View source for TechMemo:Sensors:SESR

System of Enhanced Sensor Resolution
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Version: 1.1
SD: 130214


Description
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The System of Enhanced Sensor Resolution has been designed to complement the faster-than-light (long range) sensors of a ship of a given type compared to the original long range sensors installed in the ship.  As each starship class has a different sensor specifications and types, there's roughly a type of SESR for each ship class, which can be fine tuned to a specific vessel.

The principles behind the SESR design are simple.  By providing a greater diameter of measurement, ships get a greater paralax when resolving distant objects, which greatly boosts the long range usability of the sensors.  The resolution that a sensor system is able to provide is proportional to the amount of information the sensor collects.  In traditional electromagnetic sensors (radars, telescopes, ...) the resolution is proportional to the diameter of the parabolic dish, main lense diameter, ... The coupling of the SESR and the ship sensors creates a virtual sensor system with a greater sensibility which provides enhanced resolution.  This enhanced resolution also enhances the effectiveness of the long range sensors, allowing to discriminate between two close objects farther than the nominal usable distances.  While not the primary focus of the system, it also enhances short range sensors, like radars and telescopes, providing a much greater resolution in a broader range of frequencies.

The operation of the system is straightforward.  A SESR module is towed by the ship, at a given distance (some kilometers), by a highly resistant polymeric cable. This gives the diameter of resolution.  The SESR module is linked with the ship computers through optical fibers attached to the cable that transmit the data directly to the computer core, which uses specialized programs to integrate the data from both the ship and the SESR module sensors, creating a much better image of distant objects.    The modules have attitude control thrusters that allow to position the module in any position relative to the ship, thus allowing to aim the system where it's interesting.  Once in position, the inertia will keep the module solidary to the ship course.

The SESR can only work at impulse speeds, for the short range sensors are basically useless at speeds greater than light.  On the other hand, a ship long range sensors are carefully calibrated to work despite the gravitatory distortions created by the warp engine through the ship nacelles.  However, as the SESR is attached to a ship, the warp field renders the module useless.

By the design of the system, the sensory enhancement is directional, working better in the perpendicular direction of the line created by the ship and the module and being minimal in directions parallel to this line.  Sensor resolution is enhanced through an angle of approximately 0.2 degrees.  While of limited tactical application, the boost to sensor resolution is very useful for surveying distant objects with the long range sesors.

The normal configuration is to tow the module in the tail of the ship. The reason for this is simple. A ship scanning its surroundings creates a volume of space that it controls.  Thus, another ship trying to stealthly scan that enemy ship will naturally try to stay in maximum silence, using passive sensors only, out of reach of the enemy ship sensors, but as near to those limits as possible.  This situation calls for a good lateral sensors system, that operate at maximum efficiency while we are moving perpendicular to that a ship.

Another common situation is an orbit around a planet.  Ships usually adopt a standard, circular, equatorial orbit around the planet, in which the ship bow-stern line is perpendicular to the planet surface, so the impulse engines are ready to easily and rapidly abandon that orbit in case of need.

The SESR has been designed to work optimally in these situations, while being useful for any other needs a ship in impulse speeds may have, that's the reason for using the cable and optical phibers, as using a tractor beam and radio could compromise the ship position.

As the SESR is stored and deployed in a ship shuttlebay, all the deployment, recovery and operation hardware is stored there as well, the usual ship shuttle compliment is necessarily reduced.  This is a considerable shortcoming that prevents its installation to all ships.

Physical specs for the SESR modules are given below.  The shape of the modules is similar to a huge torpedo case.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
||Type || Mass (kg) || Size (relative to a small shuttlepod)
|-
||I || 3,200 || 110%
|-
||II || 3,800 || 175%
|-
||III || 4,500 || 210%
|-
||IV  || 6,200 || 280%
|}

SESR module type is given by the broad general types of sensors, listed below.  The table also lists approximate enhancement in resolution and in distance (LR) of useful discrimination of close object as compared to the serial ship sensors.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|rowspan=2|Type ||rowspan=2|   Sensor ||rowspan=2|    Distance ||colspan=2| Resolution
|-
| (LR)|| (SR)
|-
|I||      Basic||       13%||        19%||   23%
|-
|II||     DELPHI||      17%||        21%||   26%
|-
|III||    ORACLE||      18%||        23%||   29%
|-
|IV||     AUGUR||       16%||        18%||   23%
|}

Note: AUGUR sensors are too integrated to their ship characteristics to get better enhancements.

SESR design (c) 2000, 2001 David Suarez de Lis
For use in Alt.Starfleet.RPG only.