Sensor The term sensor , also referred to aboard starship s as subspace sensors or sensor probes , was used to refer to any device that was used to scan , record , or otherwise observe any aspect of an environment surrounding a starship , space station , or person . This could be as simple a device as a manual camera or light sensor , or as complicated as the myriad devices designed to scan many aspects of the matter and energies of subspace , space , time , and stellar bodies that make up all of existence . Sensor probe . The term " sensor probe " was used to indicate sensors used for probing . ( ; ) However , the term also referred to a specific type of automated probe , used by Starfleet . Such a probe was launched by the to scan Delphi Ardu IV in 2364 and to monitor a convoy used as bait for the Maquis in 2370 . ( ) The also used such a probe to study the Jem ' Hadar battleship in 2374 . ( ) Specifications . Sensors of various types played roles in almost every aspect of space travel . Every type of sensor , from navigational sensors to ARA sensors , created data to be interpreted by the vessels ' computers and operators . In most situations , the sensor data revealed information that was not apparent through other data - collecting means , such as visual observations . starship s were equipped with high - resolution , multi - spectral sensors . ( ) There were two basic types of sensor arrays employed : passive and active . A passive scan was less obtrusive than an active scan , and might not be detected by the subject being sensed . Sensors were divided further into short - and long - range types , and low - and high - energy types . ( ; ) While there are many ways to mask a sensor scan , sensor screens were the most commonly used method . ( ) One could also mask a sensor scan with certain materials , or radiation . ( ) Sensors can be disrupted by overloading them with information . ( ) Sensors and communication s can also be disrupted by interference from a planet ' s troposphere and ionosphere . ( ; ; ) One could also move to a position in orbit at a planet ' s magnetic pole to confuse sensors . ( ) But to truly hide from a sensor scan , one would actually have to change one ' s molecular structure . ( ) Use on vessels . The Starfleet vessel was equipped with a lateral sensor array . When Captain Jonathan Archer and Commander Charles Tucker III were inspecting the new prototype ship in an inspection pod during 2151 , one of the components that Archer wanted to view was the lateral sensor array . ( ) Sensors were meanwhile used by the " Vahklas " , a Vulcan civilian transport ship , which had left the planet in approximately 2143 . When Sub - Commander T ' Pol was studying the Arachnid Nebula aboard the " Vahklas " in 2151 , she was temporarily unable to scan the nebula ' s disodium layer , due to the fact that the transport ship ' s lateral sensors were out of alignment . ( ) Less than a year later , all sensors at Tandaran Detention Complex 26 were overly " occupied " by Hoshi Sato aboard " Enterprise " , who transmitted loads of data to the facility , thereby jamming the internment camp ' s frequencies . This disruption allowed " Enterprise " to conceal a transporter beam from the ship to the facility . ( ) In 2364 , prior to stardate 41775 , the Federation starship s and were ordered , by a Starfleet admiral , not to scan a particular subsector with a high energy scan . ( ) In early 2368 , when investigating the Phoenix Cluster , the lateral sensors of the USS " Enterprise " - D were booked solid for planetary observation . ( ) In 2370 , the Romulan warbird " Terix " performed a sensor scan of asteroid gamma 601 in the Devolin system with its lateral sensor array in hope to locate the . ( ) An example of the accuracy of sensors was in the sensor data of the during one encounter with the Borg . Sensor readings from the ship ' s active scans recorded " random subspace energy fluctuations " at various time index es in the sensor log s . Closer examination of this data revealed the detections were not random fluctuations but communications to Seven of Nine , one of " Voyager " s crew . ( ) The enormous capability of the USS " Voyager " s sensors was demonstrated on one occasion when Captain Janeway requested that Harry Kim scan space for sporocystian life - forms . Moments later , Harry reported finding a " sporocystian energy burst , approximately ten light year s distant . " This implies that the sensors were able to scan and analyze a volume of more than 4 , 100 cubic light years in about six seconds . ( ) Background information . In a section of ultimately unused dialogue from the first draft script of , Vulcan sensors were established as being more technologically advanced than Starfleet sensors at the time of the episode ' s setting ( in 2151 ) . One function that Vulcan sensors were said to be capable of was detecting a Nausicaan bio - sign whereas Starfleet sensors were notoriously incapable of that .