Many automated systems do in fact use a "data rail" -- a series of inductive loops laid down the entire length of the guideway. Radio is more appealing for many reasons, not the least of which is throughput -- existing inductive loop systems transmit in the low hundreds of bits per second, though synchronously which is great for real time. Obviously, however, modern rail automation owners want to get advertsising delivered to you electronically on the vehicle, so there is a strong desire for vastly higher throughputs from wayside to vehicle. Radio gives us this and at the same time doesn't require a full length guideway installation, which is very expensive and adds significantly to ongoing maintenance.
As for the comments on safety, rest assured the rail industry has thought a bit about safety. It's one of the most conservative software industries in the world, and I would place it well above, say, air traffic control or power systems control in that regard. If there are any detected problems the trains stop, and in most systems that includes a faiure of two out of three seperately communicating CPUs failing to agree on a state vote.
Ask Ultima Online fans about how well zero-sum economies work in MMORPGS. Anything with this many variables all depending on each other resists simple solutions.
We Canadians also house one of the most effective automated urban rail companies in the world, deploying state of the art driverless trains all over the globe.
We don't have enough people to do everything so we have become masters of automation. Line up nicely to await our Death Robots -- coming this fall!
This seems to be typical of established business' response to the rapid pace of technological change: when the way that things work changes dramatically, rather than change their business to cope with the new technology, they hire lawyers to squash it. It's a good sign that the technology will be popular: it has created some fear.
This is a good thing. Large companies with old business models based on old technology should be afraid. Then they can get in gear and work with it or die off. Unfortunately, the change (whether embracing the technology or dieing) seems to involve lining the pockets of an awful lot of lawyers.
I guess it's clear which industry wins regardless.
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Many automated systems do in fact use a "data rail" -- a series of inductive loops laid down the entire length of the guideway. Radio is more appealing for many reasons, not the least of which is throughput -- existing inductive loop systems transmit in the low hundreds of bits per second, though synchronously which is great for real time. Obviously, however, modern rail automation owners want to get advertsising delivered to you electronically on the vehicle, so there is a strong desire for vastly higher throughputs from wayside to vehicle. Radio gives us this and at the same time doesn't require a full length guideway installation, which is very expensive and adds significantly to ongoing maintenance.
As for the comments on safety, rest assured the rail industry has thought a bit about safety. It's one of the most conservative software industries in the world, and I would place it well above, say, air traffic control or power systems control in that regard. If there are any detected problems the trains stop, and in most systems that includes a faiure of two out of three seperately communicating CPUs failing to agree on a state vote.
Or just have the police show up and shoot you if you're not up by noon!
So get up earlier. Why write a law?
There's always a profit to made on anything that allows parents to avoid parenting.
"Basic psychology" in both these cases being defined as "shit I made up while huffing on my bong."
Ask Ultima Online fans about how well zero-sum economies work in MMORPGS. Anything with this many variables all depending on each other resists simple solutions.
We Canadians also house one of the most effective automated urban rail companies in the world, deploying state of the art driverless trains all over the globe.
We don't have enough people to do everything so we have become masters of automation. Line up nicely to await our Death Robots -- coming this fall!
This seems to be typical of established business' response to the rapid pace of technological change: when the way that things work changes dramatically, rather than change their business to cope with the new technology, they hire lawyers to squash it. It's a good sign that the technology will be popular: it has created some fear.
This is a good thing. Large companies with old business models based on old technology should be afraid. Then they can get in gear and work with it or die off. Unfortunately, the change (whether embracing the technology or dieing) seems to involve lining the pockets of an awful lot of lawyers.
I guess it's clear which industry wins regardless.
Joel is the original host and (more importantly) the designer of Crow and Tom Servo. The heart of the show even.
Without Joel, MST3K is better dead. Let it go or get Joel back.