Starship Computers in v. 3

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

As an aerospace engineer, I can talk a bit about how computers and software is currently handled in commercial jets (Boeing 737 to 777 aircraft).

The software is included with the plane when delivered. The systems "Work". However, there ARE a lot of variations in the software, even between supposedly identical aircraft. Most of this is due to customer options or improvements made to various systems, sometimes several a year.

One example would be a 767-300 aircraft. An airline orders 9 of them to be delivered 3 per year for 3 years. During that 3 year delivery schedule there are three software upgrades to the navigation software, four changes to the communication software and 2 changes to the Weather Radar system, one physical and one system change (a new and improved unit that is NOT backward interchangeable with the old units).

In each case the software delivered "works" for the airplane.

Now, if you wanted to CHANGE your plane, you need to dig into those software differences and account for them when you design you new system (a missile defense system for example :wink: ) That is engineering/design time, but in the end is invisible to the operator.

HOWEVER, the operator has in some cases, several choices of what operating systems they want to use, performance stuff you could say. I guess that could be picking software.

 

[Deniable]

The way I see it, unless a character is running a shipyard they are unlikely to be buying any computers or software at all. The yard will buy the computer and make it work as part of the final product, a ship. This will include integrating any necessary software to control the ship's systems. Any large component changes to the ship are likely to require yard time and modifying the software will be part of this.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

That would make sense to me.

I KNOW playing with programs is fun, but I think in something as large and complex as a starship, it is too much detail.

 

[Lorcan Nagle]

One example would be a 767-300 aircraft. An airline orders 9 of them to be delivered 3 per year for 3 years. During that 3 year delivery schedule there are three software upgrades to the navigation software, four changes to the communication software and 2 changes to the Weather Radar system, one physical and one system change (a new and improved unit that is NOT backward interchangeable with the old units).

In each case the software delivered "works" for the airplane.

Now, if you wanted to CHANGE your plane, you need to dig into those software differences and account for them when you design you new system (a missile defense system for example :wink: ) That is engineering/design time, but in the end is invisible to the operator.

Would the manafacturer offer upgrades to the older planes' onboard systems, or is that too hard to implement?

 

[GamerDude]

When you "order" the ship, you order everything, and the computer is only one component of the many which have multiple options. Filling empty turrets with actual guns, what kind of M-Drive, what Jump drive (within limits for the hull size), science modules, quarters, etc. You start with the empty hull and add the modules, even the bridge modules have several options.

Consoles alone... are they 'push button', "touch screen' or 'holographic interface'? Each requires different software to control them/interface with the core systems.

The game doesn't need to get tied up in all this unless the PC's are actually buying a new ship and want to customize it. They can take one of the "standard models" the GM offers them, or even get a used ship (which can get software upgrades, but they're not free).

If a ship isn't custom ordered or modified/upgraded then none of this matters to the players. If they want to get a custom ship and/or modify-upgrade an existing ship then it comes into play.... but only then.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

One example would be a 767-300 aircraft. An airline orders 9 of them to be delivered 3 per year for 3 years. During that 3 year delivery schedule there are three software upgrades to the navigation software, four changes to the communication software and 2 changes to the Weather Radar system, one physical and one system change (a new and improved unit that is NOT backward interchangeable with the old units).

In each case the software delivered "works" for the airplane.

Now, if you wanted to CHANGE your plane, you need to dig into those software differences and account for them when you design you new system (a missile defense system for example :wink: ) That is engineering/design time, but in the end is invisible to the operator.

Would the manafacturer offer upgrades to the older planes' onboard systems, or is that too hard to implement?

Typically you CAN buy upgrades, but it often includes hardware changes and rewiring. There is a major upgrade going on in the US and Europe right now that incorporates flat panel displays with touch screens and GPS navigation. These are typically BIG projects that take at least a month to complete and still have to be tweeked for variations within the plane type.

Representing that in Traveller could be done as part of the refit/overhaul.

I do want to caution everyone that part of the problem with current aviation is the improvement in technology. That rapid change in technology just doesn't exist in Traveller. The Tech Levels don't really break down into sub-TLs that go through the 7 steps to get from one TL to the next, they kind of assume that it is a single jump.

Modelling computers is where this really shows up. The TLs 6, 7 and 8 (representing Earth from WW2 to today) are only 3 jumps but it would be hard to define exactly where personal computers fall into those TLs.

For example, you could claim that PCs come in at TL 7, but is that the TRS-80, the Commodore64, or the 386 machines? If TL 8 is today (pentium whatevers) then where does a 486 machine fit on the TL scale? If you were buying a TL 7 computer, would you get a 386 or a 486?

 

[Takei]

As an aerospace engineer, I can talk a bit about how computers and software is currently handled in commercial jets (Boeing 737 to 777 aircraft).

So is there a central computer or is the computing distributed and integrated into the various systems? i.e. navigation, propulsion, HVAC etc.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

A bit of both actually. Each system has it's own computer to deal with it's functions and there is a central unit (or multiple units for redundancy) that helps all the components talk to each other.

Remember that in the airline business right now, there are multiple suppliers for each major computer component (usually 2 but maybe more depending on the system) and they don't always like to talk to each other or play well together.

Usually whenever any of the components are changed or upgraded, the central control unit has to be changed, usually a software change. These central units are smaller than a microwave oven (each) and most planes have 2-4 as backups.

Now, to argue the other side a bit...

Most of the avionics equipment is kept in one place. The Electronics and Equipment Bay (called the E&E Bay). That compartment contains most of the computers and electronics needed to operate the plane, and their backup units.

On a 767, this E&E bay is about 2mx3mx4m in size. Certain components (like radar) are located in different places, but the vast majority of the equipment is located here. The cockpit has only the equipment needed to interface with the Pilots.