PDRMN Sensors
The PDRM relies primarily on distributed sensor systems along the entire length of the ship, unlike the UN who tend to use multiple high power units, or the GCC who tend to use more sensor drones. Their normal sensor suite consists of the majority of the electromagnetic spectrum down to EUV. However, they must have separate detection systems for Gamma and X-Ray.
A typical PDRM sensor panel, 1x1 m, can by itself detect items down to around in radians λ/√2 with λ in m. This is a minimum of 0.00175" for 10 nm UV light, to a maximum of 1 radian (i.e can only just detect directionality) with a UHF radio signal. However, it can detect the prescience of frequencies up to around 50 kHz. Above that, it must rely on other, specialized sensors, such as for the PDRMN emergency comms system.
However, these sensor panels will absolutely cover most ships, and are stitched together with the help of the ship AI to increase resolution dramatically. A PDRMN Dreadnought for example, perpendicular to its direction of travel, can distinguish items 2.4E-6 arcseconds apart, which is around 2 cm at 1 Gm at EUV, or around 75 cm at 1 Gm for Visible. This astonishing visual fidelity is due to the phased arrays, which require solid structures. With some other specialized equipment, such as low frequency radio detectors and some gamma ray and xray telescopes, a Dreadnought will be able to see anything within around a light hour, make an accurate threat assessment of anything within around a light-minute of itself, and easily discern minute details about anything within a light second.
However, there are problems with brightness and noise. A ship will have a couple of primary panels that are cooled independantly of the rest of the ship, kept at around 2.5 mK. These are capable of detecting very dim objects, but with slightly less resolution. These sensors are typically capable of resolving an item that gives off only a couple photons that hit the detector, and are incredibly sensitive.
Most of the smaller PDRMN ships cannot detect directly behind them without external help, due to their drive plume, and even on larger ships it is an area with poor resolution. The drive plume, like a small star, blocks all radio and acts as a giant electromagnetic beacon, emitting every kind of radiation in swathes. Larger ships have pylons that stretch out the point that they can see past, but smaller ships must use drones with sensor patches flying a couple hundred meters away to image behind themselves.
No ship can be stealthy within the SS, they all act as small stars that can be detected throughout the solar system when lit, and when not lit can barely move. As such, advance warning would be implied for any kind of engagement. However, a few "stealth" programs do exist, such as various asteroids with mass drivers hidden inside, or attempts to cool a package down for stealthy delivery with blocks of ice.
Most PDRMN suits will have small sensor patches on them, but these will typically not be phased throughout the whole body. They do greatly enhance the ability to see of any person within the suit.
A typical PDRM sensor panel, 1x1 m, can by itself detect items down to around in radians λ/√2 with λ in m. This is a minimum of 0.00175" for 10 nm UV light, to a maximum of 1 radian (i.e can only just detect directionality) with a UHF radio signal. However, it can detect the prescience of frequencies up to around 50 kHz. Above that, it must rely on other, specialized sensors, such as for the PDRMN emergency comms system.
However, these sensor panels will absolutely cover most ships, and are stitched together with the help of the ship AI to increase resolution dramatically. A PDRMN Dreadnought for example, perpendicular to its direction of travel, can distinguish items 2.4E-6 arcseconds apart, which is around 2 cm at 1 Gm at EUV, or around 75 cm at 1 Gm for Visible. This astonishing visual fidelity is due to the phased arrays, which require solid structures. With some other specialized equipment, such as low frequency radio detectors and some gamma ray and xray telescopes, a Dreadnought will be able to see anything within around a light hour, make an accurate threat assessment of anything within around a light-minute of itself, and easily discern minute details about anything within a light second.
However, there are problems with brightness and noise. A ship will have a couple of primary panels that are cooled independantly of the rest of the ship, kept at around 2.5 mK. These are capable of detecting very dim objects, but with slightly less resolution. These sensors are typically capable of resolving an item that gives off only a couple photons that hit the detector, and are incredibly sensitive.
Most of the smaller PDRMN ships cannot detect directly behind them without external help, due to their drive plume, and even on larger ships it is an area with poor resolution. The drive plume, like a small star, blocks all radio and acts as a giant electromagnetic beacon, emitting every kind of radiation in swathes. Larger ships have pylons that stretch out the point that they can see past, but smaller ships must use drones with sensor patches flying a couple hundred meters away to image behind themselves.
No ship can be stealthy within the SS, they all act as small stars that can be detected throughout the solar system when lit, and when not lit can barely move. As such, advance warning would be implied for any kind of engagement. However, a few "stealth" programs do exist, such as various asteroids with mass drivers hidden inside, or attempts to cool a package down for stealthy delivery with blocks of ice.
Most PDRMN suits will have small sensor patches on them, but these will typically not be phased throughout the whole body. They do greatly enhance the ability to see of any person within the suit.
Utility
Used on every PDRMN ship to make sure they know what is happening.
Manufacturing
Manufactured in a nanofoundry, typically inside a PDRMN factory, but occasionally within a larger ship. First the general structure and larger scale components are printed with a nanolathe, followed by an application of nanites which form the extremely intricate detection equipment.
Access & Availability
They must be manufactured in a nanofoundry, and are proprietary and secret technology, so are very hold to get ones hands on. Typically, one can find an older version, limited to the near UV, for around M$10,000 per panel on the black market, but a modern version would run in the millions.
Complexity
While the most visible components are pretty easy to see, the millions of different phased array optical sensors are incredibly complex nano-scale devices. They are harded for military use, but rubbing something against the surface would damage the components. They are sheathed in various "transparent" materials, but even then, they must be replaced frequently.
Discovery
The modern phased array PDRMN sensor panel was recently upgraded to detect even smaller wavelengths, down to 10 nm, in 2234. As such, many ships still use the old style that could only detect down to 40 nm, though most have replaced their primary panels with the new ones.
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