Arm cannon

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An arm cannon, in science fiction, is a type of large projectile weapon that is worn on (and sometimes replaces) the arm, usually covering it to at least the elbow. Such devices are often components of integrated powered armour, although they can be worn alone.

The exact nature of such devices vary; some, such as that used by Barret Wallace in Final Fantasy VII ^[1], fire bullets or shells, while others, including those of Mega Man, and Samus Aran of the Metroid series, are variations on the traditional raygun, using advanced directed-energy technologies popular in science fiction such as laser and plasma^[2] beams to destroy enemies ^[3]. Some such devices have other functions too, such as tractor beams, or, more peacefully, flashlights and sensor arrays ^[4].

Arm cannons tend to be controlled by interfacing directly with the nervous system, rather than using a trigger. Some, such as the sonic blaster of Cyborg of Teen Titans and the plasma cannon of Mega Man, are able to morph back into a regular hand when not being used ^[2].

Below details a list of fictional characters with arm cannon extrusions:

• Andrew Waltfeld
• Barret Wallace
• Bushwacker, a Marvel Comics villain, most associated with fighting Daredevil
• Cyborg
• Cyborg Ninja
• KOS-MOS, of the Xenosaga series, R Cannon
• Mega Man
• Mega Man X
• Mega Man 'Trigger' Volnut
• Robocop receives an arm cannon upgrade in Robocop 3 that he can install as needed by detaching his regular hand and attaching the weapon
• Strogg warriors from the video games Quake II and 4 tend to replace their arms with weapons
• Samus Aran
• Tails from the Sonic the Hedgehog series uses an arm cannon in Sonic Battle
• Vash the Stampede of Trigun uses an arm cannon called Angel Arm
• Cobra, from Space Adventure Cobra

Note: Spider-Man's web-shooters (whether considering those from the comic book, which were mechanical, or the biological webshooters from the movies), would not be considered arm cannons.

[edit] References

1. ^ Square Enix character profiles URL accessed 13 May, 2006
2. ^ ^{a b} Mega Man Physics URL accessed 13 May, 2006
3. ^ Arm Cannon Mechanics (DOC), URL accessed 13 May, 2006
4. ^ Hitchhiker's Guide to Video Games URL accessed 13 May, 2006