Computers to replace Monorail drivers?

[fiftiesdean]

well, I mean how many computers run the rides? Test Track is a computer controlled ride, and I know Rockin' Rollar Coaster and TOT are...a monorail on a track does not have much room to mess up. They can physically govern the motors, and there isn't much that could go wrong. The programming sounds simple. Besides, the switches that open the doors can technically short out and open the doors driver or no driver...

 

[speck76]

As someone else mentioned, the Tokyo Monorails are computer-run....no drivers....as a matter of fact, most public transportation is now or is becoming computer run.

As another person mentioned, computers are less likely to screw-up than a person, and on top of that, the company does not have to worry about the computer not showing up to work.

I think the monorails at TDL look awesome.

 

[bhg469]

This is really bad news. That was my dream retirement job!

 

[m star]

Wow, I have not seen those monorails before, and they have to be the ugliest thing I have ever seen.

 

[Sherm00]

Actually, I too see more humans make mistakes then computers. actually this would be a good move. I think they should computerize the monorail and then still have a conductor ride anyway for manual override if something dose happen.

 

[BoyXE]

Just to clarify--Tokyo monorails are indeed managed by computers, but all monorails still have a human operator--they just ride in the back of the train instead of the front. They are there in case of computer meltdowns or emergencies. I should also add that the Tokyo monorails have got to be the slowest method of transport ever. They go SO slow, haha...

 

[figmentfan]

I wanted to be a monorail driver. I will work there for free, if I can drive the monorail!!!!!!!!!

Also, the Tokoyo Disneyland monorail is UGLY! I would like to stick to our famous WDW Monorail Trains.

 

[HauntedPirate]

This is really bad news. That was my dream retirement job!

Mine too! :brick:

 

[BwanaBob]

Let's not get all bent out of shape just yet...

They still haven't completed the change-out of control consoles in all the trains yet.

 

[FatBoy976]

I think some of you need to realize that pretty much every attraction you ride is controlled by computers. A human simply press a "go" button, and the computer does the rest. Miami has a light rail system that is computer operated, and I can't remember hearing of it crashing ever.

On that note, I do like the fact that there is someone in the front to talk to. It's just nostalgia for me to sit in the front with an operator. Plus, when I am an old man and I retire, I plan on driving one of those beauties.

 

[bhg469]

when I am an old man and I retire, I plan on driving one of those beauties.

sorry you will have to wait behind me and haunted pirate. we called shotgun on the monorail pilot job.

 

[Invero]

The driver told me that those monorails were computer run and that Disney was thinking of going that route. Can you imagine, no more drivers!?!

Never beleive anything a Monorail Pilot tells you... LOL

The savings on labor wouldn't outweigh the expense of an automated computer system.

On a side note though, the new upgrades to the Disney trains (currently found only in Yellow) prevent the doors from being opened unless the train is nearly perfectly lined up within the station. If the train is more than 3" off the mark, the doors will not open.

 

[Kwit35]

How does that work???

How does what work? If you mean the computers in Tokyo, she didn't really say. Just that they were already using computers to controll the monorails in Tokyo. The subject of them possibley being replaced came up about half way through the ride. It is a pretty short ride to begin with.

 

[trdisneyfan]

Yep. Most rides are computer controlled. But most have very conservative glitch detectors that trigger e-stops. Would you want a computer-controlled monorail half way between Epcot and the TTC to experience an e-stop? That would be no good.

 

[speck76]

Yep. Most rides are computer controlled. But most have very conservative glitch detectors that trigger e-stops. Would you want a computer-controlled monorail half way between Epcot and the TTC to experience an e-stop? That would be no good.

They have done that with humans running the trains....how would it be any different?

 

[maxime29]

It's better to have manpower running the monorail. Computers are great and all, but they are heavily reiled upon in too many instances IMO.

 

[Scruffy]

I doubt that they would change the monorails over to computer control because of the cost. It would probably only happen if they got brand new monorails, which is not going to happen either.

I could see that happen at Disneyland they need new monorails and they don't go as far as the ones at WDW.

 

[StevenT]

Not really. The monorails at Tokyo Disneyland are computer run. Its much more efficient and works great. This way, the trains can run all night and no cast members will ever have to work a night shift.

That's just more jobs lost to computers. I'd rather work the night shift than have no job at all.

 

[Kristofke]

anyone arriving in Orlando by air will ride a computer monorail.

Orlando airport has two of them. They work fine.

In Paris, some big subwaylines are also run by computer. No problems there.

 

[gsimpson]

The problems in Las Vegas have not been life threatening but are predominantly manufacturing errors (bogy wheels falling off, fasteners falling off, air hoses coming loose, and so on). The doors opening on the wrong side of the train actually happened when the system was being manually operated and the HUMAN operator pushed the wrong button so you would have to rack that one up as a point for the machine. The Dockland Light Rail system was built by Bombadier just as the Las Vegas Monorail and the current generation of WDW monorails along with a large number of people movers (the monorailish light things you see at airports) so they would probably not find it too difficult to retrofit the WDW system. Didn't they upgrade the consoles just a few years ago? You can find the details of all of the LV problems by searching news.google for las vegas monorail. What a shame a city finally realized Monorail was the way to go and the company that built the trains had to blow it!