Railways in their own Right.
Australia.
To get from A-to B railways are the best for the movement of goods and minerals, Melbourne to Perth and Darwin to Melbourne via Alice Springs in now part of the life line of this Island continent. Australia's out back is harsh, lonely and extremely dangerous.
The trains that cross these wildernesses are operated by hard crews and their machines are some of the best in the world. Australia has plenty of mineral resources from copper and Iron ore to bauxite and Uranium. Many areas of mining are now undertaken by robotic controlled trucks, because of their toxic nature.
The railroad is inland and safer, some countries may use their coasts for shipping, Australia does not have that option, because the mineral's are located in the heart of the continent.
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Air Freighters. Part-Five.
Freighters of the 21st Century.
Many older aircraft as we have seen in this series remain in service for these roles of freight and postal use, but now with the rise in Internet shopping their is an even greater demand on 'Mail order and many traditional carriers such as FedEx and UPS are turning to the Boeing 777, because of its cubic space.
The Russian Antonov An-124 Ruslan, Ilyushin Il-176, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing 747-8, are able to lift those really cumbesome loads.
Meanwhile the market for large business and executive jets, with a combi capability has provided most manufactures to develope varians such as the sucessful Boeing 737 BBJ, 777, Embraer is now adopting their E-190's and Airbus is offering a version of their A319 for this role.
Aircraft both civil and military large, medium and small will always be found a useful role in cargo, post, and private use.
Many older aircraft as we have seen in this series remain in service for these roles of freight and postal use, but now with the rise in Internet shopping their is an even greater demand on 'Mail order and many traditional carriers such as FedEx and UPS are turning to the Boeing 777, because of its cubic space.
The Russian Antonov An-124 Ruslan, Ilyushin Il-176, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing 747-8, are able to lift those really cumbesome loads.
Meanwhile the market for large business and executive jets, with a combi capability has provided most manufactures to develope varians such as the sucessful Boeing 737 BBJ, 777, Embraer is now adopting their E-190's and Airbus is offering a version of their A319 for this role.
Aircraft both civil and military large, medium and small will always be found a useful role in cargo, post, and private use.
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Driverless Vehicles. Part-Two.
'More common that we Realise.'
Many modern tram, mono rails and rapid transit systems are now robotically controlled around the world. The most famous of these is perhaps the London Docklands Light Railway, were millions of people each day put their hand's in their driver less trains.
This now extensive network that serves East and South-East London is controlled from one centre at Poplar, while the main depot is at Becton. This line also goes underground now in two places from Tower Hill (Gateway) to Bank and under the River Thames from Island Gardens on the Isle of Dog's to Greenwich (Cutty Sark).
Many of the newer monorails in Germany are also driver less, not as extensive as the London DLR and the new London Ski Lift they are automatically controlled. In time more and more systems and trams will be automated, perhaps with only a conductor or ticket collector to give re-assurance of human contact!
Many modern tram, mono rails and rapid transit systems are now robotically controlled around the world. The most famous of these is perhaps the London Docklands Light Railway, were millions of people each day put their hand's in their driver less trains.
This now extensive network that serves East and South-East London is controlled from one centre at Poplar, while the main depot is at Becton. This line also goes underground now in two places from Tower Hill (Gateway) to Bank and under the River Thames from Island Gardens on the Isle of Dog's to Greenwich (Cutty Sark).
Many of the newer monorails in Germany are also driver less, not as extensive as the London DLR and the new London Ski Lift they are automatically controlled. In time more and more systems and trams will be automated, perhaps with only a conductor or ticket collector to give re-assurance of human contact!
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Artificial Intelligence. Part-Two
Knowing.
This is some realy old stuff, but back in the 1970's West-Germany, the police introduced a robotic policeman to guide traffic and for years no one actually ever knew that he was not real.
This robot in a police uniform had authority and respect, he stayed out in all weathers and no one ever thought anything was strange.
Today our train driver or other roles could be in the hands of robots, and we being so busy now with technology, emails and the various sharing sites, would not take notice.
This is some realy old stuff, but back in the 1970's West-Germany, the police introduced a robotic policeman to guide traffic and for years no one actually ever knew that he was not real.
This robot in a police uniform had authority and respect, he stayed out in all weathers and no one ever thought anything was strange.
