Sensors Station: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:08, 27 May 2025

NOTICE: This page is a Work in Progress as much of the lore/Development for the game is yet to be established.

The Sensors Station is the primary scientific station on the Bridge of Magellan class starships. Manned by a member of the Science department, they are used to display stellar perform surveys and assist in ship navigation.

Location and Layout

The sensors station is one of the forward consoles. It is located on the port side of the Bridge alongside the communications station, opposite the defence and tactical stations, and behind the Helm station. It is close to the captain and first officer's chairs.

The sensors station features one screen connected to the display. It is split between two panels: configuration and sensor views.

Configuration: Controls the output of the sensors and their settings, including the viewing settings, the display range and viewing configuration.
Sensor Output: Four viewing modes for the sensors, which can be controlled through the configuration panel. Each display gives an overview of the region, including lists of objects To see details of what each sensor data point means see Sensor Data Explained
- GPS Mode: Shows the entire Milky Way galaxy and the ship's position in it.
- Long Range: Shows systems within 2000 LY and allows long range surveys of star systems.
- Medium Range: Shows the local star system and allows medium range surveys on it.
- Short Range: Shows an orbital object within short range and allows short range surveys to be performed on them.

Development

Tech Demo 2

In Tech Demo 2, the sensors station featured panel, with configuration options on the left and inputs in the centre and right. Three display views were available in this version: Galactic Position (GPS), Stellar Region and Star System. These functioned similar to the GPS, Long and Medium Range settings seen in the later version. Unusable buttons for planetary and region views also featured, the former becoming short range sensors and the latter intending to display specific areas on stellar objects of focus. The sensors also used coloured orbs to display the star and planet types. For example, in planetary view, green orbs denoted Earth-like planets capable of housing life, red denoted magma worlds, and brown terrestrial planets incapable of supporting life. In the configuration panel, only the sensors settings and display range could be altered. The scan target and send to helm buttons were also located in the panel.

Tech Demo 3

In Tech Demo 3, the sensor station was altered into two different panels. The configuration panel was added, which included cycling sensors mode and being able to configure sensor output. These included setting up focal points on the GPS mode, being able place a focal point to list objects from, filter settings to focus on certain planetary or star types, or show information such as temperature regions or tech signatures. The sensors input panel were separated into two tabs; input list and summary tab. Beneath the summary tab was smaller tab containing the galactic and local coordinates, where the "Send to Helm" button is located.

Tech Demo 3 also added a more detailed survey function, gathering information about each object from sensor mode which could be viewed in . For example, Level 1 (Long Range Surveys) gathers information about the star system such as Roche limit tests and habitual zone information, whilst Level 2 (Medium Range) including physical characteristics on orbital objects and signatures for technology. Level 3 (Short Range) were intended to feature more detailed information including atmospheric data like pressure and chemicals, ocean chemistry, and greenhouse effects. However, due to time constraints, these features were delayed until the next patch cycle. In addition, the progress metre was added to each star system, completion of which achieved by performing each survey type on the star and its orbital objects.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 The sensors station features one screen connected to the display. It is split between two panels: configuration and sensor views.
 *'''Configuration:''' Controls the output of the sensors and their settings, including the viewing settings, the display range and viewing configuration.
-*'''Sensor Output:''' Four viewing modes for the sensors, which can be controlled through the configuration panel. To see details of what each sensor data point means see [[Sensor Data Explained]]
+*'''Sensor Output:''' Four viewing modes for the sensors, which can be controlled through the configuration panel. Each display gives an overview of the region, including lists of objects To see details of what each sensor data point means see [[Sensor Data Explained]]
 **'''GPS Mode:''' Shows the entire [[Milky Way]] galaxy and the ship's position in it.
 **'''Long Range:''' Shows systems within 2000 LY and allows long range surveys of star systems.
 **'''Medium Range:''' Shows the local star system and allows medium range surveys on it.
 **'''Short Range:''' Shows an orbital object within short range and allows short range surveys to be performed on them.
+==Development==
+===[[Tech Demo 2]]===
+[[File:Sensors prototype 0-224.jpg|thumb|300px|A prototype for the medium range display for the Sensors Station in [[Tech Demo 2]].]]
+In Tech Demo 2, the sensors station featured panel, with configuration options on the left and inputs in the centre and right. Three display views were available in this version: Galactic Position (GPS), Stellar Region and Star System. These functioned similar to the GPS, Long and Medium Range settings seen in the later version. Unusable buttons for planetary and region views also featured, the former becoming short range sensors and the latter intending to display specific areas on stellar objects of focus. The sensors also used coloured orbs to display the star and planet types. For example, in planetary view, green orbs denoted Earth-like planets capable of housing life, red denoted magma worlds, and brown terrestrial planets incapable of supporting life. In the configuration panel, only the sensors settings and display range could be altered. The scan target and send to helm buttons were also located in the panel.
+===[[Tech Demo 3]]===
+[[File:Sensors_station_medium_range.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The medium range display for the Sensors Station in [[Tech Demo 3]].]]
+In Tech Demo 3, the sensor station was altered into two different panels. The configuration panel was added, which included cycling sensors mode and being able to configure sensor output. These included setting up focal points on the GPS mode, being able place a focal point to list objects from, filter settings to focus on certain planetary or star types, or show information such as temperature regions or tech signatures. The sensors input panel were separated into two tabs; input list and summary tab. Beneath the summary tab was smaller tab containing the galactic and local coordinates, where the "Send to Helm" button is located.
+Tech Demo 3 also added a more detailed survey function, gathering information about each object from sensor mode which could be viewed in . For example, Level 1 (Long Range Surveys) gathers information about the star system such as Roche limit tests and habitual zone information, whilst Level 2 (Medium Range) including physical characteristics on orbital objects and signatures for technology. Level 3 (Short Range) were intended to feature more detailed information including atmospheric data like pressure and chemicals, ocean chemistry, and greenhouse effects. However, due to time constraints, these features were delayed until the next patch cycle. In addition, the progress metre was added to each star system, completion of which achieved by performing each survey type on the star and its orbital objects.
 [[Category:Bridge Stations]]
 [[Category:Ship Systems]]
 [[Category:Gameplay Mechanics]]