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From: Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: Full video of ship hitting and destroying the Francis Scott Key
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Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2024 15:18:09 -0700
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On 3/30/2024 11:03 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:

[Costa Concordia]

>> But, IIRC, this wasn't the first time he had done so.  Therefore, his employers
>> COULD have noticed that his actual track would put the vessel in danger and
>> reprimand him of it.
> 
> True.

So, *he* takes the fall for a practice that a responsible business should
have stopped long before.

>>> Yeah, the Front Siena could be under such an autopilot system and the crew 
>>> confidently waiting for the buzzer to warn to change to manual mode.
>>
>> Like self-driving cars.  This doesn't free you from the RESPONSIBILITY
>> for the safe operation of the vehicle.
>>
>> When SWMBO bought her most recent car, backup cameras and blind spot
>> warning indicators were pretty much standard across the market.
>> One salesperson bragged that she never bothered to look over her
>> shoulder when backing up or checking mirrors before changing lanes
>> (as if the technology was infallible).
> 
> I use the mirrors for backing up, but actually the rear camera has a better 
> view, so I use it most of the time.

My gaze moves from rear view to side mirrors to over-the-shoulder to backup
camera.  It's amazing how easily people and things (less so than vehicles)
can appear out of nowhere.

Distressing to see "old folks" who just put it in reverse and HOPE
(it appears many elderly have problems rotating their heads that far)

> I have no automatics for changing lanes.

I wouldn't *rely* on them but consider them another "input" to be considered.
They tend to be more of an annoyance, though.  E.g., if navigating a turn
in a situation with multiple turn lanes, they will alarm (normally, they
only "indicate" visually but if you have THAT turn signal engaged, they
are more insistent).

Cars make too many frigging noises, nowadays!

>>> I think other method is for the autopilot to switch off and sound a buzzer 
>>> on arrival.
>>
>> Then the vessel is "under power" and "rudderless".
>>
>> ANY autopilot has to be supervised.  So, how do you ensure supervision?
>> (Or, do you just let lawsuits deal with it all, after the fact?)
> 
> It is what airplanes do. On certain conditions, the autopilot disengages and 
> sounds some type of alarm in the cockpit.

But, pilots sit *in* the cockpit -- and, there are regulations governing
their actions.

Skipper of a fishing vessel is more likely to play fast and loose with
"rules" and "best practices" -- because he doesn't have the luxury of
having extra staff or other resources.  Look forward... see anything?
OK, assume nothing will pop up suddenly and turn your attention to some
other task (and lose track of how much time has elapsed since the last
time you checked your course).