There are many places where one could make use of a robot, for example near burning aircraft loaded with munitions.
Watch some of the "Forrestal fire" videos where responding seaman are blown away and incinerated to see why the Navy is interested. Likewise, you could seal a compartment with a robot inside while it continued to fight a fire which would suffocate a human crew.
"It also makes said engine more expensive unless you can sufficiently leverage economy of scale by using that common block for everything."
Design with versatility aforethought. It works. The VW block is as simple as any four-banger of the times. It's an elegant design.
The fuel pump hole is also a vacuum pump mount hole is also an FI temp sensor mount hole. The manifolds for diesel, carb, and FI are simple as are the cylinder heads. I've owned examples of those carbed, diesel, and FI engines.
In fact, I've retrofitted a Dodge Omni carb manifold (they used some VW engines too, and the Omni was a Rabbit-influenced design) and a Vega carb ("Holley/Weber" style without the "Weber" price) to a Scirocco whose mechanical Bosch FI was trashed.
LP and natgas require SPARK IGNITION engines. High voltages tend to go places designers don't intend, and an arc to ground in a gassy mine could have unpleasant consequences.
Indeed. Modern auto transmissions are both complex AND designed for minimum production cost. It's cheaper to get one from a salvage wreck than replace with a remanned transmission.
For many vehicles older than ten years, it's not worth the bother unless you are a mechanic (I am) and don't pay labor.
Truck standards have already changed. It's not absurdly difficult to do, though it's expensive.
Eventually, turbines hybrids can make for very efficient trucking in the way diesel-electric locomotives make for efficient railroading. They are already in use in hybrid buses and as datacenter power backups. Capstone (for example) make some interesting turbine power units.
"p.s. Since diesel engines are built (and have to be built) tougher (to withstand higher pressures), they last longer. Which in itself is a great savings for the environment. The throwaway society (get a new car before you're done with the "old" one's payments) is not something I'm really into."
Modern petrol engines are very long-lived, and can be made to the SAME longevity specs as a diesel. Witness the VW two valve engines which were designed with the SAME engine block and bottom end and and engine block capable of fitting diesel, carbed induction, and fuel injection components!
Modern diesels are hideously expensive to repair in most cases (not VW). Modern pollution controls make them even more expensive to repair.
"Peaceful Christians, Jews and Muslims are not the problem."
Wrong. They support SUPERSTITIONS which are the problem.
Less-active members of toxic SECULAR POLITICAL ideologies wouldn't get a pass, so why are SUPERSTITIOUS (religion is politics informed by superstition, nothing more) POLITICAL ideologies treated differently?
If anything, the deliberate choice to embrace witch doctors is worse because it is a barrier to logical and scientific discussion.
It bears reminding that the Wehrmacht was fighting to implement the National Socialist vision, and that their advances secured areas allowing the Gestapo, SS, Todt Organisation, and various other German and Axis police, slave labor, and extermination groups to operate.
There is no logical reason to believe that educated members of a modern society like Germany didn't know what was going on. Just because it was EXPEDIENT to pretend that so West Germany could be integrated into NATO doesn't mean one should buy the excuses. Ask any G.I. (there are some left) who served during and after VE Day about the amazing number of "good Germans".:-)
"overall pathetic performance in actual combat"
"Overall"? Bullshit. The Waffen SS combat record, often against superior odds, was frequently outstanding and they were employed accordingly, often spearheading attacks. (Some units were less effective as standards slipped due to casualties.) Even the divisions from occupied countries often fought well. Physical courage and military prowess are orthogonal to conventional morality.
"If you travel a lot with work, having to haul two laptops around may be unreasonable."
Nothing a Hardigg or similar case which can hold two laptops plus accessories can't solve. Get the sort with "pluckable" foam squares and make suitable holes, then put a section of foam between the lappies so they don't slap each other.
I'd rather have a case I can bang around a bit and lean against than a common laptop bag.
Slashdot Mirror
There are many places where one could make use of a robot, for example near burning aircraft loaded with munitions.
Watch some of the "Forrestal fire" videos where responding seaman are blown away and incinerated to see why the Navy is interested. Likewise, you could seal a compartment with a robot inside while it continued to fight a fire which would suffocate a human crew.
"(you don't even need to know a key to be coerced from you)"
Great. That just means a longer beating from the proverbial XKCD Crescent wrench....
...enemies don't deserve honesty, you should lie, cheat, evade, obfuscate and bullshit as expedient.
I enjoy deceiving people who piss me off. They deserve it.
"just because I live in Poland"
The highway between Germany and Russia is a country? (runs)
"It also makes said engine more expensive unless you can sufficiently leverage economy of scale by using that common block for everything."
Design with versatility aforethought. It works. The VW block is as simple as any four-banger of the times. It's an elegant design.
