On 4/10/07, James Newtons Massmind <jamesnewton@massmind.org> wrote:

> > http://www.defensetech.org/archives/cat_stray_trons.html
> >
> > Notice in particular that they were able to handle the
> > problem in-flight?
> >
> > :)
>
> Article says they "troubleshot" the problem, not that they "handled" the
> problem. It was my understanding that all the fighters returned in less than
> fully operational status. Do you know something we don't?
>
> What I would like to know is this: Was there a conversation where one old
> timer was saying "we MUST have a com and flight control system that does not
> depend on the main computer" and all the young techs and management where
> saying "why?" or "no we don't" or "that will cost too much" or "instead we
> should have redundant computers" (loaded with the same buggy code).

Just as a datapoint:

   The Space Shuttle uses redundant computers.

   And part of the redundancy is that some of them run software
   that is written by a different company from the same specs.

Bill

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