Designing micro-based systems for fail-safe travel

Article Abstract:

Designers are using the power of microprocessors for control of railroad, aircraft, and space vehicles to minimize the dangers of complex transportation systems. A mean time between unsafe failures (MTBUF) for transportation is one billion hours, or once in 23 years for 500 units in continuous operation. Good safety architecture includes redundancy in various forms, such as additional equipment. Redundancy is achieved by duplicating components, or by use of diverse components. It is critical that the first failure of a controller be detected, so that human monitors can take action before a fault-induced catastrophe occurs. A microprocessor's highly reliable circuits can continuously confirm the operating status of components, and automatic monitors can interrupt the system when an error occurs. The first microprocessor interlockings for railroads have entered service in the US, Canada and Europe. Use of microprocessors for aircraft safety is also described.

CPUs (Central processing units), Design, Space Craft, Fail-Safe, Controllers

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Micro Beats Chess Master

Article Abstract:

The Prestige chess computer from Fidelity Computer Products Inc. using a Motorola 6502 microprocessor defeated a chess master in 1982. The computer uses fourteen kilobytes of RAM and twenty- eight kilobytes of ROM to come up with opening and closing moves and relies on a point system for the rest of the moves. The microprocessor considers seventeen moves in advance and calculates 1000 different positions each second before making a move.

Computer games, Computer strategy games, Board games, Chess, Microcomputer, Computer Game, Strategy Game, Prestige

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Micro Reads Ripple of Light

Article Abstract:

An interferometer from Hewlett-Packard uses a microprocessor to count intensity shifts from phase differences of two laser beams to measure distance precisely. A Motorola 6803 microprocessor compensates for variations in temperature and pressure, and uses a self-testing program to check itself. The measurements are converted from wavelengths to millimeters.

Lasers, Laser, Microprocessors, Measurement Techniques, Instruments

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