The DDS are to trial, on SS Isometric, a new concept in shield technology which could greatly increase the protection on DDS and allied ships if it works as planned. The new technology, which has been jointly developed by DDS Research and the Dinos, is called Active Zonal Shielding (AZS).
Instead of a uniform shield all around the ship (which is wasteful of energy and difficult to keep resiliant) with Active Zonal Shielding only areas under attack are given full protection using a series of "shield zones" which are activated as needed by sensors around the ship. A shield zone can be raised within microseconds though in the event of beam attacks this is too slow so sensors look for energy beam weapons about to fire and predicts which zones to activate.
The benefit of AZS is that it is much more efficient, using 50% less power than conventional shielding, and can concentrate protection some 300% higher in a way impossible with uniform shielding. Thats if it works of course, key to the success of AZS will be to perfect the prediction and detection sensors.
Isometric will trial AZS from next month, a Dinomark PT will also be fitted with the new technology.
