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[[File:Security sensor display 2369.jpg|thumb|A sensor reading of [[Deep Space 9]] with real-time output on a [[Cardassian]] terminal]]
The term '''sensor''' is used to refer to any device which is used to scan, record, or otherwise observe any aspect of an environment surrounding a [[starship]], [[Fixed Installations|station]], or person. This could be as simple a device as a manual camera or light sensor, or as complicated as the myriad devices designed to scan many aspects of the matter and energies of [[subspace]], [[space]], [[time]] and stellar bodies that make up all of existence.
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The term '''sensor''', also referred to aboard [[starship]]s as '''subspace sensors''' or '''sensor probes''', was used to refer to any device that was used to scan, record, or otherwise observe any aspect of an environment surrounding a starship, [[space station]], or person. This could be as simple a device as a manual camera or light sensor, or as complicated as the myriad devices designed to scan many aspects of the matter and energies of [[subspace]], [[space]], [[time]], and stellar bodies that make up all of existence.
   
  +
== Sensor probe ==
There are two basic types of sensor arrays employed: passive and active. A passive scan is less obtrusive than an active scan, and may not be detected by the subject being sensed. ({{film|1}})
 
  +
While the term "sensor probe" was used to indicate sensors used for probing, ({{TOS|Mudd's Women|For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky}}; {{TNG|Skin of Evil}}) the term also referred to a specific type of automated [[probe]], used by [[Starfleet]]. Such a probe was launched by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}} to scan [[Delphi Ardu IV]] in [[2364]] and to monitor a convoy used as bait for the [[Maquis]] in [[2370]]. ({{TNG|The Last Outpost|Preemptive Strike}}) The {{USS|Valiant|NCC-74210}} also used such a probe to study the [[Jem'Hadar battleship]] in [[2374]]. ({{DS9|Valiant}})
   
  +
== Use on vessels ==
There are many ways to mask a sensor scan, sensor screens are the most commonly used. ({{TOS|The Mark of Gideon}}) One can also mask a sensor scan with certain materials, or [[radiation]]. ({{TNG|Who Watches The Watchers|The Pegasus}}) But to truly hide from a sensor scan one would actually have to change one's molecular structure. ({{TOS|Obsession}})
 
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[[File:Voyagers Sensor logs.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Voyager}}'s sensor readings at various time indexes]]
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Sensors of various types played roles in almost every aspect of space travel. Every type of sensor from [[navigational scan|navigational sensors]] to [[autonomic response analysis|ARA sensors]] created data to be interpreted by the vessels computers and operators. In most situations, the sensor data revealed information that was not apparent through other data collecting means, such as visual observations. One example of this was in the sensor data of the {{USS|Voyager}} during one encounter with the [[Borg]]. Sensor readings from the ships active scans recorded "random subspace energy fluctuations" at various [[time index]] in the [[sensor log]]s. Closer examination of this data revealed the detections were not random fluctuations but communications to [[Seven of Nine]], one of ''Voyager''{{'}}s crew. ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}})
   
==Sensor devices==
+
== Sensor scans ==
 
There were two basic types of sensor arrays employed: passive and active. A passive scan was less obtrusive than an active scan, and might not be detected by the subject being sensed. Sensors were divided further into short- and long-range types and low and high energy types. ({{film|1}}; {{TNG|Conspiracy}})
*[[chemical identity sensors]]
 
  +
*[[detronal scanner]]
 
  +
{{bginfo|The exact dividing point between short- and long-range sensors was not clearly established on screen. Long-range sensors picked up information about targets that were on occasion several hours travel time distant from the sensing ship. Short-range sensors seemed to be restricted to a range consistent with the immediate environment of the sensing ship (the term "immediate" being relative), and are most often mentioned being used to scan the surface of planets from orbit or to target weapons fire. This uncertainty extends to the difference between low and high energy scans.}}
*[[electromagnetic scanner]]
 
  +
*[[electron resonance scanner]]
 
 
While there are many ways to mask a sensor scan, sensor screens were the most commonly used. ({{TOS|The Mark of Gideon}}) One could also mask a sensor scan with certain materials, or [[radiation]]. ({{TNG|Who Watches The Watchers|The Pegasus}}) Sensors and [[communication]]s can also be disrupted by interference from a [[planet]]'s [[troposphere]] and [[ionosphere]]. ({{film|2}}; {{TNG|The Dauphin}}; {{film|7}}) But to truly hide from a sensor scan, one would actually have to change one's molecular structure. ({{TOS|Obsession}})
*[[gamma ray scanner]]
 
  +
*[[gravimetric scanner]]
 
  +
In [[2364]], prior to [[stardate]] 41775, the [[Federation]] [[starship]]s {{USS|Puget Sound}} and {{USS|Ganymede}} were ordered by a [[Starfleet]] [[admiral]] not to scan a particular subsector with a high energy scan. ({{TNG|Conspiracy}})
*[[gravimetric sensor]]
 
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*[[gravitic sensor net]]
 
  +
In early [[2368]], when investigating the [[Phoenix Cluster]], the lateral sensors of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} were booked solid for [[planet]]ary observation. ({{TNG|The Game}})
*[[graviton telescope]]
 
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*[[holographic imager]]
 
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Sensors were used by the ''[[Vahklas]]'', a [[Vulcan]] civilian [[transport]] ship, which had left the [[planet]] [[Vulcan (planet)|Vulcan]] in approximately [[2143]]. When [[Subcommander]] [[T'Pol]] was studying the [[Arachnid Nebula]] aboard the ''Vahklas'' in 2151, she was temporarily unable to scan the nebula's [[disodium]] layer, due to the fact that the transport ship's lateral sensors were out of alignment. ({{ENT|Fusion}})
*[[interphasic scanner]]
 
  +
*[[laser scanner]]
 
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== Implementation on vessels ==
*[[long-range tachyon scanner]]
 
  +
The [[Starfleet]] vessel {{NX|Enterprise}} was equipped with a lateral [[sensor array]]. When [[Captain]] [[Jonathan Archer]] and [[Commander]] [[Charles Tucker III]] were inspecting the new [[prototype]] {{class|NX}} ship in an [[inspection pod]] during [[2151]], one of the components that Archer wanted to view was the lateral sensor array. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}})
*[[magneton scanner]]
 
  +
*[[micro-tunneling sensor]]
 
  +
In [[2370]], the [[Romulan]] [[D'deridex class|warbird]] [[IRW Terix|''Terix'']] performed a sensor scan of [[Asteroid gamma 601]] in the [[Devolin system]] with its lateral sensor array in hope to locate the {{USS|Pegasus}}. ({{TNG|The Pegasus}})
*[[medical scanner]]
 
  +
*[[MK-7 scanner]]
 
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{{class|Galaxy}} [[starship]]s were equipped with high-resolution, multi-spectral sensors. ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}})
*[[MK-12 scanner]]
 
*[[molecular imaging scanner]]
 
*[[myographic scanner]]
 
*[[neutron densitometer]]
 
*[[parametric scanner]]
 
*[[pheromonic sensor]]
 
*[[proximity sensor]]
 
*[[psychotricorder]]
 
*[[pulmonary scanner]]
 
*[[Sikarian atmospheric sensor]]
 
*[[tachyon detection grid]]
 
*[[targeting scanner]]
 
*[[tomographic imaging scanner]]
 
*[[tricorder]]
 
*[[scanner]] (pre-Federation)
 
*[[sensor grid]]
 
*[[submicron scanner]]
 
*[[trident scanner]]
 
*[[weapons scanner]]
 
   
 
==Types of scans==
 
==Types of scans==
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*[[geological scan]]
 
*[[geological scan]]
 
*[[high-resolution scan]]
 
*[[high-resolution scan]]
**[[passive high-resolution series]]
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*[[passive high-resolution series]]
 
*[[Internal sensors|internal scan]]
 
*[[Internal sensors|internal scan]]
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*[[Long range sensor scan|long range sensor scan]]
 
*[[magneton scan]]
 
*[[magneton scan]]
 
*[[navigational scan]]
 
*[[navigational scan]]
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*[[virtual positron imaging scan]]
 
*[[virtual positron imaging scan]]
   
===See also===
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==See also==
* [[Tools and technology|List of tools and technology]]
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* [[:Category:Sensor technology|List of sensor devices]]
  +
* [[Sensor log]]
 
[[Category:Technology]]
 
   
 
[[de:Sensor]]
 
[[de:Sensor]]
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[[fr:Détecteur]]
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[[nl:Sensor]]
 
[[Category:Sensor technology| ]]

Revision as of 12:25, 31 July 2013

Security sensor display 2369

A sensor reading of Deep Space 9 with real-time output on a Cardassian terminal

The term sensor, also referred to aboard starships as subspace sensors or sensor probes, was used to refer to any device that was used to scan, record, or otherwise observe any aspect of an environment surrounding a starship, space station, or person. This could be as simple a device as a manual camera or light sensor, or as complicated as the myriad devices designed to scan many aspects of the matter and energies of subspace, space, time, and stellar bodies that make up all of existence.

