| Ore Detector | |
|---|---|
| |
| Category: | Functional Block |
| Status: | Functional |
| Function: | |
| Detects up to 5 ore locations within range. | |
| Fits small ship | |
| Mass: | 85.2 kg |
| Power: | -2 kW |
| Range: | 50 m |
| Fits large ship and station | |
| Mass: | 1,570 kg |
| Power: | -2 kW |
| Range: | 150 m |
| Data Controls: | [edit] [purge] (?) |
A small-grid vehicle can dock to a functioning large-grid ore detector using Connectors. (Don't press P.)
The 
Ore Detector is an entry-level functional block in Space Engineers. When attached to a ship and supplied with power, it displays up to 5 ore locations as Signals on the player's HUD when they are within detection range — exactly like the Hand Drill does, but with possibly greater range.
Important: Increase the range to maximum on the Control Panel Screen! The detector starts out set to an energy-preserving low range by default.
- If installed on a Small Ship, the max range is 50 meters, which is not much more than a hand-held drill.
- If installed on a Large Ship, the max range is 150 meters.
- The range of multiple Ore Detectors does not stack, ranges just overlap.
- The ore detector can broadcast found ore signals, which a handheld drill cannot.
For more info about ores and their distribution, see Ores.
Broadcast[]
If you send a RC drone (with antenna) out to do the ore detecting for you, you may want it to report its results back to your long-range station antenna. In the Ore Detector’s Control Panel Screen, enable the setting Broadcast using antennas to make the drone’s ore detector signals visible on your HUD within the whole antenna range.
The broadcasting setting does not increase the detection range of the detector, only visibility range of the signals!
For example, your station antenna broadcasts in a 3km radius, your Ore Detector is set to 150m, and your drone is within range of the station antenna. While the drone detects ores 150m around it, you can see these ore signals on your HUD within a 3km radius of the station.
To use this feature, you need two antennas: The first one on the base, and the second one on the grid that has the Ore Detector. For the signal to reach your suit antenna, make sure that both antennas have broadcasting enabled.
Important exception: Asteroids only spawn when players are near, so an uncrewed ore detector drone can only detect and broadcast ores on planets and moons.
Construction[]
The Ore Detector exists for large and small grid and requires 1x1x2 blocks of space. It will attach to other blocks on all faces of its cube-shaped base. The cylindrical half of the detector does not attach to blocks.
The large grid variant is preferred when ever you can afford it due its 150 m detection radius. For example, a small-grid ship with a small-grid Connector can dock to and carry a large-grid Ore Detector with large-grid Connector.
Recipe[]
| Ore Detector | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Large Ship/Station Required | Large Ship/Station Optional | Small Ship Required | Small Ship Optional |
 Detector Components | 15 | 10 | 1 | — |
 Computer | 25 | — | 1 | — |
 Motor | 5 | — | 1 | — |
 Construction Comp. | 20 | 20 | 2 | — |
 Steel Plate | 30 | 20 | 1 | 2 |
