Automation
Automation or an automated system referred to a class of technological advances that decreased the amount of involvement by lifeforms by allowing their tasks to be taken over by machines. Advanced cultures might use extensive automation. 

Automated systems might go on operating long after their builders were gone, sometimes with tragic results. One such example was the doomsday machine. () Beacons and transmission stations also tended to be automated, and distress calls and other automated signals might continue operating long after those in need of saving had succumbed. (; ; , etc.)

Automation took place on Earth as early as the 19th century, when workers who felt their livelihood threatened by automation flung their sabots into the machines to stop them. ()

Automated probes might be used in space exploration. In particular, species that did not have manned space travel might resort to exploring space using automated probes. Inversely, advanced civilizations might automate previously manned freighters so they no longer required crew. Within the Federation, the Woden was an example of such a ship. (; ; )

The , at least in its refit configuration, critically relied on an automation center, without which its engineers could not control anything. According to Montgomery Scott, with sufficient automation a chimpanzee and two trainees could run such a ship. Gravitation could also be set on automatic on the Constitution-class. (; )

On the 24th century , 90% of what happened on the ship was done automatically and completely out of the control of the crew. () When the saucer section of this class needed to be re-docked after a separation, this was usually done through automation, however, manual docking was also possible. () Furthermore, an automated sequence for departure could be set in case ships needed to be abandoned. ()

When a Tarellian starship approached Haven in 2364, it was speculated that the entire crew might be dead and that the ship might have been brought in solely by automation. ()

Automated security systems and programs might be deployed to protect installations in the absence of crew. (; ; )

During the 23rd century, an unnamed farm planet utilized automated machines. ()

An automated transponder sending back false sensor readings was instrumental in the Battle of the Omarion Nebula, a pivotal battle in the lead up to the Dominion War. ()

The Devore Imperium operated at least one automated sensor array. ()

Automated systems 
 Auto-ascent sequencer
 Auto-destruct sequencer
 Auto-navigation
 Automated distress signal
 Automated fire system
 Automated Personnel Unit
 Automated repair station
 Automatic bridge defense system
 Automatic locking device
 Automatic transmission station
 Automaton
 Cargo drone
 Delta Vega lithium cracking station
Emergency Medical Holographic program
Exocomp
M-4 robot
M-5 multitronic unit
 Planet killer
Probe
Robot
 Robot ship
 Sensor drone

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Technology