SALfan Murphy Siding Yeah, right, that's the ticket, and maybe the engineer could have a lazer beam mounted to his drone and blow up the offending truck. Would be more fun to mount a 155mm howitzer on the front of the train and BLOW the truck out of the way.
Murphy Siding Yeah, right, that's the ticket, and maybe the engineer could have a lazer beam mounted to his drone and blow up the offending truck.
Yeah, right, that's the ticket, and maybe the engineer could have a lazer beam mounted to his drone and blow up the offending truck.
Would be more fun to mount a 155mm howitzer on the front of the train and BLOW the truck out of the way.
What you probably would want is a direct fire weapon such as the 120mm main gun from an M1 Abrams tank.
O.C, any artillery would still leave enough chunks of truck on the tracks to derail the lead locomotive...and any weapon powerful enough to vaporize a truck would also catastropically damage the track and roadbed.
I'm thinking maybe a Russian M-26 flying crane chopper with an electromagnet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_Mi-26
Drone spots the truck and heli swoops in. Of course if the offending vehicle is over 20 tons the 'copter won't be of much help...
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
No, more like "BNSF 4432, Bismarck Tower, you are cleared to launch drone NDBX99032 at 2100 hours, and operate within envelope A* until mile 532."
(I'm using fake numbers here, as I don't know either the conventions or road details in the Bismarck area. But it will involve some form of N-number for each device carried (here NDX being N, American tail number, D drone/UAV, X by analogy with four character private railroad car identifier); and give specific time and location information for the authorization. Here the time would correspond to the anticipated start of the train, and the distance indication would be for some limiting condition -- a bridge, natural feature, airport boundary, or some other area. The 'envelope' would be a code system in railroad rules incorporating things like line-of-sight, permissible altitude or distance from locomotive, use of sensor fusion or night vision augmentation, etc., and would probably be precoded into the drone control unit carried onto the locomotive by a given crew.)
I'm personally looking forward with great interest to the upcoming chapter of Don Oltmann's blog on future electrified railroading that incorporates and expands on this sort of operations. Since il miglior fabbro I expect to learn a great deal about the practical implications of this...
"BNSF 4432, Bismarck Tower, you are cleared for take off on track 3"
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
The NPRM (governmentese for 'notice of proposed rule-making', which is itself governmentese for pending enforceable 'laws' as applied to people) covers just the additions and enhancements to the existing policies regarding aircraft use that they expect will be 'requirements for the safe operation of [UAVs/'drones'] in the national airspace system'. To quote a bit more governmentese, here is the rationale as they give it:
"This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95). Section 333 of Public Law 112-95 directs the Secretary of Transportation (1) to determine whether “certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace system.” If the Secretary determines, pursuant to section 333, that certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace system, then the Secretary must “establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.” (2)
"This rulemaking is also promulgated pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40103(b)(1) and (2), which charge the FAA with issuing regulations: (1) To ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace; and (2) to govern the flight of aircraft for purposes of navigating, protecting and identifying aircraft, and protecting individuals and property on the ground. In addition, 49 U.S.C. 44701(a)(5), charges the FAA with prescribing regulations that the FAA finds necessary for safety in air commerce and national security."
Wizlish Resuscitating this because comments to the FAA close April 24th http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0150-0017
Resuscitating this because comments to the FAA close April 24th
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-0150-0017
56 pages for a government regulation. Looks a little short to me, but then it does look like it is printed in Governmentese.
ROAR
Phoebe Vet http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/05/10/airliner-nearly-collides-with-drone-over-florida/ The near-miss in March between a drone and a US Airways jet in the sky over Tallahassee appears to be the first time a commercial airliner nearly collided in midair, raising fear about the possibility of future close calls.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/05/10/airliner-nearly-collides-with-drone-over-florida/
The near-miss in March between a drone and a US Airways jet in the sky over Tallahassee appears to be the first time a commercial airliner nearly collided in midair, raising fear about the possibility of future close calls.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
"Wouldn't work in a quiet zone. Besides, don't you think the engineer and conductor have enough duties in the cab already, without worrying about reloading and such?"
But it would create new employment opportunities because they'd have to hire a nose gunner.
Norm
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Stagehand "Unit 6-8."
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Mookie Murphy Siding Two words (more or less): CB Radio. 10-4 good buddy, see ya on the flip-flop Bassett Hound here. Don't have ears any more, but traveled w/a trucker and that was our "smart phone".
Murphy Siding Two words (more or less): CB Radio. 10-4 good buddy, see ya on the flip-flop
Two words (more or less): CB Radio. 10-4 good buddy, see ya on the flip-flop
Bassett Hound here. Don't have ears any more, but traveled w/a trucker and that was our "smart phone".
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Murphy SidingI'm sure there are still HAM radio operators out there,
Yep - I just became one. You're right, it's not a huge group, but there's more than you might think.
tree68 Murphy Siding Two words (more or less): CB Radio. 10-4 good buddy, see ya on the flip-flop. True. One must remember, though, that many folks who used CB for business or official purposes in the early days eventually migrated to commercial LMR radio, including the "itinerant" channels, and now even trunked radio for some businesses. FRS and GMRS are also now in play for users who may have used CB in the past. I haven't been on CB in years, but I think it's still a going concern. Just not like it was in it's heyday.
Murphy Siding Two words (more or less): CB Radio. 10-4 good buddy, see ya on the flip-flop.
Two words (more or less): CB Radio. 10-4 good buddy, see ya on the flip-flop.
True.
One must remember, though, that many folks who used CB for business or official purposes in the early days eventually migrated to commercial LMR radio, including the "itinerant" channels, and now even trunked radio for some businesses. FRS and GMRS are also now in play for users who may have used CB in the past.
