A deflector is a type of technology which utilizes a projected energy source to protect a moving object from other objects and energy sources. A deflector beam or deflector field is a type of force field, usually originating from specialized constructions, described as deflector arrays or deflector dishes.
History and specifications[]
In use by technologically advanced races and cultures, deflectors are usually an outgrowth of earlier technology that involved polarizing protective plating.
Deflectors come in different types, ranging from lower-yield navigational deflectors used by starships and other vehicles to clear stray materials and substances from travel paths, to larger deflector shields used to protect vehicles from high-yield energy interactions and collisions (such as weapon fire). [citation needed]