As always at CloneIntel, only Lucas-era on-screen material is canon, as well as disney-era on-screen material which does not conflict with
Lucas canon. Legendary universe material, disney-era guides, video games, books, and comic books are not canon. Any information
from them is used only to fill informational holes, and only if said information serves to clarify and reinforce the Lucas canon.

Scanners, Sensors, and Cloaking Devices
The fictional events seen in SW are set "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away," which means that contrary to appearances it takes place
not in the future but in the distant past, and the technology of the civilizations in this galaxy does not necessarily represent what technology
might be like in future for Human civilizations which originate on Earth. This is an important point when considering any area of this galaxy's
technology, but it is equally important to consider that most aspects of technology are defined by the physical realities of the world it is meant
to interact with, and as a result technology which has any specific purpose developed by different, disconnected groups will usually possess
many similarities. Most differences will be cosmetic rather than functional, and will reflect the independent historical development stages
which eventually led to the ultimate forms of a particular piece of technology. This is largely true of scanning, tracking, and detection systems
in SW canon, which are slightly unfamiliar in form but largely similar to what futuristic versions of our own, similar technologies might be like.
Science fictions fans familiar with Star Trek and many other fictional, futurist material may take for granted the idea that a civilization as
advanced as that of the SW galaxy must have methods of scanning which are far more insightful than the scanning technology available to us
in the modern day on Earth, and computer systems which are able to interpret those scans to reveal precise details about objects or materials
far beyond our current capabilities. This assumption is perfectly reasonable, but is by no means a certainty as it is equally likely that even
highly-advanced, spacefaring civilizations may be limited to using the same electromagnetic (EM) spectrum scanning methods which our
current technology on Earth is already employing. It is almost certainly the case that the knowledge about physics which makes interstellar
travel possible would lead to some insights which would advance scanning technology beyond our current level, and that is definitely seen to
be the case in the SW galaxy, however scanning abilities are only marginally beyond our own compared to most other areas of technology.


Scanners, Sensors, and Scopes
There is no defined difference between scanners, sensors, and scopes in SW canon, and writers sometimes use more than one of these terms
to refer to the same thing in a segment of dialogue. Technically speaking, scanners direct some kind of waves at a desired target, scopes
passively collect and interpret incoming waves, while sensors can refer to technology which does either or both, however the use of any of
these terms by the writers should not be interpreted as an indication of those definitions. The most important distinctions between different
scanning equipment are whether they are unidirectional or omni-directional, their distance from what they are intended to measure, and
the power and size of the arrays which they use to accomplish their purpose. Scanners which are short-range, or which can direct powerful
beams directly at a given object are more insightful and detect things faster, while long-range scans are more vague and sensors which are
used to sweep large areas are only useful at detecting general information or obvious irregularities, and only after a time-consuming search.
Scanning technology in SW is not particularly insightful, generally speaking, despite the extremely advanced state of galactic civilization. This is
sometimes due to the materials and interference technologies used by ships which limit sensors, however there are many examples of close
range scanners with a specific purpose which are simplistic in terms of the range of things they can detect, and activities such as scanning for
lifeforms on a planet or searching a region of space for a single ship is a very inexact and sometimes time-consuming process, even for the most
advanced and powerful spaceships. Any scanner in SW which makes a detailed analysis of something is usually slow, intensive, and conducted
at close range. Scanners in SW are most adept at detecting power sources, since technology nearly always emits some kind of EM radiation.

