Thedrew: 1 revision imported

2020-04-19T19:20:58Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:20, 19 April 2020
(No difference)

Thedrew: 1 revision

2014-12-21T13:46:58Z

1 revision

New page

==PRC-258 Mission Sensor System==
===Specifications===

*'''Dimensions:''' 1.5 cm x .75 cm x .5 cm
*'''Weight:''' 113 grams
*'''Power supply:''' Inductive charge
*'''Power duration:''' 6 hours of active transmission, 60 hours standby
*'''Transmission Range:''' Range of linked combadge
*'''Encryption-capable:''' Yes
*'''Modes:''' Audio-visual transmit, Audio-visual Activate-on-signal (standby), off
*'''Operated via:''' laser link from PADD
*'''Vital signs telemetry collected:''' Electrocardiogram, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure

Sends audio-visual signals, receives audio only. Includes equipment to
collect limited amount of vital signs data from each team member,
which is also transmitted to the mission control console for view by
the mission controller: ECG, pulse, respiratory rate, and BP only,
however, due to the limitations of the physical design of the device
and its placement on the lapel above clothing. Computer calibrates the
device before beam-out, based upon a given crewmember's species, as to
what normal readings are, and what readings produce alarms or other
warning signals to the controller, using standard databases which can
be added to (to account for specific crewmembers, such as those of
mixed-species) by the sending unit's [[Chief Medical Officer]].

===History===

Seeing is not the same as reality. What you think you see may not be
the same as what you actually do see, and the same goes for hearing
and other senses.

In 2386, it was noted by graduate students from the University of
Oxford, in the course of reviewing declassified transcripts and
debriefings of away team missions by Starfleet personnel, just how
often descriptions of what was seen or heard were not necessarily
consonant with what was actually occurring, particularly in their
descriptions (or lack thereof) to personnel at the sending vessel or
location. The causes varied, but the impact remained the same: This
had severe impacts on decisionmaking, both immediately and
longer-term. This had been known, informally, by Starfleet personnel
for generations - but no effort had really been put forth to solve the
problem, particularly due to the size of sensor technologies and
subspace communications technologies.

However, the last efforts had occurred in the 2350s. With the
miniaturization of sensor, communications, and power technologies in
the succeeding decades, it was decided to try again.

So it was that ITT Defense Systems, a venerable designer and
manufacturer of portable communications gear for Starfleet and
preceeding United Earth (and predecessor nation-state) organizations,
was awarded a contract in October 2386 to lead the design and initial
testing of what was designated the PRC-258 Mission Sensor System.

As design and testing proceeded, the contractor team achieved
significant economies through the use of largely mature technologies -
the basic waveforms of the system are updates to the transmission
waveforms used by the IHADSS system of the Marine Corps, while the
audio transmitter and receiver systems on each end are those used in
the standard-issue combadge worn by Starfleet personnel and those used
by standard shipboard systems, respectively, with adaptations made for
the omnidirectional nature of the PRC-258's microphones; at the same
time, the power supply (while using a more effective battery than that
used in the combadge) works off the same inductive charge format as
the combadge, and the encryption systems are the same used in the
IHADSS system - something which simplifies communications security
logistics dramatically. Only the visual sensor and the vital signs
collection equipment are completely new, contributions of Zeiss Optics
and Siemens Medtronics respectively.

Following initial testing by select Fleet units starting in January
2389, Starfleet Materiel Command awarded the first production contract
in December 2389.

===Description===

The PRC-258 itself is a small device that sits on the lapel of the
Starfleet uniform, much as a lapel microphone would for a journalist
on 21st-century Earth. Once turned on via PADD transmission, it is
activated upon successful reception of a signal from the transmitting
starship, transmits data to a console-based controller aboard the
sending ship; typically an auxiliary console on the bridge, but spaces
such as the intelligence department area have also been used in some
situations. The personnel manning this console receive audio data over
multiple channels, and can select to hear just one team member or the
entire team; at the same time, they may do the same with the video and
other data received via the console, and may call up aids such as maps
and other data through the console as well. Reception and transmission
of audio data for the console user occurs via standard headset; for
the away team member, it occurs via the combadge. Alarms are
configured to sound for the console user in the event vital signs for
any team member exit computer-calibrated ranges.

The PRC-258 system is not intended for covert transmissions or
intelligence-gathering, and may be detected by any reasonably modern
sensor system, though the encryption module is cleared for the
transmission of all levels of classified data.

[[Category: Technology]]

PRC-258 - Revision history

Thedrew: 1 revision imported

Thedrew: 1 revision