SENSOR ARRAYS
 sensor array, starboard, towards the leading edge of the saucer section Source: STMech |
Voyager possesses several sensor arrays containing all kinds of instruments which constantly deliver and update scientific, navigational and tactical long-range and short-range sensor information to a variety of workstations inside the ship, in particular to the bridge, engineering and the astrometrics lab. These sensor arrays are also known as "sensor strips" or "sensor platforms" or "sensor pallets". |
 Close-up of the main deflector. [#148 Drive] |
The main sensor package for the ship is located immediately behind the main deflector also known as the main navigational deflector. This incorporates the ship's powerful long-range sensors, which are a cluster of high-power active and passive subspace frequency sensors. The arrangement of the main sensors being located directly behind the main navigational sensor is necessary to work around the laws of physics which preclude long-range readings through a deflector's forcefield. Instead the ship generates long-range EM scanner and gammma ray telescope scans by performing the readings between forcefield refresh sequences. As with other Starfleet vessels, the majority of instruments in this array are active scan subspace devices which gather information at speeds far above that of light. |
The effective range of this array has probably increased for Intrepid-class ships since the earlier Galaxy-class starships whose maximum range was 5 light-years at high-resolution, 17 light-years at medium-to-low resolution where a sensor scan pulse transmitted at warp 9.9997 would take approximately 45 minutes to reach its destination and another 45 minutes to return.
The main function of the sensors is as follows:
The long-range sensor array is designed to scan forwards, in the usual direction of flight, and it also routinely searches for possible flight hazards such as micrometeoroids or other debris. When small particulates or other minor hazards are detected the main deflector automatically sweeps the objects from Voyager's flight path. The scan range and degree of deflection vary with the ship's velocity. Should larger objects be detected in the flight path that might cause a dangerous collision, the computer interface notifies the duty conn officer who can if necessary deal with the situation by manual intervention.
In the late 2360s Galaxy-class starships had the following sensor instruments, and it is likely that Voyager, a slightly later starship (Intrepid-class) and also the most advanced starship at the time of its construction, has the same but in certain cases the specifications have been improved, and their existence on Voyager can be deduced from the verbal reports given by personnel to the commanding officer at various times during the show: gamma ray telescope, variable frequency EM flux sensor, lifeform analysis instrument cluster, parametric subspace field stress sensor, gravimetric distortion scanner, passive neutrino imaging scanner, thermal imaging array. In addition, Voyager has sensors that can detect chroniton radiation (a chroniton is an elementary particle) which is associated with the temporal incursion weaponry used by Annorax of the Krenim [Year of Hell]. These presumably form part of Voyager's temporal sensors which are, it seems, operated from the astrometrics lab [#157 Shattered].
| There are engineering sensor arrays on the ventral section, one on the starboard side and one on the port side. These form a secondary instrument cluster which provides scientific, navigational and tactical data.
Beam here for a diagram of the location of Voyager's sensors, 118Kb, (omitted from image tally). |
 A sensor array on part of the engineering hull Source: STMech |
The navigational, lateral and long-range sensors require maintenance, part-swapping and routine recalibration. Voyager's science station contains a pair of sensor calibration displays allowing the duty science officer to maintain regular observation on sensor self-calibration operations which are almost completely automatic. Recalibration can also be initiated manually, or the level of self-analysis increased.
INTERNAL SENSORS In addition to external sensors, Voyager relies on internal sensors to manage the moment-to-moment measurements and responses needed to keep systems online and the crew alive. For example, sensors continually measure, record, and report on the ship's structural integrity, environmental controls, warp and impulse engine conditions, ODN processing, and transporter reliability. Voyager's audio systems sift through hundreds of ongoing conversations, responding only when a command is detected. Sensor systems, however, have certain limitations. The first two are a matter of practicality. There are more than 15,000 known substances that cannot be identified by normal scans. The sensor database can be modified, however. For example, Inspector Kashyk provided details about the refractive shielding employed by Devore warships, which allowed Voyager's sensors to be attuned to an obscure and normally overlooked range in order to locate the Devore ships [#104 Counterpoint]. Sensors can also be limited by a number of natural phenomena. Ionizing radiation, powerful electromagnetic pulses, and radiothermic interference are common in space and can cause sensor system static, leading to vague or misleading readings.
