DRADIS

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DRADIS is, in Galactica-speak, the device for detecting and ranging vessels and other objects in three-dimensional space. In the universe of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica television series it is equivalent to RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) in ours, and is installed on the Battlestar Galactica and other ships.

According to the series' Bible (master plan) the name is an acronym, standing for Direction and RAdial DIStance, but again the difference between DRADIS and RADAR is purely linguistic.

That DRADIS is only capable of spotting all objects rather than distinguishing ships specifically, and that a subsystem identifies ships as hostile or friendly based upon transponders (if any) serves to confirm the microwave-reflection nature of the system. This is similar to the operation of aircraft control RADAR, in which transponders play a large and essential part. The vessels detected appear as crosses contained within circles suspended in a three dimensional half-circle representing the field of scan, and will change colour and name once an object or vessel is identified. One must remember that since the display is computer-generated, its nature is arbitrary.

Both human and Cylon craft rely on DRADIS to detect incoming and other hazards. The DRADIS is also used in planning flight tactics against enemies, and in evaluating whether to launch fighters at all.

Limitations

Functioning in a similar way to Radar, DRADIS has some limiting factors. It is limited to light-speed and cannot scan "around" solid objects. This can be an advantage for planning sneak attacks as hiding behind large bodies such as moons provides cover, and similarly can be a disadvantage in ambush situations. DRADIS has difficulty scanning carbon composite, as highlighted when the Blackbird stealth fighter[1][2] was able to fly through the resurrection ship's outer hull, undetected by the Cylons.

Due to the 'dumb' nature in which DRADIS displays every object it gets a contact from, it can be crippled by large asteriod fields. Anything large enough to be detected will be displayed by DRADIS, and if the object is transmitting a transponder signal, then the display will automatically show this. In cases where a signal is not being transmitted, the size, speed, hull density, etc of the object can help determine what the object is. This is not perfect of course, and often visual confirmation of an object is required. This was highlighted with the arrival of the Battlestar Pegasus, which was originally mistaken as a Cylon Basestar.

DRADIS is also sometimes crippled by astronomical objects and phenomenae such as nebulae, intense magnetic fields around planets and stellar storms.

Other Uses

With Galactica continually on the run, it is easy to overlook the other uses of DRADIS. Updating in real-time, it is able to search for a specific substance, for example water. Though not without its margin of error, it was used with success when the fleet's water supplies were almost wiped out. Another example could be searching for tylium fuel.

DRADIS' main use is navigation, and its use in keeping track of every ship in the fleet makes it invaluable. Though like everything else on Galactica it needs a human to be used effeciently, it is still incredibly useful when maneuvering huge lumbering ships.