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 5 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 6 powers, machine prototype from cargo
Glowberries, glowshrooms
Glowcap
Bluespace crystal
Sentience potion, alien brain, ambrosia gaia
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! One level for each power.
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 level in a category will raise the tech level of that category by 1. Items with higher tech level will raise the tech level of that category to that level. 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
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
6
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 2000 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, the RD's locker or ordered from cargo if you wish to use it for combat.
Building 5 or 10 of the same item is faster than building it one at a time for 10 times; if you need lots of a particular item, mass produce them!
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):