The fuel pump hole is also a vacuum pump mount hole is also an FI temp sensor mount hole. The manifolds for diesel, carb, and FI are simple as are the cylinder heads. I've owned examples of those carbed, diesel, and FI engines.
In fact, I've retrofitted a Dodge Omni carb manifold (they used some VW engines too, and the Omni was a Rabbit-influenced design) and a Vega carb ("Holley/Weber" style without the "Weber" price) to a Scirocco whose mechanical Bosch FI was trashed.
LP and natgas require SPARK IGNITION engines. High voltages tend to go places designers don't intend, and an arc to ground in a gassy mine could have unpleasant consequences.
Indeed. Modern auto transmissions are both complex AND designed for minimum production cost. It's cheaper to get one from a salvage wreck than replace with a remanned transmission.
For many vehicles older than ten years, it's not worth the bother unless you are a mechanic (I am) and don't pay labor.
Industry clout. The public have no lobbies which matter.
"I guess he really knew what he was talking about."
Not if he got caught.
"I'm not a conservative btw, and posting anon for obvious reasons."
Obvious why? I don't give a shit about karma and post what I wish.
Some get modded +5, some get modded Troll, and at the end of the day not a fuck is given.
Truck standards have already changed. It's not absurdly difficult to do, though it's expensive.
Eventually, turbines hybrids can make for very efficient trucking in the way diesel-electric locomotives make for efficient railroading. They are already in use in hybrid buses and as datacenter power backups.
Capstone (for example) make some interesting turbine power units.
US standards are tighter than Euro standards.
"p.s. Since diesel engines are built (and have to be built) tougher (to withstand higher pressures), they last longer. Which in itself is a great savings for the environment. The throwaway society (get a new car before you're done with the "old" one's payments) is not something I'm really into."
Modern petrol engines are very long-lived, and can be made to the SAME longevity specs as a diesel. Witness the VW two valve engines which were designed with the SAME engine block and bottom end and and engine block capable of fitting diesel, carbed induction, and fuel injection components!
Modern diesels are hideously expensive to repair in most cases (not VW). Modern pollution controls make them even more expensive to repair.
"The female ones LOOK cute, too."
You must not have researched in a Walmart....
"Or they'll just put it towards profits and big bonuses for the CEO and senior staff, creating no jobs at all."
As a CEO, your ideas intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
"Peaceful Christians, Jews and Muslims are not the problem."
Wrong. They support SUPERSTITIONS which are the problem.
Less-active members of toxic SECULAR POLITICAL ideologies wouldn't get a pass, so why are SUPERSTITIOUS (religion is politics informed by superstition, nothing more) POLITICAL ideologies treated differently?
If anything, the deliberate choice to embrace witch doctors is worse because it is a barrier to logical and scientific discussion.
There isn't enough to matter, as NONE are free by EU standards.
If Americans wanted to end the War On Some Drugs they can do that at the BALLOT BOX. They are free to disagree and organise (NORML) to attempt that.
They are too lazy, but they aren't coerced.
No shit! Mod parent up.
It bears reminding that the Wehrmacht was fighting to implement the National Socialist vision, and that their advances secured areas allowing the Gestapo, SS, Todt Organisation, and various other German and Axis police, slave labor, and extermination groups to operate.
There is no logical reason to believe that educated members of a modern society like Germany didn't know what was going on. Just because it was EXPEDIENT to pretend that so West Germany could be integrated into NATO doesn't mean one should buy the excuses. :-)
Ask any G.I. (there are some left) who served during and after VE Day about the amazing number of "good Germans".
"overall pathetic performance in actual combat"
"Overall"? Bullshit. The Waffen SS combat record, often against superior odds, was frequently outstanding and they were employed accordingly, often spearheading attacks. (Some units were less effective as standards slipped due to casualties.) Even the divisions from occupied countries often fought well. Physical courage and military prowess are orthogonal to conventional morality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_SS_Panzer_Division_Das_Reich
"If you travel a lot with work, having to haul two laptops around may be unreasonable."
Nothing a Hardigg or similar case which can hold two laptops plus accessories can't solve. Get the sort with "pluckable" foam squares and make suitable holes, then put a section of foam between the lappies so they don't slap each other.
I'd rather have a case I can bang around a bit and lean against than a common laptop bag.
"Wow, I haven't heard anybody else suggest that simple technique for getting 80 mpg."
At how many Foci does one begin to actually produce gasoline? This could be more practical than fusion.
"Our occasional car rental bill is much lower than our car payment would be on a second car."
I buy used vehicles for cash and run liability insurance. Requires saving and shopping, but I save far more by not going into debt.
The "tears" of buying non-new vehicles were easily wiped away with the deed to my home, which I paid off early by eschewing new car debt!
So ban fat models too. THAT would trigger a shitstorm worth watching.
They are already driving a PHEV-converted Prius.
For that much money I could buy an old school big block musclecar and feed it avgas.