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.
If you don't want to figure it out by yourself, though, you can follow this guide.
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.
All machines are composed of components. There are better versions of many components, attained through research. They are organized in 4 tiers, and upgrading the tier of a machine's components will have different effects for each machine.
Without minerals, you can achieve up to tier 2/3; to go further you'll require ores for production.
Stock Parts
Icon
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Tier 4
Usual Effect
Micro-Manipulator
Nano-Manipulator
Pico-Manipulator
Femto-Manipulator
Improves speed and efficiency.
Basic Matter Bin
Advanced Matter Bin
Super Matter Bin
Bluespace Matter Bin
Improves capacity.
Basic Micro-Laser
High-Power Micro-Laser
Ultra-High-Power Micro-Laser
Quad-Ultra Micro-Laser
Improves speed and efficiency.
Basic Scanning Module
Advanced Scanning Module
Phasic Scanning Module
Triphasic Scanning Module
Improves scanning precision.
Basic Capacitor
Advanced Capacitor
Super Capacitor
Quadratic Capacitor
Improves power efficiency.
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):
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!
Some items may also require chems. Just pour them into the Protolathe to insert them.
The Circuit Imprinter requires acid, glass and occasionally gold or diamond. Here you will find circuits for most of the station's machinery and robotics' exosuits. With gold and diamonds, you can also make AI law modules.
Robotics starts with two of these. This machine will build everything a roboticist needs to do his job, aside from circuits. To update its research levels:
Sync the R&D Research Console.
Sync the Robotics Research Console.
Sync the Exosuit Fabricator.
Can be used directly, without the Research Console.
Items available from the start:
Exosuit Fabricator Round-Start Manufacturing List
Icon
Item
List
Cyborg endoskeleton
Cyborg
15000
Cyborg torso
Cyborg
40000
Cyborg head
Cyborg
5000
Cyborg left arm
Cyborg
10000
Cyborg right arm
Cyborg
10000
Cyborg left leg
Cyborg
10000
Cyborg right leg
Cyborg
10000
Ripley chassis
Ripley
20000
Ripley torso
Ripley
20000
7500
Ripley left arm
Ripley
15000
Ripley right arm
Ripley
15000
Ripley left leg
Ripley
15000
Ripley right leg
Ripley
15000
Odysseus chassis
Odysseus
20000
Odysseus torso
Odysseus
12000
Odysseus head
Odysseus
6000
10000
Odysseus left arm
Odysseus
6000
Odysseus right arm
Odysseus
6000
Odysseus left leg
Odysseus
7000
Odysseus right leg
Odysseus
7000
Gygax chassis
Gygax
20000
Gygax torso
Gygax
20000
10000
2000
Gygax head
Gygax
10000
5000
2000
Gygax left arm
Gygax
15000
1000
Gygax right arm
Gygax
15000
1000
Gygax left leg
Gygax
15000
2000
Gygax right leg
Gygax
15000
2000
Gygax armor plates
Gygax
25000
10000
Durand chassis
Durand
25000
Durand torso
Durand
25000
10000
10000
Durand head
Durand
10000
15000
2000
Durand left arm
Durand
10000
4000
Durand right arm
Durand
10000
4000
Durand left leg
Durand
15000
4000
Durand right leg
Durand
15000
4000
Durand armor plates
Durand
50000
30000
H.O.N.K. chassis
H.O.N.K.
20000
10000
H.O.N.K. torso
H.O.N.K.
20000
10000
5000
H.O.N.K. head
H.O.N.K.
10000
5000
5000
H.O.N.K. left arm
H.O.N.K.
15000
5000
H.O.N.K. right arm
H.O.N.K.
15000
5000
H.O.N.K. left leg
H.O.N.K.
20000
5000
H.O.N.K. right leg
H.O.N.K.
20000
5000
Hydraulic clamp
Exosuit Equip
10000
Exosuit drill
Exosuit Equip
10000
Exosuit extinguisher
Exosuit Equip
10000
Cable layer
Exosuit Equip
10000
Plasma Generator
Exosuit Equip
10000
1000
5000
2000
Firefighter chassis
Exosuit Equip
20000
Exosuit plasma converter
Exosuit Equip
10000
1000
500
Mousetrap mortar
Exosuit Equip
20000
5000
Banana mortar
Exosuit Equip
20000
5000
HoNkER BlAsT 5000
Exosuit Equip
20000
10000
Cyborg module reset board
Borg Upgr
10000
Cyborg reclassification board
Borg Upgr
35000
Cyborg emergency reboot module
Borg Upgr
60000
5000
Exosuit tracking beacon
Misc
500
Reseachable items:
(Note: Bananium and plasma research are not used and skipped from the table.)
Exosuit Fabricator Researchable Manufacturing List