This is also effected by distance, however, as scanners have difficulty detecting a ship in space whose reactor is powered down, even though
low-level power readings are still emanating from gravity, life-support, and control systems. It is likely these could be detected at close range,
however they cannot be differentiated from ordinary radiation in space even when in relative proximity. Scanners are easily interfered with,
even in space, and they are significantly less effective within an atmosphere as even simple interference from dust storms or similar natural
phenomenon can completely scramble a scanner's readings. Nearly any significant solid mass scrambles, interferes with, or fully blocks
sensors in SW, which are also easily confused by complex readings, including sometimes by simple, solid objects like asteroids. The ease with
which solid materials block transmissions is a major limiting factor for both communications and scanning, which is further evidence to
suggest that SW scanning principally relies on EM waves, the same as modern sensor technology on Earth. On the other hand, small probes
and ships often can easily detect if a planet is inhabited or possesses any functioning technology, as power-readings are difficult to conceal,
artificial structures are easy to discern from natural ecology and geology, as are the broad characteristics of lifesigns. Despite their numerous
limitations, sensors in SW can usually gather the most vital and useful information such as atmospheric conditions, location and intensity of
heat and power sources, and different lifeforms with far greater speed, accuracy, and analysis than anything available to our civilization.

EM Scanners and Scopes
Most SW scanners detect electromagnetic (EM) waves and energetic particles, which includes visible light, infrared light which is the same as
heat detection, ultraviolet light which is the same as 'night vision', and radio waves. Although much science in this era of the galaxy is far
beyond that of present day Earth, this civilization has thus far discovered no better way to 'scan' than using light waves and sound waves,
despite their advanced understanding of physics. It has been demonstrated that technology like gravity and life-support systems emit very
low-level energy signatures which are often beyond a scanner's ability to detect from any distance, while a single, active droid gives off
enough power to be detected from a large distance. Portable, hand-held scanners are able to detect power or life readings for many
kilometers on a planet's serface. Noticeable heat signatures can likewise be ascertained from similar distances. More powerful scanning
systems are able to detect aberrant heat signatures from technology, unusual EM power readings, and detect malfunctions. Many basic
lifesigns detectors are little more than EM scanners, since the complex energy patterns of living matter are quite distinct from other matter.

Scopes is a general term for passive sensors, usually for detecting EM, meaning that they gain information by analyzing the various light waves
which are being radiated or reflected by everything in the universe. This kind of scanning is not usually as insightful as any form of scanning
which directs beams or waves to study how they are refracted, however in most cases it is informative enough to provide the searcher with
the relevant data they are looking for, and has the secondary advantage of not betraying the scanner's location or giving the subject of the scan
knowledge that it is being watched. Scopes, as well as the majority of sensors in SW, seem to focus on energy signals, primarily thermal scanning
and electromagnetic scans, and although this does always include the visible light spectrum, their systems typically do not use sophisticated
image analysis for anything other than the identification of artificial objects, whose geometry and proportions are usually enough for an ID.

Imaging is also used for motion sensors, which are a very old technology but one that obviously never loses its utility. This can be accomplished
by sensors which use active scan or passive scopes, connected to a simple intelligence circuit. Motion can be detected by EM sensors across
the entire EM spectrum, above and below the visual range, allowing motion detection even in poorly lit environments.

Environmental Scanners
The ability to scan environmental conditions is an obvious priority for any spacefaring civilization, including the ability to monitor atmospheric
conditions in spaceships and to analyze the conditions on alien worlds. This has been shown to include measuring air composition and toxicity,
climate and weather conditions, radiation levels, mineral and chemical analysis, and metrology. The environmental scanning in SW canon has
not demonstrated much that is beyond the capabilities of our modern science on Earth, however in many instances they possess technology
which allows them to make such determinations faster, usually without physical sampling, and at distances far beyond our current abilities.

Atmospheric composition and safety scanning can be achieved either by directly sampling the environment with smaller, portable units or droids,
but can also be conducted from distance by larger scanning systems and even from space by means of a ship's sensor array. These readings are
only marginally beyond our current science, but their methods are significantly advanced. Geoscanning in SW is probably the area of scanning
where the SW galaxy is significantly ahead of modern Earth, as even portable scanners have the power and analytical capability to peer farther
and more accurately into most solid materials than we can with our current methods. Large 'geoscanners' mentioned in SW legends but not yet
seen in canon can create detailed scans of large areas of a world's surface down to a great depth underground without disturbing the material
it is scanning. In the area of metrology, scanning technology in SW can quickly and accurately determine the dimensions of objects, rooms, or
other environments, and can form accurate maps of adjacent areas which can not be directly observed unless somehow interfered with by
the certain metals or energy fields. This is achieved by scanning methods and computer technology slightly more advanced than our own.

