[Suggestion] Computer Cards

[Spydah]

I have thought about this a lot and have come to the conclusion that in the year 3302 that a computer controlled device like a scanner wouldnt take up a cargo bay. All ships should have a basic scanner system around its body as standard, but the strength is controlled by the type of "card" used on the motherboard; much like your graphics card can be upgraded to give better graphics today.
So i think if ships have a "motherboard" with varying slots available dependant on ship size, or even an upgradeable motherboard, then each slot can have whichever card can go in it i.e. an ADS, a DSS, KWS, Wake Scanner, DC etc.
This way the bigger ships can devote cargo bays to cargo etc and not sacrifice a slot 4 for a class 1 DC or scanner.

 

[Hasaf]

I have thought about this a lot and have come to the conclusion that in the year 3302 that a computer controlled device like a scanner wouldnt take up a cargo bay. All ships should have a basic scanner system around its body as standard, but the strength is controlled by the type of "card" used on the motherboard; much like your graphics card can be upgraded to give better graphics today.So i think if ships have a "motherboard" with varying slots available dependant on ship size, or even an upgradeable motherboard, then each slot can have whichever card can go in it i.e. an ADS, a DSS, KWS, Wake Scanner, DC etc.This way the bigger ships can devote cargo bays to cargo etc and not sacrifice a slot 4 for a class 1 DC or scanner.

While I agree that some things should not require a complete cargo bay, you are forgetting all the sensors that would go with a scanner. There will be some form of high power transmitter and a weak signal receiver.

The docking computer is one that is questionable as the ship already has a receiver, for tower signals, and the servos are already in place for fly by wire controls; It could be a simple service board. The same for a trade computer that would share trade data with the station being visited, and the station would, in turn, share that data with arriving ships.While I agree that what you are saying has merit, it would require considering what modules the ship currently has, and combining them in various ways.

 

[fsdraconis]

Personally part of this I certainly agree with. Some of these components should not be equal to other components.

For instance slotting in a size 1 standard docking computer into a size 2 slot should leave room for another size 1 device. Allowing for more devices to be installed. This will add more mass so there will still be other down sides. Not to mention power needs. But would enable more diversity in ship builds.