Ship Sensor Suite

A Ship Sensor Suite is the detection package equipped in most, but not all ships.

It is comprised of a number of different sensors including Densitometers, RADAR, LIDAR, and more.
It is an item of Ship Equipment.
Sensors utilize metrics to quantify their readings and data.
Please also see AAB article: Sensor.

Description (Specifications)

Ship sensor suites are available in three different qualities:

Civilian Quality Sensor Suite: sometimes referred to as a "basic sensor array".
Paramilitary Quality Sensor Suite: sometimes referred to as a "standard sensor array".
Military Quality Sensor Suite: sometimes referred to as an "advanced sensor array".

Notes: The actual quantity and quality of sensors within the suite may vary from model to model, and between ship class, manufacturer's lot, or block. There may be other subtle distinguishments such as characteristic faults or "blind spots" in coverage.

Onboard and internal sensor devices may be tied in to the ship's Anti-hijack Program.

Computer Control Standards

Computer Controls: In almost all cases where the ship's computer can control a given ship function (gravity, doors, etc.), orders from the central bridge computer take precedence over those fed in at local controls - this precedent is inherent in shipboard sensor systems. Some ships have been known to be built with a different system set-up, but this arrangement is commonplace on most vessels within Charted Space.^[1]

The computer will always retain central control of a vessels sensor systems. Any attempt to operate a sensor device independently will be overridden unless the computer is inoperative or the sensor device is physically separated from the ship's internal computer network.^[2]

Sensor Types

Ancillary Equipment

Antenna, dishes and aerials (transmitters and receivers). A concentration of such equipment may be referred to as an "antenna farm".

Acoustic Equipment

Audio Pinger (does not function in a vacuum: it relies on a gas, a fluid or a solid to carry sound) (Active Sensor)
Audio Sensor (microphone, listening device) (does not function in a vacuum: it relies on a gas, a fluid or a solid to carry sound) (Passive Sensor)

Electromagnetic Sensors

Electromagnetism / Electricity / Electric/Magnetic Fields / Electromagnetic Radiation

Field Sensors

Field Sensor (Passive Sensor)
Magnetic Sensor ("Magnetometer") (Passive Sensor)

Electromagnetic Spectrum (Radiation) Sensors

Active IR (infrared radiation, thermal imaging) (Active Sensor)
Laser / Light Sensors (Passive Sensor)
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) – also called LADAR (Laser Detection and Ranging) (Active Sensor)

Prismatic (anti-laser) aerosol (countermeasure)

Passive IR (infrared radiation, thermal imaging) (Passive Sensor)
RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) (Active Sensor)

All-weather RADAR (improved function in a variety of environmental conditions) (Active Sensor)
RADAR Direction Finder (Passive Sensor)
RADAR Jammer (Active ECM)

Radio Detector (Communications Equipment) (Passive Sensor)

Radio Direction Finder (Passive Sensor)
Radio Jammer (Active ECM)

UV Detector (ultraviolet radiation) (Passive Sensor)

EMS Sensor Packages

» An EMS (Electromagnetic Spectrum) Sensor Package is a comprehensive and optimized collection of sensors and electronic systems assembled as a single compact unit.

»» EMS Packages are available "off the shelf" in a wide variety of "basic", "standard" and "advanced" types.

EMS Active Array (Broad Electromagnetic Spectrum) ("AESA") (Active Sensors)

Includes RADAR, all-weather RADAR, LADAR, RADAR jammer, radio jammer, active IR imaging, and image enhancement.

EMS Passive Array (Broad Electromagnetic Spectrum) ("PESA") (Passive Sensors)

Includes Laser Sensors, RADAR Direction Finder, Radio Direction Finder, Radiation Sensor, Passive IR, optical instruments and cameras, light amplification, and image enhancement.

Electronic Countermeasures Package

EMS Jammer (Broad Electromagnetic Spectrum) (Active ECM)

Optical Instruments

Cameras and Telescopes sensitive to energy across the visible spectrum. (Passive Sensors)
- Image Enhancement - a process to digitally manipulate a stored image using computer software. (Data Improvement)
Light Amplification. (Data Improvement)
Lights (visible wavelengths of light: a torch or a spotlight). (Data Improvement). (Active Sensor)
SIID (Starship Image Identification) (may also be referred to as SOIID – Space Object Image Identification). (Passive Sensor)
- SIID Enhancer (SIIDX) (data improvement)

Gravitic Equipment

Gravity / Pseudogravity / Gravitomagnetism / Gravitomagnetic Radiation

Mass Sensor (Mass Detector) (gravitic sensor) (Passive Sensor)
Densitometer (gravitic sensor) (Passive Sensor)
Gravitometer (gravitic sensor) (Passive Sensor)

Navigational Aids

Inertial Locator (navigational aid, data improvement)

Particle Radiation Sensors

Neutrino Sensor (Passive Sensor)
Radiation Sensor (Passive Sensor)

Security Sensors

Motion Detector (Passive Sensor).
Pressure Sensor (Passive Sensor).
Proximeter (Passive Sensor).

Survey Equipment / Environmental Sensors

Anemometer (wind speed meter) (Passive Sensor).
Planetary Surface Elevation Scanner (surveying equipment) (Active Sensor)
Seismometer (earthquake measurement device) (Passive Sensor).

Virus Detectors

Specialized systems developed following the Collapse and the release of Virus, at the end of the Second Civil War.

Volatiles Testers / Biosensors

Atmosphere Tester (sample analysis) (Passive Sensor)
Bioscanner (sample analysis) (Passive Sensor)
Neural Activity Sensor (passive Sensor)

Accessories

Astronics (Electronics used for astrogational purposes).
Avionics (Electronic systems that coordinate and manage navigation within a planetary environment).
Self-Diagnostic Trouble Shooter

History & Background (Dossier)

Except for a few gifted sophont species, most NILs lack the bodily ability to sense more than a very limited part of the electromagnetic spectrum. As technology develops, particularly to the construction of electronics in the TL:7-9 technological epoch, sophonts create sophisticated devices to sense that which their bodies cannot and translate that data into information that they can. ^[3]

Generalized Overview of Sensor Capabilities

Sensor Detection:

Ordinary or commercial starships (typically equipped with "basic" grade sensors) can detect other ships out to a range of about one-half light-second; about 150,000 kilometers. ^[4]
Scout or mercenary starships (utilizing "standard" grade sensors) and Military vessels (mounting "advanced" grade sensors) have detection ranges out to two light-seconds; 600,000 kilometers. ^[5]
- Advanced grade sensors give better resolution and more precise data.

Active Sensors

Ships using active sensors or broadcasting using Communications Equipment are significantly more easy to detect: they are advertising their presence.

Silent Running:

Ships which are maintaining complete silence (relying on passive sensor systems) cannot be detected at distances of greater than half detection range; ships in orbit around a world and also maintaining complete silence cannot be detected at distances greater than one-eighth detection range. ^[6]
Ships may power down onboard systems, such as the power plant, to reduce their emitted signature.
Ships may attempt to use planetary masses and stars for concealment. A ship hidden "behind" such an object will almost always be completely concealed from detection. ^[7]

Vessel Tracking:

Once a vessel has been detected, it can be tracked by anyone up to three light-seconds (about 900,000 kilometers). ^[8]