Bioscanners
Bioscanners are various kinds of scanners designed to detect and analyze the energy signatures generated by living things. This includes basic
lifeform detection, lifeform identification, and advanced medical scanners. A scan for lifeforms is a basic function of a sensor sweep conducted
by a starship's sensor array, and in ideal conditions this can sometimes include specific identification of those lifeforms. Certain models of droids
and portable scanners can detect lifeforms, and sometimes identify them, when on the surface of a world from distances far beyond current
Earth science. This kind of scanning is fallible and limited to the point that many readings should be considered somewhat inconclusive, however
their scanners are advanced enough that they can isolate specific lifeforms on other floors and even detect lifesigns of specific species, if they
are well calibrated to them, such as Human lifesigns. Scanners specifically designed to scan for lifesigns are usually better at this, however most
scanners in SW which can detect lifesigns can't distinguish between lifeforms in a clump very well, as their complex energy patterns interact with
each other such that from any significant distance they will appear to be a unique energy field only identifiable as the product of life.

These limitations are demonstrated by Luke's orbital survey of Dagobah in Episode V, where his scanners detect that the planet is full of life, but
the lifeform readings are indistinct. The presence of a jungle ecosystem makes isolating specific lifeforms impossible. This is later seen throughout SW
canon, where even advanced Imperial technology is able to determine the number of lifeforms on a ship, but not their nature. Security scanners which
monitor for intruders or guard prisoners have also been shown to simply indicate the presence of a lifeform without any insight into their identity.

Specially-designed 'bioscanners' and 'medscan' devices in SW are far more insightful than the majority of scanners, and are far advanced from our current
medical scanning in terms of miniaturization and speed of computer analysis. At the same time, they don't demonstrate any abilities far beyond what we
can currently achieve with machines like an MRI or CT scanner, and it is possible to imagine that Humans from Earth could possess similar technologies
within the next few centuries. Considering that Humans from Coruscant are more than 25,000 years advanced from modern Earth in most fields of
technology, this further indicates that knowledge of physics beyond our current science has not significantly advanced scanning technology, and that
the civilizations in SW probably rely on applied EM scanning technology for medical analysis as we do. This is not a limitation, as this kind of scanning is
sufficient to the task, and when combined with advanced computer analysis and medical knowledge allows for speedy diagnosis and treatment.

A small, hand-held medical scanner available in the 'modern era' of the SW galaxy is able to perform a useful analysis of a patient quickly. Most medical
facilities are equipped with larger and more powerful versions of these scanners, and presumably are capable of even more detailed analysis which
is necessary for rare or complex conditions, and potentially for correctly analyzing novel diseases or biochemical reactions previously unobserved.

Other Specialized Scanners
Scanners in SW which are designed for specific purposes are much better than common sensors at providing results in their specific specialty, as would
be expected. Specialized scanners are usually more expensive than standard scanning equipment, and usually are built only for a single purpose.
Specialized scanners which have been seen in canon include communications scanners, security scanners and weapons detectors, and surveillance
equipment. Some scanning systems integrate one of these abilities into systems which perform standard scans to augment and enhance their utility.

Comm scanners, not to be confused with com-scan systems, are scanners designed to intercept communications, data signals, and transponder signals,
and to provide as much information as possible about source and destination, signal strength, and message contents. These devices are sometimes
found on ships, and are also employed by security forces on planets to intercept local transmissions. Audio scanners can detect sound and vibration
by scanning the air near to the source of a sound. This allows for security monitoring of quiet conversations at great distances, and is employed by
the EAR eavesdropping unit and other surveillance equipment to act like a parabolic microphone which can 'hear' through walls and other impediments.

