Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 18:31:06 -0700
Reply-To: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: Touareg wins Grand Challenge (NVC)
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http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/episode/68706.html
The last ship I was on while in the Navy (almost 20 years ago) was one of
the most advanced at the time. In the event of an attack that would possibly
destroy the crew but not the ship (a biological attack, for instance), the
computers could be set in a mode (basically defensive, but not necessarily
so) that would enable them to control the ship entirely, including weapons,
engines and steering. Basically it would be making decisions on its own
about what might be a threat that it needed to respond to and reacting
accordingly, and what course to take while it tried to get 'home', etc. This
is of course assuming enough fuel and no need of repairs or other things the
crew would normally do.
I was also told that the Navy could input commands to it remotely, and that
it could be made to remotely attack a target while taking evasive action and
such. This was one of the most powerful offensive weapons in the world and
probably still is with the capability of causing an enormous amount of
destruction.
Being fairly familiar with the ship and its capabilities, I found the whole
idea to be pretty crazy and irresponsible. The idea that the thing could
wind up cruising around the eastern waters of the then Soviet Union without
human direction was pretty frightening. The situation was bad enough with
actual people making the decisions.
As I said, this was almost twenty years ago- you could just imagine what the
technology is capable of now.
Cya,
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Detroit Bus" <detroit.bus@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: Touareg wins Grand Challenge (NVC)
There is an amazing Star Trek episode where the Enterprise visits a
supposedly "advanced" planet where warfare has been sanitized. Computer
warfare is simulated and then the correct number of victims are determined
on each side by algorithms. The randomly selected civilians (no military,
that being an anachronism) then willingly queue up for orderly extermination
in elevator like devices. Door closes, door opens, people gone. Thus is
warfare made "safe" and "civilized". Anyone know the name/year of this
episode? I've only seen it once but I've thought about it a lot in recent
years. Chilling.
* * *
Anyway, to make this a legit Vanagon list posting, is the VW emblem on the
Toureg the largest since the buses of the 1970s, or what?
Garrick
On 10/10/05, jimt <camper@tactical-bus.info> wrote:
>
> The intial goal is just that. But of course there is always bigger and
> better when the first goals are reached. I cant wait to see the day when
> all wars are fought by remote control and no humans in the field of
> battle.
> Could be very interesting.
> Not very realistic but interesting
> jimt
>
> On 10/10/05 11:57 AM, "Jim Felder" <felder@KNOLOGY.NET> wrote:
>
> > Yeah, they told the designers that it was a contest to develop a
> > vehicle that could "bring rations and supplies to troops in the field."
> >
> > Riiiiiiiiiiight.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> > On Oct 10, 2005, at 12:30 PM, Jeffrey Schwaia wrote:
> >
> >> I love the comment:
> >>
> >> "Pentagon-sponsored contest aimed at making warfare safer for humans"
> >>
> >> Uh??
> >>
> >> Must've been written on a Friday.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> Jeff
>
--
Garrick
Los Angeles, California
'63 Sundial Panel
'87 GL Weekender (marooned in Hudson River Valley)
*****
With fond remembrances of:
'77 Beetle
'67 Kombi Bus
'59 Pickup sn# 460440
'67 Beetle
'76 Camper Bus
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