7
3000
250
1500
Mining Satchel of Holding
3
4
4
250
500
Artificial Bluespace Crystal
6
4
3
1500
1500
Health Scanner HUD
2
3
500
500
Night Vision Health Scanner HUD
6
4
4
5
600
600
350
1000
Security HUD
2
3
500
500
Night Vision Security HUD
6
4
4
5
600
600
350
1000
Diagnostic HUD
2
3
500
500
Night Vision Diagnostic HUD
6
4
4
5
600
600
300
1000
Welding Gas Mask
2
3
3000
1000
Portable Seed Extractor
2
3
1000
400
Air Horn
4
4
4000
Optical Meson Scanners
2
2
2
500
500
Night Vision Optical Meson Scanners
4
5
5
5
600
600
350
1000
Optical T-Ray Scanners
3
2
2
500
500
Engineering Scanner Goggles
4
4
3
3
500
500
100
Night Vision Goggles
4
5
5
5
600
600
350
1000
Science Goggles
2
500
500
Magnetic Boots
4
5
4
4500
1500
2500
Advanced Mop
4
3
2500
200
Trashbag of Holding
5
4
3
4
1500
1500
250
Floor Buffer Upgrade
4
4
3000
200
Holographic Sign Projector
3
2000
1000
Experimental Welding Tool
4
5
4
3
1000
500
1500
200
Alien Alloy (Requires abductor tech)
7
2
4000
4000
Circuit Imprinter
The Circuit Imprinter requires acid, glass and occasionally gold or diamond. With gold, you can make Law modules, or AI circuits types. Machine circuits such as mech suits and power generators can also be built.
Deconstruction is done through the Destructive Analyzer:
Alternately, you can use RPED (Rapid Part Exchange Device):