The most widely seen specialized scanners in SW are dedicated security scanners and weapons detectors. These include ID chip-readers, personal
identification systems using biometrics, and body scanners designed to detect objects. These scanners can be portable, hand-held units or larger,
scanning gates used at checkpoints. These can be highly-specialized, such as droid ID scanners, which are used to verify authorized droids and
filter out infiltrators. Security scanners are usually difficult to circumvent either because their scanning methods are specialized and not susceptible
to common sensor countermeasures, or because they validate any form of ID using a method theoretically unknown to those being challenged.

Scanning Systems
A scanning system consists of the sensors and scopes used to detect, the beam emitters (if any) used to instigate the scan, and the computer
system which interprets and analyzes the readings and turns them into usable data. This usually refers to integrated systems in ships or facilities
often referred to as 'sensor arrays', however a scanning system can also be segregated, such as through the use of droids, probes, or personnel
with smaller scanning units to feed data to a central hub which performs a more detailed, secondary analysis. Sensor sweeps conducted by fleets
of ships can cover large areas of space while coordinating their efforts. Probe sweeps can achieve the same results but can cover much larger
distances expediently, and cursory scans of entire regions of space using remote probes is a standard tactic used by military and security forces.
Certain models of droids, including most astromechs, are also scanning systems unto themselves, capable of a wide range of local scanning.

The primary scanning methodologies employed in SW may only be marginally more advanced than our current science, however the scanning
systems they employ are significantly more advanced. This is due to their computing power, intelligence circuitry, and their understanding of
the physics of hyperspace, which allows near instantaneous scanning of a far greater distance than is possible by studying EM waves traveling
through 'normal' space. This can often provide detailed information about complex, natural systems like lifeforms and geology, and allows
for even more insightful analysis of mechanical and technological systems. SW scanners are advanced enough to compare the shape of any
particular ship to a design schematic to make general determinations about damage and functionality, and can determine a ship, droid, or
device's abilities and operational status, except when being interfered with. Insufficiently strong power signals cannot be discerned from
the normal background energy readings present on a planet or even in space, however in most cases SW scanning systems are expert at
identifying specific energy signatures. Directed scans, especially at close range, can identify known technological components even when they
are not being powered. Although intelligent, SW scanning systems are limited by their reliance on recognizing known patterns and energy
based systems, so they can sometimes be confused by unfamiliar configurations, inventive technology, or unexpectedly low-tech targets.

Sensor Arrays
Sensor arrays which come in many varieties are standard equipment on starships, military and government facilities, and many planetary craft.
This is an obvious necessity for a spacefaring civilization, and needed for nearly every important function of a starship. In a sense, the use of
scanners for intelligence gathering and as a security system are almost secondary, as atmospheric, technological, navigation, and targeting
scanning are more primary concerns for the spaceflight which makes interstellar civilization possible. At the same time, scanning for threats,
planetary conditions, and potential resources are also important concerns for travelers on starships, and even basic sensor arrays are able
to make enough of these determinations to be useful. Scanning large areas or objects in any detail is a time-consuming process, even with
their advanced scanning systems, and even in space where interference is usually at a minimum. Scanning for lifeforms on a planet is very
inexact, and locating specific things on a planet usually requires a lengthy search. A full planetary bioscan, for instance, takes several hours
to complete even for large military starships with cutting edge equipment. Sensor arrays are also routinely limited by simple materials, from
large and dense rocky masses to a relatively thin walls of ice. On the other hand, sensor arrays on ships can readily detect lifeforms and
determine the status of systems on another ship quickly and with great accuracy, under ordinary conditions lacking significant interference.

