Network of autonomous small cargo vessels ("Matternet" on the water)

Technology will advance, people will won't. When I was kid, there was self-service news stands and people would leave money and take magazines, and same with sodas in refrigerators. Even at work they had food concessions on honor basis. Today, you can't even walk down the street and they are stealing your credit card info.

Do you think automated flying machines, trucks or ships stand a chance against not being hijacked? I am not going to work for it to happen. More likely you will have flying advertising and armed police UAVs than flying pizzas.

 

The pirating aspect doesn't worry me as much as the technological impracticality. By the time it's practical to have a battery powered solar recharged craft, one could have super cameras that transmit everything in realtime so any attack is recorded from 100 angles from nearby craft. The greater probability of cargo loss could be offset by the lesser chance of human injury from such attacks.

 

Have you heard of hacking??? These are UAVs are prone to it.

 

There's been sinning on both sides. But I guarantdamntee that in the history of this country, company thugs have beaten and killed many more people than union thugs have.

And personally, I've never beaten anyone up in my life during a labor dispute. Neither has anyone I know.

School teachers, cops, firefighters, utility workers, bus drivers and the like don't turn into violent criminals just because they joined a union. Are you really that afraid sweet old Mrs. Marple from your local kindergarten is going to come give you a union beat-down?

 

Maybe. Have you met Mrs. Marple?

I'll grant you there have been abuses, serious abuses, on both sides but lately they seem to be predominantly on one side.

 

Abuses are from every side, just don't get caught in the middle. And as the world economies get worse and they will, our human nature will shine through with more corruption and abuse.

And before anyone tells me the economy won't get worse, please tell me a reason it will get better. I want to know.

 

You are correct, from our standpoint, it will get worse but really what's happening is it's changing.

Those that adapt, improvise and overcome will prosper.

Enjoy the ride!

 

I live in Africa, I build boats and sell electrical motors. I see a huge potentials on rivers such as the Congo where there are no roads and it is difficult to find petrol. Wind is not really an option because inland. Unfortunately I do realize that at this time solar panels and electro motors are not the answer, nevertheless it is interesting to keep on researching on the subject and stay alert for the possibilities that could exists on the years to come. After all the most minerals to make the electric batteries come from Africa.

 

Give it up (the core topic of this thread)........
- it is like saying we don't need people on boats
- nor do we need men to make babies
- Verging on stupidity.... Pirate season is now open

Abundant gas "Wednesday, 16 May 2012 – Melbourne, Australia - - By Dr. Alex Cowie - - Day Two at the Oil & Gas Show: A Lesson for Investors — Get in Early - - A Great Example of the Coming Financial Repression" . . . . http://www.moneymorning.com.au/

The key issue is we need to employ more people in productive activities...

 

In the old days here the Erie Canal was dug and the boats were moved along by beasts of burden pulling from the shore. You would have to build roads along the waterways.

 

Now that is a good idea for the proposed location. Brilliant, Hoyt. They could make due with dirt paths. Just clear the river bank.

 

And the human body will explode if it exceeded 40mph!

Its possible now, my last boat could do it if it had some radar dodge facility. Cars can already drive themselves,--oh boy I cant wait no accidents , higher speed, put your feet up and read the paper with a coffee in the beverage holder.

Traffic jam --take a nap in the back seat.

Planes could do it!! just need confidence to fly on it. It will mean no more hijacking, the cockpit will be behind a brick wall --well an alluminium one.

They should do that any way, no point in hijacking if the cockpit is only accessible from outside.

The time has come, humans are too stupid to continue doing stuff for themselves.

Robot built cars are a far higher quality than hand built.

Remember the Morgan--total crap.

 

especially of travelling through concrete

And the BEER/BOOZE ???

This "nap" do you know her well?

- Huh ???

Oh . . . . I see ? . . . I think ?

The Walrus said, to think of other things Of SHIPS.......

not fully automated yet - still requires human supervision?

Mostly made of wood too.....