Re: Robot Rules

> From: [email removed]
> Subject: (3093) Robot Rules
>
> More Brain headaches:  In my opinion, there should be tech level effects on
> data storage.

  Agreed, furthermore the power consumption for the processors and storage is
too high even by todays standards (I compared it with 1liter of Z80Ls:)

> (maybe a +1 education for each TL over 12?) Opinions?

  I'd rather take smaller units. With the size of the programs multiplying
beyond control for higher skillevels than 1, more storage is needed before
nore edu is needed.

>This brings on another question:  Where does NOE speed get used? What altitude?
>After all, we have TL-7 and 8, F-111's and Tornados flying just subsonic at
>treetop height.

  Lowest authorized altitude for the Swedish AF during peace is 20m over land
and 10m over water, no speed restrictions, so NOE has to be lower than that:)

  I suspect that Traveller NOE is the type of NOE attack helicopters use, ie
hiding behind treelines, flying under powerlines and bridges and following
roads.

> 	So what gives?  If you ask me the NOE speed of a craft should depend
>not just on the sensors of the craft, but the computer of that craft. Opinions?

  The computer is not all that influential. It is possible to fly the aircraft
version of NOE from 300 to 600 km/h without sensors (ie following roads,
under bridges, and so low that you have to pull up to avoid meeting traffic:)
*in small planes with quick reactions*. If the speed is higher, or the
reactions of the a/c slower, computers and sensors have a growing role.
I suspect that the size of the plane and its speed of reaction is the
greatest determining factor. There is a world of difference between flying a
BUFF and a small prop job at 10 meters, and a computer can compute the best
trajectory that *don't* inpact ground:)
  However, if you are planning to do it in bad weather or at night, sensors
are increasingly nessesary.

  For grav-powered vehicles, I'd suggest that they work in the same way as
helicopters do today (after all, both suspend their whole weight by thrust
alone and move about by vectoring that thrust, or by inducing thrust from
other sources). The effect for this with regards to NOE is that they can
travel arbitrarily close to the ground at high speeds, but that the maximum
acceleration limits their reaction-time and thus their NOE speed. Sensors and
computers would be useful for increasing prediction time and finding the
optimum envelope for minimum visibility.

> Scott Kellogg

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