Planet-based sensors in SW are understandably limited in comparison to scanning performed in space, considering the interference caused by
rock, atmospheric conditions, and sometime local lifeforms, however they are able to perform their function with accuracy at distances which
are well beyond current Earth science. These range from small portable scanners capable of scanning for kilometers to huge omni-directional
sensor arrays which can closely monitor a 20 km radius in every direction including the atmosphere. Intermediate-sized scanners include large
portable units which can scan greater distances and with greater detail than hand-held scanners, as well as larger versions of these routinely
employed by cities and large settlements to monitor their airspace, with special attention to incoming and outgoing craft. These can usually be
circumvented to some extent by approaching low, near to the ground, and remaining a couple of kilometers from their scanning towers, since
planetary scanning is far more difficult close to the surface. Even dust or other particles in the air can be a problem for planet-based scanners.
Dedicated sensor arrays on the surface of a world which are connected to sufficient power sources and aimed towards the sky are able to scan
space beyond a world's exosphere and thus detect approaching ships which are not yet in orbit, however they cannot scan nearly as far as
a similar sensor array located on a ship in orbit could. This does, however, mean a base or city can monitor the space above their part of
their world to some extent, without the aid of probes or allied starships in orbit, if they are equipped with the proper sensor array.

Most ship-based and planet-based scanning is successful at great distances primarily because the things they are searching for stand out, are
usually radiating energy, and are difficult to confuse with their surroundings. This is the most common form of scanning employed by most
sensor arrays, however in terms of ability it is the exception in terms of scanning in SW, since any truly informative scan in SW requires both
proximity and significant time to complete. A detailed and conclusive scan of a small ship like the Millennium Falcon, for instance, requires
a scanning crew and somewhat bulky equipment. The basic sensor employed by the Death Star or officers in the hangar bay would not detect
lifeforms hiding on the ship if they were being somehow masked, nor would it locate any disks, objects, or compartments which might contain,
for example, the stolen Death Star plans. The advanced scanning technology in SW could provide a detailed map of every inch of the Falcon,
and even point out every object on the ship which was not a component, but only after a crew with a large scanner has extensive access.

It is certainly the case that sensor arrays in SW vary greatly in their abilities depending on their specifications, however their limitations are fairly
universal, and while it is true that more powerful scanners can accomplish more than smaller versions in terms of distance or resistance to
interference and countermeasures, they are not necessarily more insightful. In fact, they are usually less so due to their operational distance.
Any truly insightful scan in SW usually requires scanning in relative proximity, and it usually helps if the object being scanned is cooperative.

Com-scan
The best scanning systems in SW are known as com-scan systems, also sometimes written as comm/scan, which use traditional sensor arrays
and communications scanners linked to tracking computers, providing a real time, integrated model of an observed area. Com-scan interprets
a variety of data to give technicians a more complete and accurate picture, much like the way an animal brain makes sense of the world by
combining various senses to produce a lived experience it can understand. Com-scans cross-reference sensors of every available kind with
communications data to produce real time information models and preserve a record of all available data about what was going on at any
point which more closely approximates reality than a collection of scans or logs. They also allow a large amount of complex data to be reduced
to a single display, allowing operators in the middle of ongoing activity to have full access to the big picture as well as the most minute known
details. These units are used by both the Imperial military and the Rebel Alliance, and may be advanced military equipment not sold to civilian
entities. Most com-scan systems require large computer banks, sensor arrays, and power generators, however smaller, less-powerful versions
of com-scan systems can be found on ships as small as fighter craft, however they are obviously inferior to those on large ships or military bases.

As advanced as com-scan systems are, they are still subject to the limitations of the scanners which provide their primary sources of information.
Meteorite activity, for example, makes it difficult to detect approaching ships. The Imperial probe droid which lands on Hoth is on that planet
for some time before the Rebels at Echo Base are able to detect it, and when they finally do their sensors only tell them that the object is metal.
They are only able to identify more about it by intercepting its transmission code and deducing it is an Imperial probe, which also highlights
the advantages of the com-scan system. As effective as com-scan can be, if it is being used to sweep a large area of a planet or an even larger
area of space, it is subject to the limitations of its sensor arrays, and therefore a complete search is still a time-consuming process. Com-scan
is no more able than other sensor arrays at detecting ships flying close to the surface of a world, nor is it capable of detecting a ship or other
artificial object obscured by a planet or rock mass in space. Com-scan will usually fail to easily detect a small enough ship if its main power
systems are not active, especially when a small ship in that state has attached itself to a larger, active vessel. On the other hand, a single droid's
power signature is above the detection threshold for com-scan, and can betray the location of a powered-down ship attempting to hide in
the open in space. Com-scans are also able to make detailed determinations of the contents of cargo containers, provide detailed information
about the operational status of ships, and interpret a broad range of communications signals, transponder information, and energy signatures
associated with specific activity. Effective use of com-scan systems usually requires technicians who specialize in directing and interpreting them.