PROBES In addition to the internal and external sensors, Voyager is equipped with a number of instrumented probes that provide telemetry in areas that cannot be penetrated by the sensors. In 2375, Chakotay developed an advanced metaphasic probe, which was helpful in determining what had happened to Tuvok, Tom Paris and the Doctor after they disappeared into a gravity sinkhole [#107 Gravity].
 Part of the upper dorsal spine aft of the bridge Source: STMech |
 Dorsal sensor array, located aft of the bridge. Aerial view. Source CC. |
Port-side: sensor array shown to the left of
the reaction control thrusters (RCS)
Source: STMech
Forward sensor platform. It is configured in a diamond shape which is unique.
Source ST:M
SPECIFIC OR DETAILED DATA ON SENSORS KNOWN FROM [VOYAGER] EPISODES The following information is given in chronological order but with reference to the same subjects:
The Badlands, seen in [#1 and #2 Caretaker], is a region of space in the Alpha Quadrant, near the Cardassian border, which is populated with dangerous plasma storms. Accordingly the Badlands are considered extremely dangerous for space travel and numerous ships have been lost there. Due to this (and the fact that the plasma fields also disrupt sensors [DS9: Heart of Stone]), Janeway asks Admiral Patterson if Tom Paris, an excellent pilot, can be assigned to Voyager [#118 Relativity].
Voyager, like other Starfleet vessels, include polaron scanners in the sensor complement. (A polaron is a subatomic particle.) The Kazon-Nistrim, one of the most violent sects of the Kazon Collective, have ships capable of warp drive, some with integrated masking circuitry which affects Federation sensors in such a way as to render them invisible. Voyager is able to make such a vessel briefly visible by illuminating it with a polaron burst [#11 State of Flux], and presumably this technique is used throughout the time of constant Kazon-Nistrim attacks in 2371-2. In a reversal of this situation, in 2373 [#46 The Swarm] Voyager proceeds undetected through the sensor net of the xenophobic civilisation called the Swarm until one of the tiny Swarm ships detaches itself from a previous victim's ship and fires a polaron burst which makes Voyager once again visible on the Swarm's sensors. In 2372, on stardate 49011, in [#22 Non Sequitur], Kim runs a polaron scan while piloting the shuttlecraft called Drake when he accidentally intersects a timestream and ends up in an alternate reality.
The most precise instrument available aboard Voyager is considered to be the magneton scan, a highly accurate sensor protocol. It is used in 2371, on stardate 48734, in an effort to locate a suspected alien presence aboard the ship [#13 Cathexis].
Trinimbic interference is a powerful energy disturbance in the upper atmosphere of a Class-L planet. The interference can render sensors and transporters ineffective and can cause heavy atmospheric turbulence. Voyager encounters such interference while trying to land the ship in 2371 [#20 The 37's].
A multiphase pulse is an energy burst characterised by signals of overlapping frequencies and nutation. Multiphase pulses can be generated by Starfleet sensor devices, such as a tricorder. Ensign Kim uses a multiphasic scan to determine the defensive capabilities of Bothan ships in 2372, stardate unknown, in [#24 Persistence of Vision].
A tachyon sweep of a nebula can be used to detect cloaked vessels within. Janeway witnessed this while aboard USS Excelsior, captained by Hikaru Sulu, when, during a mind-meld with Tuvok, she was transported back to 2293, on or about stardate 9521.6, in [#44 Flashback]. In [#171 Endgame, Part One], Voyager's sensors detect tachyon emissions, from which Janeway deduces some sort of temporal rift, which turns out to be a gateway opened by her older self in order to travel back in time and space. (Unlike Starfleet vessels, Romulan spacecraft use tachyon scan sensor technology [TNG: The Pegasus].)
Sensors are unable to penetrate the surface of the bio-mass attached to one of the damaged Borg cubes encountered in 2373, stardate 50984.3, in [#68 Scorpion, Part One], and are thus unable to identify it, and in addition tricorder sensors on the ground are unable to do anything other than detect the presence of a member of Species 8472; sensors which are an integral part of the transporter systems are unable to get a lock on the away team due to bio-electric interference emanating from the alien.
