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IR-beams-tanker

Infrared sensors, on board the USS Discovery.

An infrared sensor is a type of photoelectric beam system used as an electronic alarm. It is designed to alert the user to an intruder's presence by transmitting infrared light beams across an area, where these beams may be obstructed. They are often used in military installations and other facilities of restricted access.

Overview

Infrared sensors are connected to a control unit via low-voltage wiring or a narrowband RF signal which is used to interact with a response device. In some cases, the sensors are linked directly to a facility's central command computer. If an intruder breaks the beams, an alert is raised and facility personnel are notified. There are two main types of infrared sensor: a stationary version where the beams are transmitted in a single position, and a patterned version where the beams continually change position so as to dissuade a potential intruder from attempting to pass though them.

A common method of making the sensor beams visible is through the use of infrared goggles or via cigarette smoke.

Infrated sensors can also be utilized with explosives, such as Semtex, to detonate if someone crosses the sensors unless the control box is shot out.

Usage

San Hieronymo Incident

Main article: San Hieronymo Incident
Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima's core "Metal Gear Saga." Its canonicity within the continuity is disputed, therefore reader discretion is advised.[?]

The Soviet warhead storage facility on the San Hieronymo Peninsula utilized infrared sensors.

Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

Phantom Pain Incident

See also: Hospital Escape and Phantom Pain Incident

Diamond Dogs' Mother Base utilized infrared sensors alongside similar installations owned by PMCs during the 1980s.

Outer Heaven Uprising

Main article: Outer Heaven Uprising

Outer Heaven utilized infrared sensors during the Outer Heaven Uprising in 1995.

Zanzibar Land Disturbance

Main article: Zanzibar Land Disturbance

Zanzibar Land utilized infrared sensors during the Zanzibar Land Disturbance in 1999.

Shadow Moses Incident

Main article: Shadow Moses Incident

The nuclear weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island used this type of sensor system, within both the armory and the tank hangar; the latter of which was linked to a nerve gas release system, that would activate upon the sensor being triggered.

The Manhattan Incident

See also: Tanker Incident and the Big Shell Incident

During the Tanker Incident in 2007, the Gurlukovich Mercenaries proceeded to rig the ship with Semtex that had infrared sensors acting as a trigger to blow up the Discovery tanker, having planned to have the Marines ship scuttled after stealing the Metal Gear RAY prototype. Solid Snake ended up disabling this booby trap by shooting out the control boxes. Two years later, during the Big Shell Incident, the Sons of Liberty at Solidus Snake's order had the Shell connection bridge laced with a similar Semtex trap with infrared sensor triggers, after being notified of a man in a cardboard box being onboard the Big Shell. Raiden ended up disabling the trap in a similar manner to Snake in the Tanker Incident under Iroquois Pliskin's advice.

Guns of the Patriots Incident

See also: Liquid Sun, Solid Sun, Third Sun, Twin Suns, Old Sun, and Naked Sin/Naked Son

Rat Patrol Team 01 had a similar booby trap in place with C4 as the explosive at Advent Palace, which they later used against Haven Troopers in the Middle East after their hiding spot was compromised.

World Marshal Incident

See also: Raid at World Marshal, Ambush in Africa, Abkhazian Coup, Investigation in Guadalajara, Raid in Denver, and Operation Tecumseh
Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima's core "Metal Gear Saga." Its canonicity within the continuity is disputed, therefore reader discretion is advised.[?]

The coastal refinery plant in Abkhazia possessed infrared sensors to protect against intruders.

Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

Behind the scenes

Infrared sensors are a recurring trap in the Metal Gear series. Seeing them often requires either cigarette smoke or infrared goggles. In Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, because of the game incorporating gameplay elements from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the player can just shoot out the control boxes of the various infrared sensors in the Tank Hangar rather than trying to carefully navigate around the beams. Although they are generally a hazard to the player in the games, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain introduces the concept of the player using infrared sensors as a defense system for their Mother Base's Forward Operating Bases. These security devices are considered Grade 3 and cost 1000 GMP for usage, and 100000 GMP for development.

"IR-SENSOR
Infrared sensor.
Intruder detection system that uses the infrared beam interruption method. Detects any individual who touches the beam, and sounds the alarm.
"
―IR-sensor description in the Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Mother Base/FOB Gamescom 2015 gameplay demo

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