The ability of com-scan systems found on ships to scan many light-years distance away is vital for defense and military purposes. All ships capable
of hyperspace travel have sensor arrays which are able to scan through hyperspace to detect objects in space light-years ahead, which is crucial
for avoiding collisions, and these same sensors can allow ships in 'normal' space to detect the approach of ships in hyperspace before they
arrive. Com-scan systems take this ability to its extreme, and can sometimes detect approaching ships with minutes of warning, under ideal
conditions and assuming the incoming ships are not coming from a direction which is obscured by planetary bodies. This ability is possible for
a com-scan system located on a planet, but can only scan a much shorter distance than a com-scan system located in space. The Rebels on Hoth
were alerted to the Imperial arrival because the fleet came out of hyperspace too close to the system. Ordinarily, it is possible to sneak up on
a planetary facility equipped with com-scan by coming out of hyperspace at distance, perhaps approaching from the area where the star can
help to mask the approach, or determining the blind side of the planet for the base, based on the planet's rotation, or other approaches.

Planetary Sensors
Most populated planets reduce the limitations of a single com-scan system by linking multiple com-scan systems around their world to establish
a planetary alert system. These are more often seen in the Core systems, and usually connect to relay satellites further out in their starsystem
or in the nearby interstellar space, which gives them a slightly greater warning period. Ground-based planetary scanners have less range when
studying space, nevertheless, a planet-wide system of scanners can allow for near complete monitoring of all airspace and most surface activity.
Any planet with any significant population would be monitoring incoming traffic, if only for the sake of air traffic control. The potential traffic
around any planet of even moderate population would necessitate at least the exchange of navigational signals. Most significantly-populated
worlds with high technology augment their ground-based scanning with orbiting satellites and sometimes remote probes located in the far
reaches of their starsystem. Orbital scans can detect objects with varying degrees of accuracy for a distance of at least several light-years,
however they are obscured by planetary bodies. Powerful orbital long-range scanners have been been a staple of strategic planning and
defense in the Core systems since the later days of the Old Republic. These systems can be networked across sectors, making it nearly impossible
for a fleet of any size to sneak up on a Core world without significant advanced warning. These systems exist to some degree in the Rim, but their
coverage limitations reduce their effectiveness. Many less-wealthy, less-centralized, or less-populated planets don't even have full scanning over
their planet, with powerful scanners limited to major cities or settlements for air traffic control purposes and basic defense. Well-populated
worlds and starsystems with multiple inhabited worlds usually have comprehensive orbital traffic control centers monitored by local officials.

Planetary scanning systems and starsystem-wide scanning systems face all of the limitations of individual scanners, and although their coverage
is greater, and they take advantage of the full range of scanning abilities, they can still be circumvented by exploiting their weaknesses. It has
been seen, for instance, that such scanners are incapable of easily discerning large, spacefaring animals from ships. It is also possible to avoid
detection by powering a ship down and attaching it to a larger ship, and even planetary scanners which use "landing trackers" have trouble
detecting ships which approach by flying close to the ground. The Republic and the Empire would also sometimes enhance their planetary
scanning systems with the aid of orbiting warships which could act as additional nodes in their sensor network. It is still possible to avoid
detection under such circumstances by "slipping into the system", which requires knowing the current position of remote probes and satellite
detectors, and powering down, after which a ship can use passive scopes to observe a planet and ongoing activity without much risk of being
detected. Planetary scanning systems also provide a military advantage for defending a system, since reinforcements can be given precise,
safe coordinates by the friendly local scanners, allowing them to jump directly into an ongoing battle well inside the starsystem.

