your ideas for new Starfleet technology

[kent]

What are your ideas for new Starfleet technology? We've seen the tried and true photon torpedo's, phasers, isolinear computer cores, bio-neural computer processing units, warp drives, and imuplse engines...But what do YOU think should be made? What new exciting technologies would be interesting?

I'll start:

A hybrid warp drive. It uses the slipstream drive's ability to focus warp fields via the deflector dish to focus the existing drive's warp fields emitted by the warp nacelles. In doing so, it pushes the drives maximum speed to warp 9.9977, or 15456.8 times the speed of light (versus the E-D's 9.6 max speed, or 1915.2 times the speed of light, or Voyager top speed of warp 9.975, or 5551.9 times the speed of light.). The max sustainable speed would be 9.9976, or 15106.7 times the speed of light. It's cruising velocity would be 9.997, or 13451 timse the speed of light. This requires Starfleet to renumber the warp scales, making the cruising speed warp 11 or so.

Another one is the Nano-computer core. Instead of being DECKS and DECKS high, this unit is contained in one room. Like the stoarge devices recovered by Voyager from a destroyed borg scout, these units use nano-probes to store and transferr information on a much much smaller scale. The nano-probes can self replicate if damaged, self repair, and if a unit is severely damaged it automatically shunts the knowlege to a safe location or another unit. It would look like this: There is a central processing unit that is the height of the room, roughly cylindrical. Outwards extends 6 "arms" that connect to 6 different "tables" containing a certain amount of nano-processing units. Each arm represents a department, tactical, command, engineering, sciences, medical, and general data. The central unit processes and distributes information to personell that request it. Keep in mind they ARE NOT borg nano-probes, but Starfleet designed nano-probes from what Starfleet learned after Voyager got home inn 2378.

Your turn

[kv1at3485]

A true advancement in Starfleet would not be with the acquisition of new technology, it would be in the reassessment of the use of current technology. Then again, the same can be said of tech fantasies on a whole; people in those universes don't understand that it's not what they have that's the problem, it's in how they use it.

[kent]

that's pretty much what i did. it revamps existing technology with newer ideas, thus using them differently. With the exceptions of the computer core though.

[kv1at3485]

I also think a good thought-experiment when it comes to this sort of thing does not include numbers-pulled-out-of-a-hat (subject to change as plot requires and begs the question "you crunched the numbers?"), or descriptions of physical appearance (really, there's only one configuration?).

No, instead give a general description of how it works, but the meat should be an exploration of the implications the new tech/science/capability has on the universe (cultural, social, economic, political, etc..)

Although this isn't as bad as when fans "design" ships (bleh, like just throwing together a picture to satisfy individual aesthetic desires is really "designing") and in a desperate attempt to make their creation "special" they say "it has advanced this and that." RIght, because it's going to be any more advanced than the rest of the stuff coming off the production lines in the same time period.

[The Borg Queen]

Assimilation Bomb = Photon torpedo casing with both a mini-replicator inside (primed to replicate and distribute nanoprobes over large distances) and a portable transporter unit with pre-buffered Borg tech in suspension, ready to be directly transported into any suitable ship's systems or humanoid beings within range.

Oh wait, you said Starfleet technology... my bad.

[GodThingFormerly]

kent wrote:

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What are your ideas for new Starfleet technology?

Extended Duration Mission Modules for TOS/TAS/TMP-era starships and Industrial Replicators for TMP-era starships would have made me as happy as the proverbial clam at high tide.

TGT

[Forbin]

http://www.inpayne.com/trekfanfic/wolfx.html
http://www.inpayne.com/trekfanfic/wolfdetails.html

In a nutshell: An anti-Borg (or anti-starbase) starship that is essentially one giant antimatter cannon, inspired by the Doomsday Machine.

[C.E. Evans]

Personally, I would have warp drive pretty much phased out by the end of the 25th-Century as slipstream drive becomes more and more commonplace within the Federation and beyond.

All 25th-Century (or later) tech:
LCARS software is eventually gives way to SAGE software.

Isolinear technology is replaced by hyperoptical technology.

Transwarp torpedoes (capable of sustained warp 9.999+ flight with an effective tactical range of 2.74 light-years and a maximum explosive yield of 108 isotons).

Subspace portals as replacements for transporters. Inspired by Iconian gateway technology, it allows instantaneous transport to and from a ship without having to convert matter to energy and back again. Maximum range: 500,000 kilometers.

[JNG]

kv1at3485 wrote:

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I also think a good thought-experiment when it comes to this sort of thing does not include numbers-pulled-out-of-a-hat (subject to change as plot requires and begs the question "you crunched the numbers?"), or descriptions of physical appearance (really, there's only one configuration?).

No, instead give a general description of how it works, but the meat should be an exploration of the implications the new tech/science/capability has on the universe (cultural, social, economic, political, etc..)

Although this isn't as bad as when fans "design" ships (bleh, like just throwing together a picture to satisfy individual aesthetic desires is really "designing") and in a desperate attempt to make their creation "special" they say "it has advanced this and that." RIght, because it's going to be any more advanced than the rest of the stuff coming off the production lines in the same time period.

Well said.




I'd like to see further development of the ship concepts at the back of the TNG Technical Manual. I really liked the idea for the one that was a forward section with two warp nacelles and mission-specific modules mounted aft along a spine. The book suggests that they aren't quite at the point where they can make that arrangement work yet, but it's very interesting to think how the Starfleet might begin to look if they reach a point where the tradeoff for the lousy warp dynamics becomes acceptable.

(Frankly, I just thought the little top-down view of it looked cool as well, which is an achievement considering the design principles it employed and the expectations we've got for Starfleet ships. I'd love to see some good artist work up more about it.)

A related concept ship in there had a primary hull made of replaceable segments, adaptable for different mission profiles. This gave it a "chunky" look echoed in some fan designs.

The giant everything-and-two-redundant-kitchen-sink ships would still be the ones you'd want to send off on the really long-range and long-term space probe missions, but for ships operating within the Federation, this large-scale application of modularity offers many advantages. I wonder: would crews start to be assigned to modules and not to ships per se?

[Myasishchev]

I'd like to see:

1)The Federation abandon the Flowers for Algernon Treaty and start using cloaking devices.

2)Ship artificial sapience seems almost unavoidable in the context of the 24th century technological development. Computer software is clearly capable of a self-organizing intelligence that is human in quality (ala the Doctor). I'd also like to see ship artificial sapience NOT envy humanity, but prefer to explore the possibilities of its OWN existence.

3)The prohibition against genetic engineering becoming subject to increased scrutiny and protest, with the science reborn under a cloud of controversy.

4)Slipstream drive and transphasic torpedoes deinvented.

The techs in 1-3 are not new, but rather abandoned, and this despite their incredible usefulness.

[yellowdingo]

Myasishchev wrote:

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I'd like to see:

1)The Federation abandon the Flowers for Algernon Treaty and start using cloaking devices.

2)Ship artificial sapience seems almost unavoidable in the context of the 24th century technological development. Computer software is clearly capable of a self-organizing intelligence that is human in quality (ala the Doctor). I'd also like to see ship artificial sapience NOT envy humanity, but prefer to explore the possibilities of its OWN existence.

3)The prohibition against genetic engineering becoming subject to increased scrutiny and protest, with the science reborn under a cloud of controversy.

4)Slipstream drive and transphasic torpedoes deinvented.

The techs in 1-3 are not new, but rather abandoned, and this despite their incredible usefulness.

Abandoned? Section 31 seems to have Transwarp, Phased Cloak, Shield penetrating Transporters, pretty much anything against the rules and considered unachievable - because they have the Database from the Chronoworx Satellite that picked Voyager clean Since as far back as 2020.

If you have timetravel and no problems with the rules - who gives a witchety about a little Genetic cloning or Slipstream Drive. For all we know they running a secret civilization and are pretending to be the Breen.

[Strider]

How about a working internal security system for starships and starbases that doesn't require sending a bunch of redshirts to get shot? What you do is you set up a system similar to the TR-116 with the microtransporter. A handful of automated TR-116 sentry guns placed behind bulkheads throughout the ship could effectively nuetralize intruders within moments.

Anyone beaming aboard the bridge during a Red Alert situation could be scanned, IDed, and shot or darted within milliseconds. Much better than watching Mr. Worf awkwardly grapple with the umpteenth Borg drone while everyone looks on helplessly.

[Myasishchev]

^True.

Actually, just having a working camera system would do wonders for Starfleet Security.

The same could be said of security on certain battlestars.

yellowdingo wrote:

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Abandoned?

Wilfully relinquished and kept out of widespread, lawful use. That's abandoned.

Unless there's a cloaked fleet of sentient starships crewed by Augments that I don't know about.

I'll grant that artificial sapience has not necessarily been abandoned, but it's treated (perhaps wisely) with considerable caution.

[nx1701g]

My roleplaying game takes place in the 25th Century so we have explored some of these possibilities.

1.) Positronic Chips - Based upon the technology used in Lieutenant Commander Data and the research of Commander Bruce Maddox, Starfleet Engineers have been able to upgrade Starfleet vessels with positronic circuitry increasing their calculation capabilities and data storage.

2.) Hybrid Warp Core - exactly as suggested above.

3.) Tachyon Torpedoes - Tachyon Torpedoes are designed to disable the power systems of an enemy starship rather than destroy.

4.) Phoenix Torpedoes - Phoenix Torpedoes can bypass alien shields; however, they are volatile.

5.) Masking Circuits - Masking Circuits are the Federation outgrowth of the Treaty of Algeron. Rather than develop cloaking technology the Masking Circuitry can be used to minimize a Starship's sensor profile.

[hellsgate]

I'd go with the "Gemini Device", and/or "The Phased Mass Holographic Masking System".

The Romulans' proportionate response to news of the newly-formed 'Typhon Pact' and The Dominion War, The Romulan Government suddenly decide to permit The Federation / Starfleet (on a mission-specific basis,) to re-negotiate 'The Treaty of Algeron'.

This new version of the treaty gives VERY specific, strict criteria to help Starship Captains decide whether or not its best to use a cloaking device in the gathering of intelligence in the best interests of the protection of the Romulan Star Empire and The Alpha Quadrant Alliance, including Earth.