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Ron Rudat designed B.A.T.S. in 1985. Notice in the sketch above it's annotated "Bionic Trooper 1986" not "Battle Android Trooper"! Bionic means "having artificial body parts, especially electromechanical ones." The term "was popularized by the 1970s television series The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, which were based upon the novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin, which was influenced by Steele's work, and feature humans given superhuman powers by electromechanical implants." (source: Wikipedia)
Ron didn't recall having any intent that the BAT might be an augmented human at first, but it's interesting nonetheless. Bionic Trooper's left arm sure looks human in that sketch. As we all know, this concept morphed into the Battle Android Trooper. An android is "a robot or synthetic organism designed to look and act like a human." (source: Wikipedia)
I guess it's for the best, so the Joes and Sgt. Slaughter in particular would have an enemy to blow up and dismantle.
I guess it's for the best, so the Joes and Sgt. Slaughter in particular would have an enemy to blow up and dismantle.
Creator Commentary
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Kirk Bozigian (G.I. Joe Product Manager) and Ron Rudat (R&D Figure Designer) discuss where the idea for a lenticular label came from and how Ron got the job done.
Production: 1986 B.A.T.S.: Cobra Android Trooper
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Includes: backpack with storage for separate laser, torch and gripper arm attachments, right hand
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