funnels (gundam)

A funnel-shaped drone unit, from the Gundam franchise, that is designed to be remotely controlled by a Newtype pilot.

It is equipped with a small beam cannon, and an energy cell to propel the funnel when it is operating. A Newtype pilot is able to control these funnels with great precision, allowing them to remotely attack an enemy from all directions, making a funnel-equipped mobile suit extremely deadly. When the funnels are not in use, they are attached to the mother suit's surface hardpoints for recharging.

Although early funnels can indeed resemble funnels, they can come in a variety of shapes.

Funnels also has multiple variations throughout the Gundam metaverse:

• Bits (Its larger predecessor which are equipped with on-board generators, eliminating the need to re-dock with the mother suit for recharging; non-UC versions, however, functions like a funnel due to their need for recharging)
• Incoms (A wire-controlled variation)
• Fin Funnels (Miniaturized bits used by the Nu Gundam/Hi-Nu Gundam)
• Shield Funnels (Unicorn Gundam's shields, each equipped with a beam gatling gun; its function as remote weapons is only available if the Unicorn is on its Awakened NT-D Mode; Unicorn Gundam Phenex has a variant which lacks the beam gatling gun attachment and its form of offense is ramming onto targets; it is also equipped with tail stabilizers)
• Psycho Plates (Remote controlled Newtype weapons used by the Moon Gundam, inherited from the Psycho Gundam Mk-IV G-Doors)
• Funnel Missiles (Equipped on both Penelope and Xi Gundam, this type of funnels functions like remote controlled missiles, guided by the pilot's Newtype abilities and exploding upon impact)
• DRAGOONs (a.k.a. Disconnected Rapid Armament Group Overlook Operation Network, exclusive in Gundam SEED, including its sequels and spinoffs)
• Fangs (exclusive in Gundam 00 and Gundam 00 A Wakening of the Trailblazer)

This type of weapon is not only exclusive to the Gundam franchise (although it has variety of names and different technology if it shows up in series unrelated to Gundam). Examples are Nirvash Spec-V/V3's Options, Tauburn's Piles, Armored Core's Orbit Cannons and Exceed Orbit, Takamachi Nanoha's Blaster Bits and Eva 13's RS Hoppers.