Work Loader

A simple, ground-use Work Loader

The Work Loader is a general term for humanoid, commercial-use work machine that appears in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

History

The Work Loader was originally developed as a versatile work machine that can operate in various environments for building and maintaining the Orbital Elevators, which are huge structures spanning from the ground to space. To achieve the versatility needed for its operation, the work loader was then given human-like arms and legs. Like the Orbital Elevators themselves, the work loaders are made of E-Carbon so as to withstand the harsh operating environment. When required, work loaders can be specialized for operating in a particular environment.

Orbital Elevators have always been a prime target for terrorists since the beginning of their construction, and since protecting them require a machine with similar environmental adaptability as the work loader, some work loaders were naturally weaponized to fulfil the role. Around the same time, the prolonged and intense Solar Power Wars erupted in various countries, driving the evolution of military technology. As a result of all these factors, the weaponization of work loaders accelerated, and they eventually became the basis for Mobile Suits - large, humanoid combat machines, which then became the weapon of choice and quickly replaced other existing weapons, including the non-humanoid Mobile Armor.

The simple, ground-use Work Loader armed with machine gun on right forearm and missile pod on left forearm

Besides the construction and maintenance of the Orbital Elevators, work loaders are also used for civil engineering and other commercial works. Additionally, although mobile suits became the main combat machines, weaponized work loaders are still deployed in battles despite their inferior performance. This is generally because the party in the conflict are unable to acquire mobile suits. For example, the terrorist group KPSA deployed simple, ground-use work loaders equipped with machine guns and missile pods in AD 2301 against Kingdom of Azadistan's mobile suit, the MSER-04 Anfs. Later in AD 2307, the same type of simple, ground-use work loaders equipped with machine guns were used in a civil war over mining rights in South Africa.

There are cases where mobile suits and mobile armor are used as work loaders after they became obsolete. The former is best exemplified in Australia, where the Anfs are deployed as large work loaders due to their superior durability and power output over other alternatives. For the latter, the space-use mobile armor known as MAJ-S08 Xiaoshou became a work loader for space development work, orbital elevator's maintenance, etc, after it retired from combat service. Interestingly, in AD 2364, there is a new work loader called GNW-100A Sakibure that has such high performance that some people considered it as a mobile suit even though it is not equipped with weapons.

Gallery

Lineart

Front view of simple, ground-use work loader

Rear view of simple, ground-use work loader

Cockpit of simple, ground-use work loader

Anime

Simple, ground-use work loader firing machine gun (rear view)

Close up of machine gun barrel

Simple, ground-use work loader firing machine gun (front view)

Wreckage

Simple, ground-use work loader firing missile pod