Sensors can be used for more than just shooting at people; this article describes various scientific and survey uses a sensor can be put to.
PEMS sensors are capable of detecting gas-giant planets orbiting stars at a significant distance. The chart below is for a "typical" gas giant:
| Sensor Sensivitity | Maximum Range (parsecs) |
|---|---|
| 13 | 2 |
| 13.5 | 20 |
| 14 | 200 |
| 14.5 | 500 |
| 15.0+ | 1000 |
Detecting such a planet is a Difficult task, modified by -1 DM if the range is less than 1/10 of the sensor's maximum range, -2 DM if the range is less than 1/100. If the sensor is not science-grade, the task is +2 DM more difficult. The task is also optionally modified by the stellar type, location of the gas giant, and the gas giant size. If the sum of all modifiers results in a task more difficult than "Impossible" it may not be attempted.
| Modifiers | Difficulty Modification |
|---|---|
| Range less than 1/10 of max | -1 DM |
| Range less than 1/100 of max | -2 DM |
| Science sensor | 0 DM |
| Non-science sensor | +2 DM |
| Star O-A | -1 DM |
| Star F-G | 0 |
| Star K-M | +1 DM |
| Orbit in inner zone | +3 DM |
| Orbit in habitable zone | +1 DM |
| Orbit in outer zone | 0 DM |
| Gas giant size small | +1 DM |
| Gas giant size large | 0 DM |
| Brown dwarf | -1 DM |
Scanning typically requires 1 day. If only 1 hour is available, the task is +1 DM more difficult. If 1 month is available, the task is -1 DM easier. Multiple attempts to detect the same gas giant by a given ship are not allowed.
The referee should roll this task in secret. In addition the refere should roll 1d6 for each gas giant; if the result is a "1", the gas giant is undetectable at this time. Successful detection provides the gas giant's orbital separation and approximate mass. On a spectactular failure, the sensor operator detects a gas giant that is not actually present.
A similar process can be used to detect earthlike planets, though of course the maximum range is shorter:
| Sensor Rating | Maximum Range (parsec) |
|---|---|
| 13.5 | 1 |
| 14 | 5 |
| 14.5 | 25 |
| 15+ | 50 |
Modifiers on the task rating is as follows
| Modifiers | Difficulty Modification |
|---|---|
| Range less than 1/10 of maximum | -1 DM |
| Science sensor | 0 DM |
| Non-science sensor | +3 DM |
| Star O-A | -1 DM |
| Star F-G | 0 |
| Star K-M | +1 DM |
| Orbit in inner zone | +2 DM |
| Orbit in habitable zone | +0 DM |
| Orbit in outer zone | +0 DM |
| Planet size 0 | +2 DM |
| Planet size 1-4 | +1 DM |
| Planet size 5-9 | 0 DM |
| Planet size A+ | -1 DM |
| Asteroid belt | 0 DM |
The referee should roll this task in secret. In addition the refere should roll 1d6 for each planet; if the result is a "1", the planet is undetectable at this time. Successful detection determines the planets radius and orbit. Once the planet has been detected a second attempt may be made to study it; this requires an additional day and is a Formidable task with all the modifiers given above. Success informs the sensor operator of the planet's atmosphere type and hydrographic percentage. Staggering success informs the operator of the presence of life (if any) and of a technological civilization (population 7+ TL 7+) if any.
Inside a system, any starship sensor of sensitivity higher than 12 will detect all planets within the system in 1/2 hour of scanning.
A sensor can scan a planet for detailed information out to a range given by the sensor's sensitivity +2. Determining the atmosphere and hydrographic percentage is an Average task (Difficult with a non-science sensor) Determining the presence of widespread life (such as on Earth) is also an Average task.
In orbit around a planet, conducting a detailed biological or mineralogical survey requires twelve hours per hex surveyed. Accurately determining the presence of sparese life in a hex (such as would be found on Earth in a desert or the Arctic) is a Formidable task. Detecting extremely sparse/ subsurface life (such as may exist on Mars) requires is an Impossible task with a sensor of sensitivity 13-14, a Staggering task with a sensor of higher sensitivity. Detecting surface mineral deposits is a Average task. A quick survey - 1 hour per hex - increases the difficulty of these tasks by +1 DM. Using a non-science sensor increases the difficulty by +2 DM. The survey task assumes both a PEMS and an AEMS or LIDAR are present; if only an AEMS is used increase difficulty by +2 DM, if only PEMS is used increase difficulty by +1 DM. The sensor resolution (from the chart in FFS2) gives an idea of the typical feature size that can be seen - for example, a 14.0 sensor can see details as fine as 1m from a high (50,000km) surveying orbit and 0.01m from a 500km orbit.