Tracking Systems
Tracking objects is a basic function of any comprehensive scanning system. Com-scan systems are an example of a general purpose tracking
system which is extremely detailed, however their direct, targeted tracking of an individual object is limited. Specialized tracking systems
designed to perform specific tracking functions with great precision are widely employed as secondary systems or as components of
scanning systems. Tracking scanners are a central component of com-scan, but are also an essential part of a navigation system. Specific
function scanners include targeting scanners, transponder systems, and tracers. Transponders study friendly ships attempting to aid their
being tracked, while targeting scanners study ships without assistance from the ship being scanned, including enemy ships against their
will. Trackers perform a similar function, either keeping tabs on a ship by means of a beacon or tag, usually unbeknownst to the ship being
tracked, while other tracer systems rely on observed data to extrapolate the probable position and trajectory of a ship. Other specialized
scanners, such as landing trackers, take advantage of focusing their attention more fully on the scanning indicators involved with ships.

General scanning systems, including com-scan, are usually effective enough on their own to establish a trace on an active ship, especially in
space where obstructions and interference are limited. They can therefore be effectively used to track or target ships of any significant size,
which is the primary way large ships track and attack other ships. Smaller and faster ships are not easily tracked with enough precision by
such systems to provide a target lock, or a trace which cannot be lost by certain maneuvering, which is where specialized scanners take over.

Targeting Computers
Targeting computers are enhanced fire-control systems which use scanners to isolate specific targets and establish a positive lock on
an intended target. They are usually essential to starfighter combat, both ship-to-ship and for gunners attempting to combat starfighters,
since they are too small and fast to be effectively targeted with general purpose scanners. Targeting computers are also found on most
large artillery pieces, including the huge guns employed on large warships, spacestations, and surface military installations. These guns can
be operated manually or set to computer-directed fire, but in either mode they rely on targeting scanners to establish their direction of fire.

Precision targeting computers are an advanced component usually only available to well-equipped military forces, however even defense
canons on freighters employ rudimentary targeting computers to direct their fire. Targeting scanners can also be used for simple, close-range
pursuit, since they work by establishing a lock on a given ship. Advanced targeting computers make hitting an enemy ship relatively easy for
a trained pilot of modest skill, as they automatically achieve what a combat pilot ordinarily can achieve only through skill and intuition.

Targeting computers identify and isolate a given target, such as a ship or a stationary structure, and disregard all other surroundings to provide
a clean model of the intended target. This precise and specific scanning method makes it difficult for a ship to slip tracking once it has been
locked on to. These systems are not automatic, as they still require the pilot or gunner to keep the target within the dimensions of the targeting
scanners gaze, which is unidirectional, forward-facing, and focused. It is therefore possible to shake a targeting lock by maneuvering.

Transponders
Transponders are ID systems which 'squawk' their position and identity to friendly ships which have sensor configurations designed to detect
these signals. They are widely-employed by militaries, paramilitary groups including the Jedi Order, and by other formal organizations with
space fleets. The scanners used to detect these signals are omnidirectional and, though limited in range, they are capable of scanning huge
distances through hyperspace to search for these unique and highly-recognizable transponder signals. The signals can be detected at thousands
of light years distance, even by the relatively small scanning arrays on a starfighter. It must be the case that the transponders themselves
broadcast their ID signal omnidirectionally, and that such signals are specific enough not to betray their position to those whose scanners
don't know exactly what to search for. These kinds of transponders may also take advantage of the HoloNet system to report their position.

The more common form of transponder is a ship's basic ID broadcast, which is only detectable by a ship in relative proximity. These are used by
most ships from "civilized" systems, as a way of announcing their friendly intent. Pirates or other privateers would not broadcast such signals,
and therefore any ship unwilling to share a transponder ID is assumed to be potentially hostile. These IDs were in practice often needed to gain
permission to land on many populated planets during the Republic era. They became officially required everywhere and at all times during
the Imperial era for all civilian craft, and they became yet another of the Empire's many methods of identifying and monitoring the population
of the galaxy. Transponders are usually easy to read, however their signals can be obscured by the same things which interfere with all scanners.



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