franchise-star-trek-tng-technical-manual1

3.12.1 Galactic navigational reference systemFar infraredscannersSubspacefield sensorsLong-rangearrayPulsar/quasarcountersStellar pairimagersFed TimebaseBeaconsInertial dampersensors _\OpticalWarp drivesystemsIImpulse drivesystemsLateralsensor arraysOthersensorsGravitonNavigationsensorsreceiversOnboardtimebaseAccelerometersIInertial Baseline^*Input System _^1ReactionControl SysTPropulsionsys inputsFlightControllercomputation methods are employed for each flight regime.During extremely slow in-system maneuvering at sublightvelocity, the main computers, coupled with the reaction controlthrusters, are capable of resolving spacecraft motions to0.05 seconds of arc in axial rotation, and 0.5 meters of singleimpulsetranslation. During terminal docking maneuvers,accuracies of up to 2.75 cm can be maintained. Changes inspacecraft direction of flight, relative to its own center of mass,is measured in bearings, as shown in 3.4.2.Internal sensing devices such as accelerometers, opticalgyros, and velocity vector processors, are grouped within theinertial baseline input system, or IBIS. The IBIS is in realtimecontact with the structural integrity field and inertial dampingsystems, which provide compensating factors to adjustapparent internal sensor values, allowing them to be comparedwith externally derived readings. The IBIS also providesa continuous feedback loop used by the reaction controlsystem to verify propulsion inputs.EXTERNAL SENSORSThe major external sensors employed at sublight includestellar graviton detectors, stellar pair coordinate imagers,pulsar/quasar counters, far infrared scanners, and FederationTimebase Beacon (FTB) receivers. These devices alsocommunicate with the structural integrity field and inertialdamping field processors, inertial sensors, and main computersto obtain an adjusted awareness of the ship's location.The wide range of external sensors make it possible to obtainthe greatest number of readings under many different conditions.The standard external sensor pallet has been designedto insure that coarse position calculations can be made underadverse operating conditions: e.g., magnetic fields, denseinterstellar dust, and stellar flares.While the network of FTBs operate on subspace frequenciesto facilitate position calculations at warp, vehicles atsublight speed can, in fact, obtain more precise positioningdata than ships at warp. In the absence of clear FTB signals,onboard timebase processors continue computing distanceand velocity for later synchronization when FTB pulses areonce again detected.Guidance of the USS Enterprise athigher sublight velocitiescouples the impulse engines with those systems alreadymentioned. External sensor readings, distorted by higherrelativistic speeds, necessitate adjustment by the guidanceand navigation (G&N) subprocessors in order to accuratelycompute ship location and provide proper control inputs to theimpulse engines. Extended travel at high sublight speed is nota preferred mode of travel for Federation vessels, due to theundesired time-dilation effects, but may be required occasionallyif warp systems are unavailable.In the Galaxy class starship, ongoing G&N system researchtasks are handled by a mixed consultation crew oftwelve Tursiops truncatus and T. truncatus gilli, Atlantic and