The acceleration compensator, also known as the inertial damper, inertial compensator, deceleration compensator, deceleration equalizer, or drive compensator,[1] was a technology used in starships, especially in starfighters and other high-performance vessels. It compensated for the intense accelerations that a spaceship underwent in the course of its normal activities; without compensators, ships would either have to accelerate much more slowly, or cause a blackout to or even kill their occupants with excessive g-forces.
An average Human could survive around 5 gs, while a trained human in a flight suit was generally capable of surviving around 9 gs without suffering negative effects. Even larger ships such as the Executor-class Star Dreadnought were capable of accelerations of over 1000 gs, which was well above lethal levels of acceleration, necessitating the use of inertial compensators on practically every ship.
Inertial compensators were often dialed back from full power by experienced pilots (from 97 to 95 percent), giving them just enough inertia to feel how the ship was performing without negatively impacting their ability to pilot the ship.[2]
Though used primarily in starships, an inertial compensator could be installed in an airspeeder. Senator Simon Greyshade used one in his custom Narglatch XJ-6 airspeeder to protect riders from the harsh maneuvers the craft was capable of.[3]
Inertial compensators were also used in simulators, making them more realistic by creating artificial sensations of acceleration.[4] They were also used in Senate Building turbolifts.[5]
During the Yuuzhan Vong War, modifying inertial compensators was necessary to compensate for the shield-draining techniques of the dovin basals.
Behind the scenes
The 1998 Star Wars Encyclopedia has an "acceleration compensator" entry, which says these are used in "medium- and larger-sized spacecraft such as the Millennium Falcon." However, earlier books, such as X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, depict acceleration compensators in X-wings.[6]
Inertial compensators may or may not be the same as repulsor-compensators.
Appearances
- Knights of the Old Republic 44
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Galactic Starfighter (Mentioned only)
- Jedi Apprentice: The Deadly Hunter
- Star Wars Adventures 3: The Hostage Princess (and Game Book)
- "The Clone Wars: The Pengalan Tradeoff" — Star Wars Insider 65 (also reprinted in Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club and Setkání v mlze)
- Labyrinth of Evil
- Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (and unabridged audiobook)
- Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
- "Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88" — Tales of the Bounty Hunters (First identified as inertial damping system)
- Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon (First identified as inertial damper)
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed novelization (and unabridged audiobook) (as inertial dampener) (Mentioned only)
- Han Solo at Stars' End (First appearance) (First identified as acceleration compensator)
- "The Spira Regatta" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 1 (also reprinted in The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4) (as inertia compensator)
- "Droid Trouble" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 3 (also reprinted in Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club) (as drive compensator)
- Rebel Force: Firefight
- Allegiance (and audiobook)
- "The Great Herdship Heist" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 15 (as acceleration compensator)
- Introductory Adventure Game (as acceleration compensator)
- Battle of the Bounty Hunters
- "Treasure Hunt" — Twin Stars of Kira (as inertial damper)
- "Missed Chance" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 7 (also reprinted in Tales from the Empire and Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club) (as acceleration compensator)
- X-Wing: Rogue Squadron (and unabridged audiobook) (as acceleration compensator)
- X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble (and unabridged audiobook) (as acceleration compensation unit)
- X-Wing: The Krytos Trap (and unabridged audiobook) (as acceleration compensator)
- X-Wing: Wraith Squadron (and unabridged audiobook)
- X-Wing: Iron Fist (and unabridged audiobook)
- X-Wing: Solo Command (and unabridged audiobook)
- "Home" — The Kathol Rift (Reprinted and collected in The DarkStryder Campaign, Deluxe) (as acceleration compensator)
- "The Saga Nears Its End" — Endgame (Reprinted and collected in The DarkStryder Campaign, Deluxe)
- The Courtship of Princess Leia (and unabridged audiobook) (as acceleration compensator)
- Tatooine Ghost (as acceleration compensator) (Mentioned only)
- Heir to the Empire (and unabridged audiobook) (as acceleration compensator)
- X-Wing: Isard's Revenge
- "Relic" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 6 (also reprinted in Classic Adventures: Volume Four — The Best of the Journal)
- Dark Empire II 1 (First identified as repulsor compensator)
- Dark Apprentice (as acceleration compensator)
- I, Jedi (and unabridged audiobook) (as inertial damper)
- X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar
- Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
- Before the Storm
- Showdown at Centerpoint (as inertial damper)
- The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime
- The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide I: Onslaught
- The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide II: Ruin
- The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial
- The New Jedi Order: Balance Point
- The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest
- "Emissary of the Void" (also reprinted in Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club)
- The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
- The New Jedi Order: Star by Star
- The New Jedi Order: Dark Journey
- The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
- The New Jedi Order: Ylesia
- The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic I: Remnant
- The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic III: Reunion (First identified as inertial dampener)
- The New Jedi Order: The Final Prophecy (Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force
- Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
- Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
- Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines (as damper)
- Legacy of the Force: Tempest
- Legacy of the Force: Exile
- Legacy of the Force: Inferno (Mentioned only)
- Legacy of the Force: Fury
- Legacy of the Force: Invincible
- Crosscurrent (First identified as internal compensator)
- Millennium Falcon (and audiobook)
- Fate of the Jedi: Outcast (and audiobook)
- Fate of the Jedi: Abyss (and audiobook)
- Fate of the Jedi: Conviction (and audiobook)
- Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- X-Wing: Mercy Kill (and audiobook)
Sources
- A Guide to the Star Wars Universe (as acceleration compensator)
- The Star Wars Sourcebook (as Acceleration Compensator)
- Starfighter Battle Book: X-wing vs TIE Interceptor (as Acceleration Compensator)
- The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook (as Acceleration Compensator)
- The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook (as inertial dampening system)
- A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
- The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook, Second Edition
- The Star Wars Sourcebook, Second Edition (as Acceleration Compensator)
- Star Wars Screen Entertainment
- Star Wars Technical Journal of the Rebel Forces
- Platt's Starport Guide (as acceleration compensator)
- Galladinium's Fantastic Technology (as inertia compensator)
- Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi, Second Edition
- The Truce at Bakura Sourcebook
- The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
- The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
- Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
- Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back, Second Edition
- Stock Ships (as inertia damper)
- Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook (as inertia damper)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections
- The New Jedi Order Sourcebook
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 24
- Millennium Falcon Owner's Workshop Manual
- Star Wars: Complete Vehicles
- Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game — IG-2000 Expansion Pack (Card: Inertial Dampeners)