Editing Sensors (section)

==Active Sensors==
An [[active sensor]] is a "radar" component that gathers target data by bouncing gravitational pulses off a target. This is necessary to open fire on a target. Active sensors allow a ship or a missile to detect targets equal to or above its stated resolution (i.e. ship size) within its stated range: the higher the resolution value, the greater the range, but ships smaller than the resolution are more difficult to detect. Active sensor emissions can be detected by passive EM sensors, which can prove a serious tactical vulnerability. 

''The idea is that as with real-life radar emissions, the signal from your sensor has to travel the distance to a target twice: once to the target, where part of the energy is reflected, and once back to your ship, where an EM sensor picks up the tiny "echo". Therefore your outgoing signal can possibly be detected by other ships with EM sensors much further than your sensor can see those ships.''

Actives are designed based on the role intended for that sensor. An area search sensor might be designed with a large resolution to find large enemy ships, while a sensor designed to detect [[fast attack craft]] would need a small resolution. [[Missile]] detection sensors usually have a resolution of 1, which is the lowest possible. A versatile fleet will employ a multiple sizes/resolution sensors. Design considerations are discussed in-depth here: [[Active Sensor Design]].

Active Sensor target detection capabilities can be increased through background research, while [[Cloaking]] and [[Jammer]]/[[ECM]] technology employed by the enemy will making it harder for active sensors to detect. Active sensors also gather [[tactical intelligence]], i.e. they can tell you the target's size.