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This is a tech post for something I came up with for use in a wonderful Science Fiction Roleplay that I helped to sire, called Wind in Space - Aeolus Star System. These mecha may be used by others elsewhere, please link with appropriate credits, and I will be using them in other applicable RPs... possibly.

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Exospheric Anthropomorphic Vehicle (EAV) - EAVs are an old invention recently given new life. The sheer scale of maintenance work that needs to be done at times on the space stations within Aeolus had prompted the use of large anthropomorphic mecha. These were once designed for military use, and shortly after a nearly crippling rebellion against Kanaka forces, the system's major space station using this equipment, once again a series of them has been fitted for military purpose. The weapons and equipment they use are modified from tank/star fighter weaponry, and resemble large infantry weapons. EAVs are made of mass-produced parts, and most pilots will use a certain defined variant. Some pilots however are wealthy enough to customize a bit, changing parts around. Some companies will special-order parts to a pilot's specifications.

EAVs, from the waist up, are roughly humanoid in construction. They have a core section (torso) which houses the cockpit and much of the critical systems (generator, radiator, computers, etc) - a head which contains the majority of the primary sensors (cameras, radar, etc) - and arms, which can be either manipulator arms (sometimes humanlike) or arms that have built-in weapons systems. The most variety in EAV types comes form the legs, however. Legs come in five basic categories - Humanoid, Reverse-Joint, Quadropod, Aerial, and Crawler.

Humanoid legs come in light, middle, and heavy weight classes. They are a more-or-less fair balance between speed, armor, and load based upon the weight type. Good stability ratings and adaptable to most any terrain.

Reverse-joint, or chicken leg, legs come in light and heavy weight classes. Both have excellent jumping capabilities, making them excellent for combat in mountainous terrain. Lighter legs are more idealized for short flight systems, whereas the heavy legs have excellent armor and load ratings without sacrificing too much maneuverability.

Quadropod legs come in all the weight classes, but all share two common characteristics - High load and low jump. Quadropod legs are idealized for ground combat over varied terrain, but even the 'light' quad legs will weigh an EAV down and prevent it from being much good in the air.

Aerial legs are just that, legs with imepellors or thrusters or blazer motors that have dedicated generators. An EAV with Aerial 'legs' is very fast and excellent at hit-and-run tactics. The disadvantages of this leg type being the lack of stability when using certain weapons. High calibre cannon, for example, will rock an Aerial EAV like no other.

Crawler legs are treaded or wheeled platforms that basically turn the EAV into a tank. Ill-suited for aerial combat, Crawler-type EAVs are predominantly used in defensive roles, even to the length of equipping them with specialized systems to allow them to cling to the hull of a ship or space station, turning it into a defensive turret.

All EAVs have some sort of Booster system, be it Impellors (reactionless motors that allow a vehicle to move without much effect on the terrain surrounding it) Fusion Thrusters (highly reactive jetlike motors that can cause incredible damage if their exhaust is focused on a single point. Fusion Thrusters are illegal to use within certain distances of populated areas) or Blazer Motors (Blazer motors are based off of Blazer technology, a laser-like beam of plasma that can serve as a precise weapon or form of powerful thrust.) Though there are other motor types out there, few are really produceable on the scale required to outfit an EAV.

The control system within the cockpit of an EAV allows for an exceptional degree of accuracy. The 'joysticks' have pressure-sensitive 'hat' switches that allow for full control of each 'finger' on the manipulator arm. The controls in each are fully customizeable through a simple to use operating system, some EAVs even being outfitted with ARMR-like neural interface systems to allow an even greater degree of control. A side effect of the ARMR neural interface, however, is pain sensation when your EAV takes a hit. Nobody is really sure where this came from... but it's there.