DRADIS

Direction/Range/Distance

The DRADIS system is the logical and systematic progression of RADAR in the Cosmic Era. It is an acronym that stands for Distance, Range, and Direction, all three important things for ships operating in a three dimensional environment. This isn't a single sensor system or generic 'scanner', but rather a collection of instruments and detectors that are harmonized together to deliver a usable tableau of data. The DRADIS is the opposite of shroud technology and the MIRAGE system.

On the Scope

Much of the naval nomenclature remains, the DRADIS is normally viewed through a hood or a scope, thus spacers will check the scope for contacts, and perform DRADIS sweeps, scans, and the like.

The War-Room

The data gathered from a DRADIS system can be projected as a three dimensional hologram, allowing for a navarch, ship captain, or intelligence officers to monitor the play of events in a ship encounter or engagement. This presentation along with instantaneous communications via ansible allows for remote navarchs to command entire fleets from secure locations, or for no longer human intelligences such as Navarch Ariana Sterngood

The Sensosphere

The most common outward appearance of a DRADIS system on any vehicle is the spherical mount for the cluster of sensors. This sphere is pronounced on recon and surveillance vehicles and ships, much like the large dishes and antenna on AWACS aircraft, or mobile radar systems. The sensosphere on combat vehicles and ships is typically hooded and armored, allowing the delicate systems to avoid damage in combat. Warships will have redundant systems, while a mecha with it's sensosphere knocked out will be largely blind and reliant on the senses of the pilot to operate.