scouter

Scouter is a fictional device that appears in the Dragon Ball manga and anime franchise. Created by the scientist Dr. Brief, it is a handheld device capable of detecting and measuring energy levels, often referred to as "power levels." Scouters are commonly used by alien races like the Saiyans and Frieza's army to assess the strength of their opponents.

The device typically resembles a pair of goggles or a monocle, with a display screen that shows the target's power level, often accompanied by a visual representation of their energy signature. Scouters can also detect movement and track targets from a distance. However, the technology has limitations. Extremely powerful individuals can sometimes overwhelm a scouter's reading, causing it to malfunction or explode. Furthermore, characters who have learned to conceal or suppress their energy can render the scouter ineffective.

Despite these drawbacks, scouters played a significant role in the early arcs of Dragon Ball Z, providing a quantifiable measure of character strength and driving plot points related to power scaling. While their use has diminished as the series progressed and characters developed abilities beyond simple power levels, the scouter remains an iconic piece of Dragon Ball technology.