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<p>[quote user="Semper Vaporo"]</p> <p> </p> <blockquote> <div><img src="/TRCCS/Themes/trc/images/icon-quote.gif" /> <strong>Sam1:</strong></div> <div> <p> </p> <p>Today most commercial airline flights are essentially controlled by an on-board computer, which probably controls 95 per cent of the flight. In many respects the pilots are along for the ride, except when it all goes to Hades, in which case the pilots earn their lifetime pay in a few blood curling moments. A pilot recently told me that the machine can fly the plane more efficiently and effectively than a person, but it is creating a problem for the pilots. They are bored.  </p> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <p> </p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p>Not only bored, but under-experienced in how to handle the plane in the few 'blood "curdling" moments'!  If the pilots had been handling the plane day-in-and-day-out they would have experience in the minor difficulties and could extrapolate what to do when things get worse and there would be a lot less curdled blood.</p> <p>As far as present day automated rail operation, the examples cited (airport trams/people movers) are all insular, tightly controlled ROW, where there is a lot less chance of obstructions to the operation.  (Usually, no stray cows or moose at an airport.)  And at the places were public interaction with the RR would normally occur there are employees available to monitor the public causing problems.</p> <p>And an automated HO layout also does not have the problem of unanticipated obstructions... unless the household has a CAT and then I bet the automation all goes to pot in a big hurry.  El Gato knocks the engine off and the train cars are not detected as being in the block so the following train does a rear-ender and that engine also derails, thus the next train repeats the scenario.  Granted, there will be little curdled human blood, except the plastic carnage that can be significant, such that there might be some curdled blood in the owner (and/or his significant other when the prices of the damaged cars and locos are revealed).  Bar-be-qued cat, anyone? [/quote]</p> <p>No responsible official in our company ever suggested that the control room operators in our cyber controlled nuclear plants, or any other plant for that matter, should not be trained to take over if the systems fail. They are constantly under going drills in a simulator to handle any conceivable emergency. Yep, the simulators were designed by the same folks who design flight simulators. At the end of the day computer controlled plants do a more effective job of optimizing daily, normal plant operations than manual operators.</p> <p>No one has suggested that pilots not be trained to handle whatever emergencies are likely to pop up.  They too spend hours in simulators responding to a variety of simulated emergencies. The problem for Air France 447, according to the French authorities, not the FAA, is the pilots had not been trained properly how to fly a partial panel. Again, there is no substitute for a trained pilot when it comes to an emergency. But for most point A to point B flying, the computers do a more effective job than people.  </p> <p>Ultimately, more automation will come to train operations. This is not to say that on-board crews will be dispensed with. But they will become monitors as opposed to doers, much like pilots and nuclear plant operators, only taking over in the event of an emergency. The return on the investment will be found in better operating outputs. Moreover, automation is coming to road vehicle operations too.</p> <p>The technology for self guided cars and trucks, on highways designed to handle them, is coming like it or not. The technology is being tested.  We may not see it in our lifetimes, but it is coming.  Oh no say the oldsters. It will never happen.  Wanna bet?  The oldsters of a generator or two back said that they could not automate car plants and electric grids.  They were wrong.  If you think I am a bit looney, visit the GM plant in Arlington TX or the Toyota truck plant in San Antonio. They conduct regular tours. More than 70 per cent of the work is done by machines. Machines assembling machines. </p>
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