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[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

It will take the obstacles into consideration if it has the sensors to detect them. That has nothing to do with judgement.

they don't have the sensors you describe, remember they are all about saving costs so they aren't likely to get them either.

[David Hayward]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

Well the problem there is there are no 'sensors' for that kind of thing, and there is no data available telling the computer there is a river, all the computer knows is basic nav data i.e. waypoints navaids and airports and some basic terrain data of which rivers do not feature, they are not coupled to the weather radar so cannot use the GND function of said radar, you must remember that design principles account for single engine ops, a double engine failure is considered so rare that it is practically dismissed.

I'm not talking about the current systems, I'm talking about the sort of system that would be needed to replace a human pilot. It would need better sensors to detect obstacles and terrain. It would also need a very detailed mapping system.

and on a final note, no amount of computers will ever replace the human experience, computers and brains work too differently.

That just is not true. Computers can give a single aircraft crew the combined experience of every pilot in the sky. In a situation like the Hudson crash the computer could inform the pilot immediately whether he can reach a nearby airfield. It could let him know about alternative places to land. It could do all of that much faster than any human could do it.

[David Hayward]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

they don't have the sensors you describe, remember they are all about saving costs so they aren't likely to get them either.

Obviously, they would have to add them if they wanted to replace the pilot.

[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

I'm not talking about the current systems, I'm talking about the sort of system that would be needed to replace a human pilot. It would need better sensors to detect obstacles and terrain. It would also need a very detailed mapping system..

In which case you have a point, if the need was desparate enough to eliminate the pilots then I guess they would take it into consideration

Originally Posted by David Hayward

That just is not true. Computers can give a single aircraft crew the combined experience of every pilot in the sky. In a situation like the Hudson crash the computer could inform the pilot immediately whether he can reach a nearby airfield. It could let him know about alternative places to land. It could do all of that much faster than any human could do it.

Remember Jim Lovells anecdote about the bioluminescent algae helping him find his carrier, that's the experience a computer won't have.

[David Hayward]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

Remember Jim Lovells anecdote about the bioluminescent algae helping him find his carrier, that's the experience a computer won't have.

It would if anyone on the design team has read "The Right Stuff".

[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

It would if anyone on the design team has read "The Right Stuff".

Almost certainly someone on design teams since 'the right stuff' was written has read it.........where are these marvellous systems?

[David Hayward]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

Almost certainly someone on design teams since 'the right stuff' was written has read it.........where are these marvellous systems?

We haven't decided that we need them, yet.

[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

We haven't decided that we need them, yet.

Ok...so weve arrived at that point, it's time for full automation and me and you have now designed this lovely jet with front facing window seats for the really classy passengers, we have successfully eliminated the need for pilots who are so rubbish because they became over dependant on lovely systems, and we have replaced it with a shiny new computer which is also dependant on lovely systems but it doesn't need to drive a sports car and have affairs with sterwardesses, innaugural flight on the megajet 2000 and thers a 'fzzzzt' and all those lovely systems go down, now we have a computer without even a head to scratch.

[David Hayward]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

Ok...so weve arrived at that point, it's time for full automation and me and you have now designed this lovely jet with front facing window seats for the really classy passengers, we have successfully eliminated the need for pilots who are so rubbish because they became over dependant on lovely systems, and we have replaced it with a shiny new computer which is also dependant on lovely systems but it doesn't need to drive a sports car and have affairs with sterwardesses, innaugural flight on the megajet 2000 and thers a 'fzzzzt' and all those lovely systems go down, now we have a computer without even a head to scratch.

All that means is we have 2 fewer dead people in the wreckage. If all the systems go down the pilot and co-pilot are just (literally) dead weight.

[bongodriver]

Originally Posted by David Hayward

All that means is we have 2 fewer dead people in the wreckage. If all the systems go down the pilot and co-pilot are just (literally) dead weight.

Well if they had some form of controll you might call them the world's best paid glider pilots.