star wars - How was the First Order tracking the Resistance in the Last Jedi?

In TLJ, a big deal is made about how the First Order is able to track the Resistance (lead) ship

through hyperspace.

Everyone seems surprised that this is possible.

Rose and Finn comment that the tracking mechanism must be similar to other, pre-existing tracking mechanisms, which is why they know what to destroy, but they don't seem to know where this new ability comes from.

Is it ever made clear how the First Order is doing this? Or is it just "new technology"?

Answer

This is addressed in the film's Incredible Cross-Sections tie-in factbook. In short, it's a combination of unheard-of levels of computer processing power (using hyperspace as a way of compressing processing time) as well as advanced hyperspace sensors and records of millions of previous hyperspace transits.

It's still a guess, but a guess based on trillions of probability calculations.

The First Order tracks targets through hyperspace using a combination of technological advances and brute-force data crunching. The shipboard tracking control complex boasts the data-sifting power of a planetary intel hub, linking huge computer arrays to databanks loaded with centuries of combat reports and astrogation data.

A static hyperspace field generated around the machines then accelerates their processing power to unheard-of levels. A targets last known trajectory yields trillions of potential destinations, but the system can assess them with terrifying speed.

For a bit of fun, it's worth pointing out that we see the system in its infancy in Rogue One, one of the research projects with data on file at the Scarif base.

Comments

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