Speaking of jokes, airplanes & computers :biggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMDkV5kJYk&list=FLAYvG8RFXkZ8E-EkT3ZkmMg&index=18

The role of automation in a piloted plane NOT the role of a pilot in an automated plane.

This got me really worried: fully automated unmanned flights are not so far away anymore.

 

As far as I understand it, this technology is not so new, drone aircraft have been available to the military for a very long time, or so it seems.

 

People, or passengers, will dictate whether this would work or not; I personally wouldn't step foot on a non human piloted aircraft, the same as I wouldn't step foot on a driverless london underground

tube train - I'm all for technology but it is intended to assist or supplement - not to replace.

C'mon, London docklands driverless trains have been working for years, how many fatalities? has there even been a minor collision since they started.?

 

I have nothing against driverless tube trains, in fact I would feel safer since computers don't get tired. just don't want to see anyone out of a job.

 

I guarantee you London underground will start to be automated by 2020, initial trails we're successful, the unions put a stop to it.

Each to there own then rob

I agree mate my only fear for you is that they trail the Manchester subway first Anyway the underground system is way more basic compared to aviation as far as what could cause a fatal incident.

 

 

We have metrolink here, mostly overground pmsl - but then again, that presents more of a risk based on the fact that cars are crossing the path of trams at times.

 

Then again, I hate the tube anyway whether it is driver or driverless. If borris has his way everything will be unmanned, even houses. lol. But now im getting political.

Well I have to agree about riding the tube, closest way to describe it is like being on a old broken roller coaster while having your head stuffed in some guys armpit!! the joys of being in a first world city

hahahaha

Perhaps there should be some sort of extra safety system implemented should the subway become completely automated. In separate recent incidents, two people were intentionally pushed into the tracks in New York City, with fatal outcomes. Being pushed in when the train is arriving must be a cruel and immensely fearful experience.

 

Of course these situations would have been eliminated if exterior doors similar to the ones I am used to seeing in Shanghai and Taipei had been installed, but I guess there is not enough money or reason to fund such projects. I do not know the extent of automatic obstacle sensors in automated trains, but having a human driver who would at least recognize the obstacle and attempt to stop the vehicle would be comforting if I were in a situation similar to the ones previously discussed.

 

Otherwise, due to the inflexibility (e.g., lack of freedom of movement and scenery changes) involved with underground trains, I believe automated metros are acceptable and desirable.

Good point, often seeing money and profit are put before safety and life. It takes death to make them think "oh maybe that was a bad idea" before anything is done about it.

 

They often refer to this as unforseen concequences, whereas I refere to it as virtual certainty lol.

money and profit are put before safety and life. It takes death to make them think "oh maybe that was a bad idea" before anything is done about it.

Yes, but I do not blame or criticize the authorities in this case. It's hard to imagine that someone would purposely push another person into the tracks as the train is arriving. Normally, the victim could probably just climb out or receive assistance before the arrival of the train (e.g., have someone stop the train), but these were intentional fatal crimes. Because they occur so infrequently, perhaps it is logical that government funds are focused elsewhere in areas that may be more relevant to ordinary people, such as disaster relief and road maintenance in preparation for snow storms, etc.

True, it is difficult to image, but not unheard of, i mean, there are often cases of what the police call "one under" here, when simply a person has given in to life and throws themself into the path of an oncomming train and the transport police have to deal with the aftermath. The question then is also would having a driver have made a difference - would it have prevented that person from injury or death. If the answer is yes, the service provider is compelled in my eyes to provide a driver or other preventative measures.

 

I mean, whilst it is difficult to imagine, it is not entirely unforseeable.

True, it is difficult to image, but not unheard of, i mean, there are often cases of what the police call "one under" here, when simply a person has given in to life and throws themself into the path of an oncomming train and the transport police have to deal with the aftermath. The question then is also would having a driver have made a difference - would it have prevented that person from injury or death. If the answer is yes, the service provider is compelled in my eyes to provide a driver or other preventative measures.

 

I mean, whilst it is difficult to imagine, it is not entirely unforseeable.

 

Trains take a long time to stop. Push someone in front when the train is close enough (or as happens relatively frequently around here*, jump under it) and it's completely irrelevant whether the train has a driver or not.

 

*Apparently an average train driver will experience 3 people commit suicide by jumping under his train during his career.

It is diffrent for subways which normaly have a low speed but are laid out for fast acceleration and braking, but on a normal train you might not even see a person jumping infront of the train. And if you see him you can't do anything expect pressing the horn and hope that the train will stop within the next 500-700 meters.

Some years ago, here in the region one train driver had a very bad day. As he got out at a stop because he reached the end of his leg he saw blood on the front of the lokomotive. He tought it may has been an animal, however he still called operations and they send out the police to search along the track.

Later that day the same train driver had a leg along the same route in the other dirrection. He wasn't told by the dispatcher in Innsbruck (300 kilometers away and not in the same state, a reason of staff reductions) forgot to tell this train driver that he had to drive slower because of policmen working on the tracks. As a reason the very same train driver, which hit a person commiting suicide earlier the day, hit two or three policmen which where removing bodyparts of the suicider.

Altough he was spoken unguilty (the dispatcher in Innsbruck wasn't) you won't ever forget such an event.

 

Sorry for him and the persons who died doing their job that day.