Replicator

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Multiple realities
(covers information from several alternate timelines)
A food replicator aboard a Galaxy-class starship
A replicated martini materializes
Food slot and food service redirects here; for the similar technology prevalent in the 23rd century on Starfleet starships, please see food synthesizer.

A replicator or molecular synthesizer is a device that uses matter-energy conversion technology to dematerialize quantities of matter and then re-materialize that matter in another form.[1] It was also capable of inverting its function, thus disposing of leftovers and dishes.[2][3] Items thus disposed of served to fuel the replicator, and would later be reconstituted as other objects.[4]

Replicators are capable of producing something as fresh and tasty as non-replicated foodstuffs, inorganically materialized out of patterns used by the transporters.[1] Most people find replicated foods and drinks to taste exactly the same as "real" food, although some people claim to be able to tell the difference. Furthermore, Federation replicators can be programmed to produce foodstuffs of acceptable "nutritional value".[5][6]

On Starfleet vessels, replicators produced synthehol versions of alcoholic drinks by default, but they could easily be manually readjusted through their control panel to make real alcohol instead.[7]

In addition to foodstuffs, replicators could be used for replicating machine parts, clothing, or other objects. Although clothing could be replicated for general wear, replicators would not allow non-Starfleet crewmembers to replicate official Starfleet uniforms. Outgrown or damaged clothing could be returned to the replicator for recycling. Industrial replicators could even be used to replicate heavier machine parts.[8][9][10]

Replicators had limits to their functionality. If the object desired contained a certain degree of complexity in its molecular structure, it could not be replicated.[11]

Replicators aboard Starfleet vessels would not produce fatal poisons.[12] Furthermore, replicators had biofilters which automatically screened out all contaminants.[13]

On Starfleet installations and starships, if a person in custody was confined to quarters, it was standard policy to disable the replicators that the person had access to in order to ensure that a weapon could not be replicated.[14][15]

Replicators (along with transporters and force fields) were one of the technologies used in holodecks and holosuites.[16]

Some alien replication technology was used to create organic material, such as when the D'Arsay archive created living snakes. The "Allegiance" aliens were also able to create living things, as in the case of Jean-Luc Picard's imposter, for which the replicators were even able to recreate the dendritic connections where memory was stored.[17]

While only a genetronic replicator could fully replicate actual organs for use in medical transplants,[18] by 2371, standard Starfleet replicator technology was theoretically capable of creating artificial substitutes for natural organs for use in transplants. However, this required the system to have some understanding of the organs required; for example, it was impossible to use a replicator to create a set of Talaxian lungs, as Talaxian physiology included a complex series of neural links between the lungs and the rest of the body that replicators were unable to duplicate exactly.[19]

Criticism[edit | edit source]

Some citizens of the Federation, such as Robert Picard, refused to use replicators. Picard was opposed to their use and would not allow them on his property.[20] Similar but less extreme mindsets were not uncommon, and both Miles O'Brien's mother as well as Joseph Sisko raised their respective children believing that replicated food was less nutritious or generally "lacking".[21][22]

In 2366, Deanna Troi expressed her desire to the computer to have a "real" chocolate sundae. The computer wished for her to define "real in context", to which Troi explained, "Real. Not one of your perfectly synthesized, ingeniously enhanced imitations. I would like real chocolate ice cream, real whipped cream..." before she was interrupted by the computer explained that "[t]his unit is programmed to provide sources of acceptable nutritional value. Your request does not fall within current guidelines. Please indicate whether you wish to override the specified program?"[23]

History and notable uses[edit | edit source]

An advanced 22nd century matter-energy converter

One of the first replicators seen by Humans was the one seen by the crew of Enterprise when they had their ship repaired in a mysterious automated repair station. Prior to this, T'Pol had once saw a similar device on a Tarkalean vessel that was capable of replicating almost any inanimate object. Until this time, the most comparable technology aboard 22nd century starships were protein resequencers, which had limited capabilities compared to later technologies.[24][25]

