Telephoto Sensor Arrays and Whisker Drones: A 100 Word Piece of Sci-Fi Minutia
The term Sensors refers to a broad range of devices on a space ship that are used to observe the environment outside the spacecraft. But sometimes what you really need to do is stick your head out the window and have a look. In deep space it is better if you ask your drone to do it for you.
Telephoto sensor arrays and whisker drones are variations on passive EM sensors. Unlike the standard PESA, Telephoto systems detect a narrower EM band, and use lenses and filters to manipulate the light before it strikes the receptor. These systems are similar to historical cameras or telescopes, and are typically used to assess the dimensions and reflective properties of objects. A whisker drone is a tiny self-propelled camera that moves along with the ship and transmits back information back to the ship. Capital ships whisker drones have a wide variety of sensors, but smaller ships generally only employ a telephoto system.
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? Responses (2)
I'm not sure why you would limit it to video feeds? A smartphone has more. Given the tech level implied, EM, gravity, and radiation meters would be small and cheap enough to be standard. And of course the video would extend into both the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum.