Transport Away

[rosetto 0]

Recently during a SIM we had a leak in one of our plasma conduits. As this was an Academy SIM, this was of course, all imaginary, however, I wonder. Why couldn't the solution have been to simply 'transport in' a replacement conduit while simultaneously transporting out the defective one. Since it would be a 'replica', the new one would be exactly like the defective one down to a zero tolerance and therefore would fit exactly into its postion without having to turn one wrench or loosen one fitting.

 

I understand that the ship-board replicators would be programmed with daily necessities (clothing, food, etc.), however, I would think they would also have programs and saved data files for hardware as well.

 

What do you guys think?

[Kairi 0]

The replicators are used to produce various parts and equipment and sure you probably could beam it inand out (if , of course, the plasma leak didn't interfere with transport.) But ask yourself this; would it be as fun?

[Joe Manning 0]

Since it would be a 'replica', the new one would be exactly like the defective one down to a zero tolerance and therefore would fit exactly into its postion without having to turn one wrench or loosen one fitting.

 

You might be asking for a little more precision than the transporters are capable of. You're asking for a conduit to be placed in exactly the right position with all the bolts in exactly the right place, with a steady plasma flow at stake. There'd be a lot of risk that a minor leak could be turned into a major one or, worse, a blockage.

 

At least, that's the explanation I'd use. :P

[rosetto 0]

Kairi, I do agree, the fun would be 'gone'. I'm probably not the first to stumble upon this little 'flaw' in the Trek Universe. But you are correct in that it would make at least that part of our lives unchallenging.

Joe, from my understanding of 'exactly' what the transporter does at a sub-atomic level, it would HAVE to have that precision. It needs to reassemble (copy) every particle in its exactly position. The process here would be more of an exchange though. both objects would be disassembled/reassembled at the same time. In this way exact positions would also be retained.

[TKAR 0]

All of you are making good points on the subject -but if we use the transporter for everything -there goes the fun in simming

[T'aral 0]

ACTIVATING GEEK MODE

 

The replicator basically is a transporter with patterns of all the various components. It can very much do as you suggest. There is, however, a few flaws in your plan.

 

In order to maintain seals, components would need to be in some kind of compression. Installation is when the seals are released and compressed, either through interlocking or through simple tightening down of threads.

 

During the transporter process, there will be a fraction of a second during which the compression will be lost. Connecting components will shift, and the seal will be lost. There will also be a period of time during which the component will essentially not exist - blowing out plasma, losing pressure, etc, etc. This time is necessary, because you don't want "new component" molecules and structures mingling with "old component" molecules and structures. The result would be disasterous.

 

DEACTIVATING GEEK MODE

 

All that aside, it is as others have suggested: if the solution is *too* easy there would be no RP. Challenges must exist ( hopefully solvable ones ) so that the RP can be interesting.

[rosetto 0]

T'Aral:

 

TECH TECH TECH

 

Very good. I do realize that there would be issues with the process, especially given the circumstances presented (i.e. system up, emergency). I had not thought of the compression issue but did imagine that there would be issues 'during' the exchange.

 

(This just in: If one was compressed and the other was not, then the transporter would again default to the 'exact' position of each particle; in this case, compressed. Therefore, there would be no issue with that part. However, the exchange would have to be almost instantaneous due the the other issue you noted; pressure.)

 

 

Perhaps what could be done is a replacement of ONLY the damaged molecules, everything else is left in tack.

 

TECH OFF

I am glad this topic has gained some interest. I really enjoy discussing stuff like this. Thanks for your inputs...

Edited April 18, 2010 by rosetto

[T'aral 0]

Well, since you like discussing this so ...

 

REACTIVATING GEEK MODE

 

What you are suggesting assumes that you can transport something into and out of the same space simultaneously. This would require two things:

 

1) Two transporter arrays ( this part is possible, and almost academic on most post-TOS starfleet ships. The original Constitution-class may have had a few transporter pads, but they all operated through one central transporting array. Ref: The Enemy Within, The Doomsday Machine ).

 

2) You are assuming that the energy fields which are in operation during transportation wouldn't interfere with one another. Given that they are essentially the same energy fields performing similar functions, catastrophic interference is almost a given. The result would have the same 'feel' as two radio stations broadcasting on the same frequency - what you get out of the speakers is garbage.

 

GEEK MODE OFF - SECURING THE SWITCH IN PLACE

[rosetto 0]

GEEK MODE OFF - SECURING THE SWITCH IN PLACE

 

"Dear Prudence.... Won't you come out to play-hey hey hey---!"

 

Okay, quick lesson in how your cellular phone works. Believe it or not they are ALL transmitting on the same frequency (call CDMA). It is all about the timing, you are correct. In reality, no phone transmits at exactly the same time. However, if one were to attempt to try to listen without knowing the correct coded sequence then, yeah, you'd hear crazy intermodulated voices and probably not be able to distinguish one from the other (unless you were Commander Data).

 

I am not saying that this would be as easy task to do (active component exchange), just saying that it may be possible to use even in an emergency situation. And perhaps what we are doing (Scotty's tool kit) is actually repairing components that fail using this method rather than physically removing & replacing them. The portable tools would be used to direct the stream of energy to the damaged area, relay this information to the remote replicator system which would them return the appropriate replacement particle. This could also work in biochemistry and medical situations.

 

Interesting, huh?

[T'aral 0]

Quite.

 

I wouldn't say that what you're suggesting isn't possible; this is pure fiction, so anything's possible. I would stress, though, that it is extremely difficult. If it was easy this would be the default technique for repairs, as you wouldn't have to shut systems down to repair them - and it would be much safer than approaching a damaged conduit physically.

 

It's an interesting possibility, but it is fraught with difficulties.

 

 

( Yes - I do miss my Red jumper. )

Edited April 18, 2010 by T'aral