Knightmare Frame - Overview

Overview

Knightmare Frames are all robots but often have a humanoid shape and are usually between four to six meters (about 13 to 20 feet) tall. In addition to the standard range of bipedal movement, Knightmare Frames are equipped with Landspinners, self-propelled roller skates attached to the ankles of the machines, which allow them to achieve high mobility and speeds on most terrain. Visual data is gathered through Factsphere sensors, which have thermographic capability and an array of other data-collection functions which are collated in real-time. Factspheres are commonly protected under a layer of armor which can be retracted to improve system sensitivity. Knightmare Frames are piloted from a cockpit set in the protruding 'hump back' of the unit. The cockpit is a self-contained control center which can be ejected in case of emergency.

Knightmare Frames are powered by the Yggdrasil Drive (ユグドラシルドライブ, Yugudorashiru Doraibu?), a fictional energy source. Its centerpiece is a sakuradite device called the Core Luminous (コアルミナス, Koa Ruminasu?), wherein a cube of unknown composition is weightlessly suspended in liquid. The cube revolves at high speeds during a state of drive activation known as Yggdrasil Resonance (ユグドラシル共鳴?), apparently involved in the conduction of electricity. The technology is named after the Yggdrasil of Norse mythology. The drive is recharged through a sakuradite energy filler (エナジーフィラー, enajii firaa?). All Knightmare Frames are activated by a 'key' interfacing through a USB-like port inside the cockpit.

Knightmare Frames are typically armed with wired rocket anchors called Slash Harkens (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken?) and a number of other weapons. Mass-production models usually carry handheld rifles and a number of Chaos Grenades, cylindrical air burst grenades that spray deadly shrapnel over a specific area. Less common equipment, though more widespread as the series progresses, are Maser Vibration Swords (MVS), a form of vibroblade which oscillates at a high ratio to cut through almost anything, and Hadron Cannons, powerful energy cannons which can obliterate almost anything in their path. Late in the first season, various models of Float Systems (フロートシステム, Furōto Shisutemu?), devices which allow Knighmares to fly, also fall into common use.

In the manga, Code Geass: Tales of an Alternate Shogunate, the Knightmares are reimagined as summons in the style of Final Fantasy, called forth by those with Geass.