I haven't been on CB in years, but I think it's still a going concern. Just not like it was in it's heyday.
Euclid Has BNSF actually started using drones? The whole plan sounds a little farfetched to me. The references that I have seen are always wrapped up in a lot of explanation about union contracts with the drone just mentioned in passing. Regarding drones being a fad, gadgets sell like hotcakes, and drones fit right into that market. But I am surprised that a railroad company would jump on that bandwagon.
I am certain that they have. Not so much as a practicle work device, but more of a show-and-tell to the unions. "See, Look what we got! You wanna join in the fun?"
It is just like a push for operatorless trains, or trains with just a "rider" in the cab rather than an engineer and conductor. They *have* demonstrated this technology in a subtle way to their employees. On one run, my friend the conductor (and his engineer) were told not to touch the horn valve, and that the train would sound the horns automatically via GPS.
And the horns sounded with out any intervention.
Demonstration complet, now back to our regularly scheduled programing.
The engineers were offered the job of handling trains by remote control in the yards and at certain industries, they turned the offer down flat. Apparently they did not want to get out of their warm cabs and ditz about with heavy appliences, levers and switches.
The Conductor's Union accepted the responsibility, what the heck, they gotta go out there anyway, they may as well run the locomotive. No big deal.
BNSF is always out there looking for savings.
Euclid Regarding drones being a fad, gadgets sell like hotcakes, and drones fit right into that market. But I am surprised that a railroad company would jump on that bandwagon.
While the fad thing will eventually pass (thousands of "consumer" UAVs will be collecting dust in closets before too long), I think the industry will mature, and legitimate uses will be found - many of which have already been mentioned.
Looking specifically at railroad uses - the original concept of doing cursory inspections of trouble spots could be a real timesaver. No longer would a track inspector need to get track and time for a patrol. Just launch the UAV and run it from a safe location off the tracks. If problems are found, then it's time to set on and take a first hand look.
As has also been mentioned, this isn't a job for my Parrot AR.Drone 2.0. "Industrial quality" devices will be used, possibly even with satellite communications. Parameters can be set into the GPS to keep them out of trouble (ie, aircraft conflicts). There would be little need to fly them over 50 feet or so anyhow, barring "hard" obstructions.
I'm not at all surprised that BNSF (or any other railroad) would look to using UAV's. We know that management is always looking for a way to save a buck. This is just one possibility.
Railroads have used them for bridge inspections.
One thing people seem to be misunderstanding. The labor contrat wasn't saying that a conductor ON A TRAIN would be flying a drone, its said the CRAFT that would be flying drones would be a conductor (as opposed to an engineer or a maintenence employee). The conductors were carving out who does the work.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
It seems to me that the requirement the drone remain within sight of the operator severely limits its use. Perhaps wreck inspection in a suspected hazardous enviroment might occur or the inspection of structural members of a bridge, but these are unusual circumstances.
To use a non-railroad example -- these things are being promoted as a tool to inspect growing crops. However, in my part of the country, fields of 30 or 40 acres are very common. A drone in the middle of that field perhaps is within my line of sight, but it may not be within my range of vision. A rail line, being long and narrow, suffers much more from that same limitation.
In the aviation sense, when I hear the term "drone" I usually think of an unmanned target aircraft or reconnaissance aircraft flown by remote control from a considerable distance away. I definitely do not think of the overgrown toys that are currently being called drones.
zugmann Apples and oranges. A car is practical conveyence. A drone is nothing more than an expensive toy for the majority of people. Add in a few extra FAA regs some day, and nobody but a handful of hobbyist is going to want to bother.
Apples and oranges. A car is practical conveyence. A drone is nothing more than an expensive toy for the majority of people. Add in a few extra FAA regs some day, and nobody but a handful of hobbyist is going to want to bother.
I'm pretty pro-drone in large scale applications, but the thing is sooooooo faddish. Most "drones" are simply RC helicopters with a trendy name slapped on it. If you're flying it, it's not a drone!
Murphy Siding tree68 One huge factor that nobody has mentioned yet is the relatively limited flight time of such vehicles. The current best on the market consumer quadcopter is only good for 20 minutes. Ya gotta think outside the boxes- air to air refueling. The airforce has been doing it since maybe the late 40's. If we can imagine drones flying above trains and dodging airplanes, surely we can imagine them refueling in flight.
tree68 One huge factor that nobody has mentioned yet is the relatively limited flight time of such vehicles. The current best on the market consumer quadcopter is only good for 20 minutes.
One huge factor that nobody has mentioned yet is the relatively limited flight time of such vehicles.
The current best on the market consumer quadcopter is only good for 20 minutes.
Ya gotta think outside the boxes- air to air refueling. The airforce has been doing it since maybe the late 40's. If we can imagine drones flying above trains and dodging airplanes, surely we can imagine them refueling in flight.
Thx IGN
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmann Euclid You can bet that every single bit of state, local, and federal government will find a need to be flying drones around. Day will turn to night just like during the great locust plagues. Perhaps, but I think it is more of a fad at this point. It'll pass.
Euclid You can bet that every single bit of state, local, and federal government will find a need to be flying drones around. Day will turn to night just like during the great locust plagues.
Perhaps, but I think it is more of a fad at this point. It'll pass.
Just like the automobile was going to be a fad. Then when it seemed too be catching on, cities were trying to ban them, but it was like trying to stop drinking with prohibition.
People will want their own drone!
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
BroadwayLionThis is not a hobby store quadcopter. This is an octocopter and weighs in at 55 pounds. Certainly it can carry more battery at that weight.
No doubt - but probably still not enough to follow a mainline freight for several hundred miles at 60-70 MPH.
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