A cargo transporter is a type of transporter set up for the beaming of cargo, usually meaning non-living and inorganic matter.
History and specifications[]
A cargo transporter's technology allowed for large objects and areas to be transported, as opposed to personnel transporters which were designed for single individual bodies and a smaller pad. Another key difference is the settings of resolution, where a personnel transporter is set for a quantum resolution in order to ensure that no damage is done to any person or other lifeform or computer technology in transport. A cargo transporter can be pre-set for the more economical molecular resolution, meaning that it will beam objects and reassemble their molecular structure intact, but without the delicate balance of energy that would allow for a living subject to remain alive. (TNG reference: Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual)