| first-party systems | original purpose | other recommended applications | screen | power gauges | construction | supported operating systems | retail price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aide (NS-112) | field medic | service industry secretarial work social work patient care law enforcement | backlit LCD | ✓ | high-carbon steel | Companion ATOS/E ATOS/CX | L$ 900 |
| Scout (NS-115) | military logistics | courier service mail delivery personal trainer tour guide | none | ✓ | high-carbon steel | Companion ATOS/E ATOS/CX | L$ 800 |
| Aegis (NS-476) | frontline combat | law enforcement private security | holographic | nanoweave steel | Companion ATOS/E ATOS/CX | L$ 1000 | |
| Mesta (NS-120) | industrial logistics | manufacturing facilities management | none | pressed steel | Companion ATOS/E ATOS/CX | L$ 900 | |
| Nightfall/3 (NS-409) | public security | law enforcement private security | LED array | high-carbon steel | Companion ATOS/E | L$ 800 | |
| DAX/3 | physical intimacy | companionship social work education | holographic | ✓ | aerospace titanium + carbon fiber | Companion ATOS/E | L$ 1000 |
| DAX/3 mini | physical intimacy | courier service mail delivery companionship cyborg management personal trainer | none | ceramic + carbon fiber | Companion ATOS/E | L$ 900 | |
| DAX/2 | physical intimacy | companionship social work education | backlit LCD | ✓ | aluminum + ABS plastic panelling | Companion ATOS/E | L$ 900 |
| DAX/2 mini | physical intimacy | courier service mail delivery companionship cyborg management personal trainer | none | ABS plastic | Companion ATOS/E | L$ 750 | |
| Relic (oXq.205.4i) | labor replacement | companionship private security civil service | none | ✓ | metal-matrix nanocomposite | Companion ATOS/E ATOS/CX | L$ 900 |
| Artifact (oXq.205.8i) | pilot surrogate | private security military logistics | holographic | ✓ | metal-matrix nanocomposite | Companion ATOS/E ATOS/CX | L$ 1000 |
| Sprocket(vFT.904.k0) | art | companionship | none | ceramic-matrix nanocomposite | Clockwork Companion ATOS/E | L$ 900 | |
| Revenant (NS-478) | convergence platform | frontline combat long-range reconaissance extreme athletics | holographic | ✓ | mixed nanocomposites | Companion ATOS/E ATOS/CX | L$ 1200 |
| partner systems | original purpose | other recommended applications | screen | power gauges | construction | supported operating systems | retail price |
| Cranial Drive Barthes Asset Control BaCdrive | cyborg management | service industry secretarial work patient care | none | high-carbon steel | Companion ATOS/E | L$ 800 | |
| XSU Yutani Springs Type 712 | domestic service | service industry companionship education | holographic | titanium | Companion ATOS/E | L$ 900 |
Still unsure? Check out overview of main controllers for more detail about the history and uses of each controller.
Aside from the differences above, all controllers come with the same features and vary only slightly in terms of sounds and pre-packaged data to better facilitate the purpose for which the controllers were designed. The actual software on the controllers is as described below:
operating system comparison
 Companion 8.6 |  Companion 8.6with ATOS/E 12 |  ATOS/CX 12 |  Clockwork 8.6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| expected release | now available | now available | coming soon | now available |
| subsystem control granularity in what features are enabled | ||||
| video input | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| low-light enhancement | ✓ | |||
| audio input | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| audio output | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| autonomy | verbal only | verbal only | ✓ | verbal only |
| power amplifier | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| motors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| rapid motors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| flight | with rapid | with rapid | ✓ | with rapid |
| faster-than-light (FTL) transit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| text radio input | SMS in | SMS in | ✓ | ✓ |
| text radio output | SMS out | SMS out | ✓ | ✓ |
| GPS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| face recognition | identify | identify | IFF | identify |
| device bus | always on | always on | ✓ | always on |
| supported device buses compatible methods for interfacing with devices | ||||
| light (civilian peripheral control) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| weapon extensions | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| weather service | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| IFF | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| public network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| autonomy control systems (ACS) | partial | partial | partial | n/a |
| user control architecture who can use the system, and how | ||||
| unauthenticated access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| local/remote access distinction | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| on-board user ranks | user, manager, owner | user, manager, owner | user | user, manager, owner |
| central user management | hierarchy | hierarchy | AT/XNMS | — |
| charger compatibility what charging methods can be used | ||||
| ACS-compatible chargers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| UMD/Qetesh chargers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| NS RCG chargers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| NS FRG chargers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| Refactor chargers | ≤1.2 | ≤1.2 | n/a | |
| NS BSD chargers (e.g. ARC) | ✓ | ✓ | n/a | |
| induction from environmental sources | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| personality control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| speech pipeline | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| custom application support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| voice feedback | ✓ | ✓ | † | |
| on-board control HUD | Screen Console Manager | Screen Console Manager | Shield Command Environment | n/a |
† Support is included but presets are not. Voice card data must be copied from another system or a commercial add-on.
To learn more about the differences between Companion, ATOS/E, and ATOS/CX, see this support page.