Sensor probe

While the term "sensor probe" was used to indicate sensors used for probing, (TOS: "Mudd's Women", "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky"; TNG: "Skin of Evil") the term also referred to a specific type of automated probe, used by Starfleet. Such a probe was launched by the USS Enterprise to scan Delphi Ardu IV in 2364 and to monitor a convoy used as bait for the Maquis in 2370. (TNG: "The Last Outpost", "Preemptive Strike") The USS Valiant also used such a probe to study the Jem'Hadar battleship in 2374. (DS9: "Valiant")

Use on vessels

Voyagers Sensor logs

USS Voyager's sensor readings at various time indexes

Sensors of various types played roles in almost every aspect of space travel. Every type of sensor from navigational sensors to ARA sensors created data to be interpreted by the vessels computers and operators. In most situations, the sensor data revealed information that was not apparent through other data collecting means, such as visual observations. One example of this was in the sensor data of the USS Voyager during one encounter with the Borg. Sensor readings from the ships active scans recorded "random subspace energy fluctuations" at various time index in the sensor logs. Closer examination of this data revealed the detections were not random fluctuations but communications to Seven of Nine, one of Voyager's crew. (VOY: "Dark Frontier")

Sensor scans

There were two basic types of sensor arrays employed: passive and active. A passive scan was less obtrusive than an active scan, and might not be detected by the subject being sensed. Sensors were divided further into short- and long-range types and low and high energy types. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture; TNG: "Conspiracy")

The exact dividing point between short- and long-range sensors was not clearly established on screen. Long-range sensors picked up information about targets that were on occasion several hours travel time distant from the sensing ship. Short-range sensors seemed to be restricted to a range consistent with the immediate environment of the sensing ship (the term "immediate" being relative), and are most often mentioned being used to scan the surface of planets from orbit or to target weapons fire. This uncertainty extends to the difference between low and high energy scans.

While there are many ways to mask a sensor scan, sensor screens were the most commonly used. (TOS: "The Mark of Gideon") One could also mask a sensor scan with certain materials, or radiation. (TNG: "Who Watches The Watchers", "The Pegasus") Sensors and communications can also be disrupted by interference from a planet's troposphere and ionosphere. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; TNG: "The Dauphin"; Star Trek Generations) But to truly hide from a sensor scan, one would actually have to change one's molecular structure. (TOS: "Obsession")

In 2364, prior to stardate 41775, the Federation starships USS Puget Sound and USS Ganymede were ordered by a Starfleet admiral not to scan a particular subsector with a high energy scan. (TNG: "Conspiracy")

In early 2368, when investigating the Phoenix Cluster, the lateral sensors of the USS Enterprise-D were booked solid for planetary observation. (TNG: "The Game")

Sensors were used by the Vahklas, a Vulcan civilian transport ship, which had left the planet Vulcan in approximately 2143. When Subcommander T'Pol was studying the Arachnid Nebula aboard the Vahklas in 2151, she was temporarily unable to scan the nebula's disodium layer, due to the fact that the transport ship's lateral sensors were out of alignment. (ENT: "Fusion")

Implementation on vessels

The Starfleet vessel Enterprise was equipped with a lateral sensor array. When Captain Jonathan Archer and Commander Charles Tucker III were inspecting the new prototype NX-class ship in an inspection pod during 2151, one of the components that Archer wanted to view was the lateral sensor array. (ENT: "Broken Bow")

In 2370, the Romulan warbird Terix performed a sensor scan of Asteroid gamma 601 in the Devolin system with its lateral sensor array in hope to locate the USS Pegasus. (TNG: "The Pegasus")

Galaxy-class starships were equipped with high-resolution, multi-spectral sensors. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

Types of scans

See also