In the 23rd century, the United Federation of Planets had not yet perfected replicator technology for ships but replicators already existed in industrial sites. Replicator technology was, however, in use by The Assigners, and the Beta 5 computer utilized replicator technology to manufacture several false identity cards for use by Gary Seven.[26] Starships of this time period were equipped with food synthesizers. This was a step forward, but did not achieve the quality and sophistication of the 24th century replicator. Replicator technology was not yet employed on starships as late as 2293.[27][28]

The writers guide for the series Star Trek explained that food was prepared in high-speed equipment and moved to a food slot via a small turbolift, and this was also shown, with no detail, in blueprints of the ship prepared by Franz Joseph in 1974.
Paris using the food service in the mess hall
A portable matter replicator

24th century Federation starships were commonly equipped with replicators because they allowed for a wide variety of foods and beverages to be served to crew members and also allowed for replication of other objects. The selection was limited only by the software and the number of options that had been programmed.[29][30][31]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard beamed down to Rana IV with a portable matter replicator for the Uxbridges in 2366.[32]

When Beverly Crusher determined that a captured Romulan needed ribosomes to survive, she noted that the replicator could not be used due to the complexity of the molecular structure.[33]

The replicators in Quark's Bar on Deep Space 9

As of 2367, Galaxy-class starships were equipped with a replicating center containing several replicator terminals resembling miniature transporter pads at which crew members could order items. Lieutenant Worf and Lieutenant Commander Data shopped the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)1='s replicating center for a wedding present for Miles and Keiko O'Brien.[34]

The Enterprise-D's replicators were used to provide blankets to a Bajoran refugee camp.[35]

The replicator played a key role in spreading the Ktarian game around the Enterprise-D in 2368.[36]

On the Promenade of the Federation space station Deep Space 9, the Replimat provided a casual location for inhabitants to enjoy a meal or beverage courtesy of a bank of replicators located along one of its walls.[37]

The ubiquity of replicator technology by the late 24th century is likely the chief contributor to the development of the post-scarcity economy of the Federation.

Replicators in the Delta Quadrant[edit | edit source]

"Any dinner plans?"
"Nothing special. Date with a replicator."
"Cancel it, that's an order."
– Janeway and Chakotay, 2375Timeless
A replicator malfunctions and creates a mug – after the coffee

After the USS Voyager was pulled to the Delta Quadrant in 2371, an energy crisis occurred several weeks into the journey back to the Alpha Quadrant, and Janeway ordered replicator usage to be rationed in order to conserve power for other key systems. These replicator rations became a type of currency among its crew.[38]

The energy crisis and replicator rations were used with some dramatic license by the writers of Star Trek: Voyager. Therefore, it is difficult to tell exactly how much power replicators used for every whim would actually cost in terms of ship's energy. Energy that could otherwise be used on replicator functions was being consumed by the holodeck during several episodes, including "The Cloud", in which the crisis was first noted. (However, on several occasions it's mentioned on screen that the general power supply for the ship and the one for the holodecks "are not compatible" on Voyager. It may be intentional, in order to protect holodecks and its contents to certain extent even during rapid and ship-wide power failure such as in episode “Night”.)

The Ocampa were provided with food dispensers by the Caretaker in their underground city on Ocampa.[39]

The call sheet listed food dispensers in the set dressing section.

Later that year, it became very clear that replicator technology was unknown to the indigenous people of the region around the Ocampan homeworld. The Kazon, in particular, repeatedly tried to obtain this technology, as did other races. Captain Janeway feared that if this technology was acquired by a civilization before it was ready, disastrous consequences could ensue. For this reason, and because of the Prime Directive, Janeway refused to give up this technology at any price.[40] By 2377, however, the crew of Voyager had shared replicators to help people feed and clothe themselves a number of times.[41] In contrast, the Ferengi Arridor and Kol used a portable replicator to pass themselves off as the Great Sages of the Takarians.[42]

In 2374 in the alternate timeline known as the Year of Hell, the replicator system on Voyager was heavily damaged by attacks from Krenim warships, forcing the crew to go to emergency rations.[43]

