Inertial compensator

The inertial compensator, also known as the inertial damper or acceleration compensator, was a technology used in starships, especially in starfighters and other high-performance vessels. It compensated for the intense accelerations that a spaceship underwent in the course of its normal activities; without compensators, ships would either have to accelerate much more slowly, or kill their occupants with excessive g-forces.

Inertial compensators were often dialed back from full power by experienced pilots (from 97 to 95 percent), giving them just enough inertia to feel how the ship was performing without negatively impacting their ability to pilot the ship.

Though used primarily in starships, an inertial compensator could be installed in an airspeeder. Senator Simon Greyshade used one in his custom Narglatch XJ-6 airspeeder to protect riders from the harsh maneuvers the craft was capable of.

Inertial compensators were also used in simulators, making them more realistic by creating artificial sensations of acceleration. They were also used in Senate Building turbolifts.

Behind the scenes
The 1998 Star Wars Encyclopedia has an "acceleration compensator" entry, which says these are used in "medium- and larger-sized spacecraft such as the Millennium Falcon." However, earlier books, such as X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, depict acceleration compensators in X-wings.

Inertial compensators may or may not be the same as repulsor-compensators.

It is possible that a deceleration equalizer performs the opposite function to an inertial compensator.