Today our train driver or other roles could be in the hands of robots, and we being so busy now with technology, emails and the various sharing sites, would not take notice.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
Back to the Past. Part-One.
'Cold War Tactics.
It would now seem that both the United States and European NATO are on the verge of another Cold War with the new Russia or as propaganda wants us to believe the Dictatorship of Putin. Meanwhile it looks like both America and Britain are openly supporting Ukrainian Neo-Nazism being held at bay by the European Union German and French leadership of Merkle and Holland.
NATO Air forces are reported now to be intercepting Russian Tupolev TU-95 Bears on a regular bases over the English Channel and off the west-coast of the Republic of Ireland.
The TU-95 is the only survivor of the former Soviet maritime reconnaissance type, it is unique in that it has propellers that rotate in opposite directions on each engine. This effect is known to be very fuel officiant giving the Bear a long operational distance.
At the moment the United States and NATO have no equivalent type to do this role.
It would now seem that both the United States and European NATO are on the verge of another Cold War with the new Russia or as propaganda wants us to believe the Dictatorship of Putin. Meanwhile it looks like both America and Britain are openly supporting Ukrainian Neo-Nazism being held at bay by the European Union German and French leadership of Merkle and Holland.
NATO Air forces are reported now to be intercepting Russian Tupolev TU-95 Bears on a regular bases over the English Channel and off the west-coast of the Republic of Ireland.
The TU-95 is the only survivor of the former Soviet maritime reconnaissance type, it is unique in that it has propellers that rotate in opposite directions on each engine. This effect is known to be very fuel officiant giving the Bear a long operational distance.
At the moment the United States and NATO have no equivalent type to do this role.
Thursday, 19 February 2015
Cargo Ships. Part-Two.
Container World.
It was the introduction of the container that has changed the world, we now can have anything and everything exported and imported in a metal box. The mordern world is built around the container, which can be carried by road, train, large transport aircraft and shipping.
These containers are available in various sizes, I have noticed that in India and Ireland they are smaller and are perhaps easier to handle without the need of a fork-lifter or crane. But the disadvantage with conainers is that they are good for hiding criminal goods and are hard to detect by police and customs.
Old containers are not heading directly to the scap yard, but now being used in housing projects both in the United Kindom and the Netherlands, while in Canada units are employed for small business start ups.
It was the introduction of the container that has changed the world, we now can have anything and everything exported and imported in a metal box. The mordern world is built around the container, which can be carried by road, train, large transport aircraft and shipping.
These containers are available in various sizes, I have noticed that in India and Ireland they are smaller and are perhaps easier to handle without the need of a fork-lifter or crane. But the disadvantage with conainers is that they are good for hiding criminal goods and are hard to detect by police and customs.
Old containers are not heading directly to the scap yard, but now being used in housing projects both in the United Kindom and the Netherlands, while in Canada units are employed for small business start ups.
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Driverless Vehicles. Part-One.
Robotic Vehicles.
What is behind the idea to have a driver less vehicle? Is it a way to control speed and cut out joy riding and motorway incidents! What advantage do we have without the human over ride, if one is not fitted and will these vehicles be monitored by the police and security to know were we travel too?
The benefits may come in slower speeds and helping people with disability, but a lot will be lost perhaps to the freedoms of driving we currently have. The individual choice of a sports car over and small family car may be lost in us only having the types provided.
Will these new cars be driven by petrol engines or electric, will they be fitted with hidden sensors even to the point of security cameras to gather behavioural information?
They are questions worth answering before the world goes down the road of more state control. What will happen to the vehicles we now have, will they become obsolete, banned or limited in their use and what about the rest of the world?
What is behind the idea to have a driver less vehicle? Is it a way to control speed and cut out joy riding and motorway incidents! What advantage do we have without the human over ride, if one is not fitted and will these vehicles be monitored by the police and security to know were we travel too?
The benefits may come in slower speeds and helping people with disability, but a lot will be lost perhaps to the freedoms of driving we currently have. The individual choice of a sports car over and small family car may be lost in us only having the types provided.
Will these new cars be driven by petrol engines or electric, will they be fitted with hidden sensors even to the point of security cameras to gather behavioural information?
They are questions worth answering before the world goes down the road of more state control. What will happen to the vehicles we now have, will they become obsolete, banned or limited in their use and what about the rest of the world?
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