MSV-2 (1984): The Psycommu System
Gundam Century (1981)The psycommu system was a control system created primarily for Newtype pilots to operate mobile suits. However, it was not compact enough to be installed in a mobile suit of normal size, and it was introduced in mobile armors instead.
One distinguishing characteristic of this system was that it made remote control possible despite the effects of Minovsky particles. If weapons could be controlled remotely, there was no need for the machine itself to be humanoid, so it was inevitable that mobile armors equipped with psycommu systems were introduced into combat earlier than mobile suits.
So far so good, the Psycommu allows a Newtype pilot to control weapons remotely. The next one I found particularly interesting since I've been wondering if there were any sources that mention a Psycommu equipped unit is easier to control, more responsive, or higher performing than an equivalent machine. This definition mentions that the machine can be controlled more smoothly, although I believe it is referring to using its weapons vice controlling the MA itself. I'm curious if there are other sources out there that talk more on how a Psycommu equipped MS can be controlled with thoughts.Psycommu weapons are systems that amplify the acute reactive waves of the people known as Newtypes and, via signals translated into computer language, control the weapons attached to the machine itself.
Among the systems researched by the Flanagan Agency was the psycommu system, which amplifies the acute reactive waves of Newtypes and translates them into computer language (2). These "reactive waves" were detected through the systematic anomalies they produced in radio communications under Minovsky particle conditions.
Entertainment Bible 01 (1989): Psycommu
Now onto the Biosensor. Psycommu systems were developed by Zeon during the OYW. During Zeta Gundam, Axis Zeon has managed to create a miniature or compact Psycommu that can fit into a Mobile Suit, specifically the Quebeley. Meanwhile, Anaheim Electronics has developed the Bio-Sensor that fits into MS. The Bio-sensor is one of the bigger retcons in Gundam to explain the supernatural abilities of the Zeta Gundam in the finale of its series. Here's an older source on it where it even mentions the bio-sensor is uncomfirmed, very interesting to see the outlook on it before more information came out solidifying this technology.The psycommu is officially known as a psycho communicator. The development of this system began when the Flanagan Agency detected reactive waves from the brains of its test subjects in the course of Newtype research. In principle, it is an interface that translates these reactive waves (psycho-waves) into computer language. Because thoughts are transmitted directly to machines, its reaction speed is extremely high, and when it was experimentally installed in mobile armors it made it possible to operate these machines more smoothly than with conventional control systems. It was also possible to control many machines simultaneously, enabling the use of multiple wired mega particle cannons or wireless unmanned bit attack machines to perform all-range attacks.
The Anime Special Collection: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Part 3 (1986)
I think it's interesting here that the biosensor is considered a simplified psycommu, which makes it sound like an inferior version although in this case I think it is referring to the fact that the Biosensor does not control remote weapons (well until the Red Zeta from Gundam Evolve.) While the biosensor is capable of some incredible feats including hyper-dimensional combat I'm more interested on what the tech designers intended vice the supernatural phenomenon that occurred.Axis's Qubeley and the Jupitris's The O, on the other hand, were mobile suits operated by people with strong wills and powers of awareness. The Qubeley was equipped with a psycommu system based on that of the Elmeth, while The O used a bio-sensor that could be called a simplified psycommu system. When these two met in battle, their psychic waves collided in a higher-dimensional combat that transcended physical means such as beam weapons. The Zeta Gundam also seems to have partially incorporated the bio-sensor, although this is unconfirmed, and past a certain level it seems to have been manifesting the power of its pilot Kamille Bidan.
MS Encyclopedia (1992) & Entertainment Bible 2
So it appears the Biosensor developed by, well, the technologys origins are a little murky since this technology appeared on suit built by AE and Scirocco, the novels also mention Franklin Bidan had some involvement. Anyways, the Biosensor design intent appears to be to allow the pilot to better control their Mobile Suit. Unfortunately it appears to only work with Newtypes, the Delta Plus manual mentions it incorporates a Biosensor but it has little effect improving performance on a non-Newtype pilot.MSZ-006 Z GUNDAM
A bio-sensor was later added to the control system, dramatically increasing the machine's responsiveness.
PMX-003 THE O
Because its cockpit is equipped with a bio-sensor, a kind of psycommu system, its responsiveness is unusually high.
So using information from the Psycommu they are reading brain waves allowing one to operate a mobile suit with the speed of thought instead of being limited by the physical limits of semiconductors. A more primitive version of the Psychoframe where "the internal structure...is laced with microscopic psycommu receivers, allowing it to respond immediately to the thoughts of a Newtype pilot." [Gundam Official Guide 2002]
Since the compact Psycommu and Biosensor were both developed in the same time period I'm curious if the Psycommu developed on the Quebeley was fully superior to the Biosensor on the Zeta Gundam or The O. (Specifically, the MS enhancements, not the hyper-dimensional phenomenon) So for example, if the Biosensor made the Zeta and The O much more responsive, does the Psycommu do the same for the Quebeley or is it only for the operation of the funnels?