In 2374, Voyager's long-range sensors detect a dicyclic warp signature, which is the energy characteristic produced by the warp engines of Hirogen hunting vessels [#84 Prey]. In this way Voyager is able to detect Hirogen ships and hence the approach or presence of potential threats.
Voyager's tactical sensors gather data on a ship or planetary facility of threat forces. Data is fed directly to the tactical/security station (manned by Tuvok) for an analysis of the defensive and offensive configuration by both the computer and the duty officer. The actual number of variables involved in spacecraft defence is staggering and would overwhelm wholly manual efforts to protect the ship. It is not as simple as pointing and shooting: as at the late 2360s, in the total Starfleet history of armed encounters between spacecraft, over 3,500 unique spacecraft combat maneuvers (SCMs) have been recorded. As combat conditions can change within fractions of a second, high-speed calculations and tactical choices change very rapidly. Computers and semi-autonomous weapon systems assist the duty tactical officer: general result-orientated firing and movements orders from command personnel are translated by LCARS and scripted into possible scenarios, the details of which (such as firing sequences, precise timings, unusual targeting requirements) are made available on a constantly updated basis to the tactical officer to assess, although he is able at any time to input any additional data he considers important and re-run the assessments, as well as to instigate manual firing (as in [#79 Concerning Flight]. Should the order be given to deploy phasers or torpedoes, targeting scanners transmit the commands to the automated firing systems.
example of the sensor display on the bridge's secondary tactical station;
the sensors can also detect food supplies on the target vessel
[#161 The Void]
NOT USING CLOAKING TECHNOLOGY TO HIDE FROM SENSORS Voyager, like all Federation Starfleet vessels other than USS Defiant which has a special dispensation from the Romulan government [DS9: Defiant], does not develop or use cloaking technology, being forbidden to do so under the terms of the Treaty of Algeron [TNG: The Pegasus]. A cloaking device is an energy screen generator used to render an object (typically, a space vehicle) invisible to the eye and to most sensor systems. Most cloaking devices require so much power that a vessel so equipped cannot use weapons systems without decloaking [TOS: Balance of Terror] (although one ship was discovered not to have that vulnerability, in [Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country]). Romulan and Klingon spacecraft are often equipped with cloaking devices. When in 2377, on stardate 54518, in [#160 Prophecy], Voyager is attacked by a cloaked Klingon vessel which turns out to be an antiquated D7 battle cruiser dating from the era of Captain James T. Kirk, Voyager's crew knows its systems because of its age, and Seven carries out a metaphasic scan to pinpoint the Klingon vessel's location.
  After using a metaphasic scan to detect the cloaked Klingon D7 battle cruiser, Voyager fires phasers (opens in a new window) (225Kb, approx. download for 56K modem 43 seconds)  |
LOCATION OF THE SENSOR MAINTENANCE SECTION Sensor maintenance and ops is located next to the main forward sensor cluster, in the upper forward section of the primary hull.
location diagram (excerpt from the master situation display which is at the rear of the bridge) (pop-up window)
Behind-the-scenes: extract from 'The Making Of Star Trek' by Stephen E. Whitfield (i.e. Poe) and Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek):
"Necessity (sometimes meaning desperation) very often was the reason why certain terms, ideas, or items of equipment were created. This was certainly the case with the term 'sensors'. The more complex the Enterprise became, the easier it was for the characters to get wrapped up in technical dialogue. The characters were in danger of having such a vast assortment of terminology (however clever and scientifically correct) that the audience would never be able to follow what they were saying.
It's easier to use the generic term 'sensor'. It senses things, tells you if life is out there, analyzes chemical components, and does practically anythng. Scientifically, the term sensor is a colloquial expression applied to many different items having similar functions. Even today our language is full of these expressions. We tend to say 'gun'. We don't say 'rifle', 'repeating rifle', 'semi-automatic rifle with eight-inch barrel', and so forth. We simply say 'gun', a general term applied to many different items having similar functions.
We were forced into using terms like 'sensor' by the realization that unless we limited terminology to simple generic terms, no one, including ourselves, would understand our scripts."
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