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Technology - Computers, Commo, and Sensors The technology discussed here is primarily human-centric. Where deviations in usage or capability exist, they are noted at the end of each subject. Computers – A ship’s computer system consists of a central command and control unit known as the Main Computer with extensive processing power and archival data banks, a number of smaller peripheral “Global” controllers, a larger number of stand-alone application specific controllers (ASCs), and the hardware and datalinks that connect them. The Main Computer has three primary functions. It performs the staggering amount of mathematical calculations necessary for safe and accurate stardrive jumps; supervises the functions of the ship’s systems through reports from the Global controllers; and serves as the primary interface between the crew and their spacecraft’s equipment. Global controllers act as overseers in specific zones or sections of the ship and serve as a bridge between the main computer and the ASCs which are actually doing the work. ASCs, as the name implies, are small application specific controllers individually programmed to operate a specific piece of hardware. Large spacecraft may have tens of thousands of ASCs running everything from individual compartment ventilation boxes to the fuel storage cryogenic plant compressors, and are linked to the Global controllers based on related functions or proximity. Due to the stand-alone nature of both ASCs and their supervisory Global controllers, the control systems of spacecraft are very reliable and resistant to a ship-wide computer failure. Even if the Main Computer or the supervisory Global controller fails or loses a communications link due to battle damage or casualty, the ASCs can continue to operate their equipment without outside instruction. Despite enormous amounts
of money and effort, the ability to create an artificial intelligence
with
an intellect and self-awareness on a par with humanity has thus far
failed,
although expert systems with enormous problem solving and predictive
abilities
have been created in order to solve computational problems involved
with
gravity drives and star drives. The Dhaoghissi consider the
pursuit
of AI to be dangerous and have outlawed it. Little is known of
Quilah
computer tech. The Lanteres are rumored to have several
self-aware
AI systems, but these have never been confirmed, nor is confirmation
likely
from a human source. Radar – Microwave and micron band active detection and ranging system. Normally used in the active mode, radiating a beam of microwave or near-IR energy that dense objects such as metal and rock will reflect back to the receiver, providing information on bearing and range that can be calculated over a short period of time into an accurate tracking solution. When used in a passive mode, it can only receive radar energy from another source, and the information is much more difficult to work with. Most radar units are of the phased-array type, and imbedded in the hull at various points to provide coverage in an omnidirectional sphere around the spacecraft. Lidar – A kind of laser-radar with a narrow directional blue-green or UV beam that allows distant objects to be accurately imaged to resolutions down to one square centimeter rather than merely appearing as sensor ‘blips.’ Lidar has a tight beam pattern that makes it difficult for passive mode lidars and Passive EMS sensors to detect – they must pass through or be the target of the beam in order to notice them. Beacause of the narrow and purely directional beam, lidar is not used for early warning detection, but rather a sensor system operator hands off the contact to the lidar unit for individual tracking and imaging once it has been spotted by active radar or other sensors. Passive EMS – Wide-spectrum electromagnetic energy detector array. Capable of detecting and analyzing EM radiation throughout the spectrum from the ELF radio band to hard gamma rays. As this sensor suite is passive, it relies on EM radiation from outside sources, particularly infrared from powerplants and x-rays from an active HEPLAR drive plume, or the microwave band emissions from a radar or UHF/EHF radio unit, or even the x-ray and gamma-ray emissions from a nearby fusion reactor. Passive EMS is very useful in detecting distant contacts, as it has a virtually unlimited range. Developing tracking or firing solutions using Passive EMS is a different matter, as doing so may take minutes or even hours of collecting data for analysis. Gravitic Anomaly Detector – A sensor attuned to variations in the fabric of space-time caused by celestial objects of great mass, by active gravity drives warping space, and by the rip in the continuum formed from a stardrive jump. The gravitic anomaly detector is of most use in detecting and tracking the Dhaoghissi, as the extensive stealthing of their spacecraft makes them difficult to detect by other means. Neutrino Detector – Neutrinos are chargeless, virtually massless particles that have incredibly weak interactions with ordinary matter. They are produced naturally in nuclear reactions and radioactive decay. By squeezing slush hydrogen with a pressure of several kilobars, it is possible to create a medium by which sufficient neutrinos can be detected photoelectrically to provide information about the nature of the source, and its approximate bearing to the detector. Neutrino detectors are used primarily to detect the active fusion plants of spacecraft. To be useful in determining target bearings, neutrino detector tanks are typically very large affairs. Starfighter size neutrino detectors are almost useless as directional sensors, and are mainly used to warn the crew of the presence of an active powerplant in the vicinity. Optics –
Visible light telescope arrays are part of the standard sensor
package.
While other sensors are more powerful and useful in a tactical
environment,
the ability to scan the heavens for visual detection is not without its
benefits. Stealthy spacecraft that can evade radar and passive
EMS
will still occlude starlight, and optical systems are computer
monitored
to notice such events and alert the crew. |
