Automation center

The automation center was a component of Federation starships, responsible for computer-controlling the vast number of critical systems responsible for the necessary functions of the vessel.

In 2285, the automation center of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) was critically damaged in combat. Upon returning to spacedock, Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott reported to Admiral Kirk that sufficient repairs had been made that the Enterprise would be fully automated by the time the ship was docked. Later, as part of Kirk's plot to steal the Enterprise in an attempt to recover Captain Spock's body, Scott modified the automation center in such a way as to allow the Enterprise to be controllable by only a small handful of crewmembers, Scott stating that "a chimpanzee and two trainees could run her." During the course of this mission, however, the automation center was once again disabled in combat with a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, denying the small crew access to critical systems.