In 2377, Voyager acquired technology from a race within the Void that had joined The Alliance which tripled the ship's replicator efficiency.[44]

In 2378, the young Q manipulated a replicator to tell Janeway "Make it yourself" when she asked it for coffee.[45] Janeway herself had a tense relationship with her personal replicator. After it burned a pot roast, not the first time it had done so, she told Commander Chakotay that she had once referred to it as a "glorified toaster" and it had never forgiven her.[46]

Appendices[edit | edit source]

Background information[edit | edit source]

(Real-World This section of text has a real-world perspective! Click here for more information The idea of replicators was unpopular with the writers of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. Ira Steven Behr commented: "I'd like to lose the replicators. They're my least favorite thing in Star Trek. A society that uses replicators is a doomed, finished society." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion) Ronald D. Moore added that "Replicators are the worst thing ever. Destroys storytelling all the time. They mean there's no value to anything. Nothing has value in the universe if you can just replicate everything, so all that goes away. Nothing is unique; if you break something, you can just make another one. If something breaks on the ship, it's "Oh, no big deal, Geordi can just go down to engineering and make another doozywhatsit." Or they go to a planet and that planet needed something: "Oh, hey, let's make them what they need!" We just hated it and tried to forget about it as much as possible." [1]

Per an odd after-credits scene in the Star Trek: Short Treks episode “The Trouble with Edward”, 23rd century food synthesizers apparently incorporated replicator safety protocols, although it remains unconfirmed that replicators incorporated these as well.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ^ a b TNG: "Lonely Among Us")
  2. ^ DS9: "Hard Time", "The Assignment", "The Ascent"
  3. ^ VOY: "Memorial"
  4. ^ VOY: "Year of Hell"
  5. ^ TNG: "The Price", "Sins of the Father", "The Wounded", "Relics"
  6. ^ DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight", "You Are Cordially Invited"
  7. ^ TNG: "Up The Long Ladder"
  8. ^ TNG: "The Game"
  9. ^ DS9: "For the Cause"
  10. ^ VOY: "Caretaker", "Phage", "Mortal Coil"
  11. ^ TNG: "The Enemy"
  12. ^ VOY: "Death Wish"
  13. ^ DS9: "Babel"
  14. ^ DS9: "Inquisition"
  15. ^ VOY: "Counterpoint"
  16. ^ VOY: "The Cloud", "Twisted", "Dark Frontier", "Pathfinder", "Human Error"
  17. ^ TNG: "Masks", "Allegiance"
  18. ^ TNG: "Ethics"
  19. ^ VOY: "Phage"
  20. ^ TNG: "Family"
  21. ^ TNG: "The Wounded"
  22. ^ DS9: "Homefront"
  23. ^ TNG: "The Price"
  24. ^ ENT: "Dead Stop"
  25. ^ ENT: "Fight or Flight", "Oasis"
  26. ^ TOS: "Assignment: Earth"
  27. ^ TOS: "The Naked Time", "The Trouble with Tribbles"
  28. ^ VOY: "Flashback"
  29. ^ TNG: "The Neutral Zone", "The Defector", "Sins of the Father", "All Good Things..."
  30. ^ DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations"
  31. ^ VOY: "Caretaker", "Phage", "Twisted"
  32. ^ TNG: "The Survivors"
  33. ^ TNG: "The Enemy"
  34. ^ TNG: "Data's Day"
  35. ^ TNG: "Ensign Ro"
  36. ^ TNG: "The Game"
  37. ^ DS9: "Emissary"
  38. ^ VOY: "The Cloud"
  39. ^ VOY: "Caretaker"
  40. ^ VOY: "State of Flux"
  41. ^ VOY: "Flesh and Blood"
  42. ^ VOY: "False Profits"
  43. ^ VOY: "Year of Hell"
  44. ^ VOY: "The Void"
  45. ^ VOY: "Q2"
  46. ^ VOY: "Shattered"

External link[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://starfleetlogistics.shoutwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Replicator&oldid=7472"