Mixing
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An interplanetary clock
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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4
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favorite
Introduction
See background information here.
1000 years after darkness fell on Old Earth, humanity is scattered throughout the solar systems. Apart from the Harmonious Republic of Mars, there are colonies in orbit of Venus, Earth and its moon, throughout the asteroid belt, and scattered among the many moons and moonlets and trojans of the Jupiter and Saturn systems.
Problem
As per the rules here, computers are outlawed everywhere in the solar system. In short, the characteristics that make something a computer are electronic memory and being re-programmable.
But, interplanetary trade goes on, even without computers. Powered by nuclear salt-water rockets, torch ships can reach speeds of 100 km/s. Earth to Mars can be done in a few weeks, Jupiter in a few months, and even Saturn in less than a year.
In order to fire these immense engines precisely, you need a clock that is capable of timing the 'burn'. Furthermore, to successfully navigate the solar system, you will need good timekeeping to determine where you are in your orbit in relation to the other planets.
Question
How do you design the 'best' shipboard clock for interplanetary travel, in a future where there are no computers.
Considerations:
- The 'best' clock means the most accurate
- The clock must be able to be accurately corrected for relativistic effects. 100 km/s isn't that fast, but errors can add up over time.
- The clock must give an analog signal output that can be integrated into other electro-mechanical devices. For example, the only way for an old-timey pocket watch to control a burn time is through a human operating a switch.
technology space-travel near-future time
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Introduction
See background information here.
1000 years after darkness fell on Old Earth, humanity is scattered throughout the solar systems. Apart from the Harmonious Republic of Mars, there are colonies in orbit of Venus, Earth and its moon, throughout the asteroid belt, and scattered among the many moons and moonlets and trojans of the Jupiter and Saturn systems.
Problem
As per the rules here, computers are outlawed everywhere in the solar system. In short, the characteristics that make something a computer are electronic memory and being re-programmable.
But, interplanetary trade goes on, even without computers. Powered by nuclear salt-water rockets, torch ships can reach speeds of 100 km/s. Earth to Mars can be done in a few weeks, Jupiter in a few months, and even Saturn in less than a year.
In order to fire these immense engines precisely, you need a clock that is capable of timing the 'burn'. Furthermore, to successfully navigate the solar system, you will need good timekeeping to determine where you are in your orbit in relation to the other planets.
Question
How do you design the 'best' shipboard clock for interplanetary travel, in a future where there are no computers.
Considerations:
- The 'best' clock means the most accurate
- The clock must be able to be accurately corrected for relativistic effects. 100 km/s isn't that fast, but errors can add up over time.
- The clock must give an analog signal output that can be integrated into other electro-mechanical devices. For example, the only way for an old-timey pocket watch to control a burn time is through a human operating a switch.
technology space-travel near-future time
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
can i suggest you change the description of a computer from "being programmable." to being "re-programmable" there is an important distinction, programmable systems have been around for centuries, whereas re-programmable systems have only been around for 70 or so years
– Blade Wraith
49 mins ago
@BladeWraith Agreed.
– kingledion
48 mins ago
I misread the title at first and pictured a cosmic-sized, space-dwelling man.
– Renan
38 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Introduction
See background information here.
1000 years after darkness fell on Old Earth, humanity is scattered throughout the solar systems. Apart from the Harmonious Republic of Mars, there are colonies in orbit of Venus, Earth and its moon, throughout the asteroid belt, and scattered among the many moons and moonlets and trojans of the Jupiter and Saturn systems.
Problem
As per the rules here, computers are outlawed everywhere in the solar system. In short, the characteristics that make something a computer are electronic memory and being re-programmable.
But, interplanetary trade goes on, even without computers. Powered by nuclear salt-water rockets, torch ships can reach speeds of 100 km/s. Earth to Mars can be done in a few weeks, Jupiter in a few months, and even Saturn in less than a year.
In order to fire these immense engines precisely, you need a clock that is capable of timing the 'burn'. Furthermore, to successfully navigate the solar system, you will need good timekeeping to determine where you are in your orbit in relation to the other planets.
Question
How do you design the 'best' shipboard clock for interplanetary travel, in a future where there are no computers.
Considerations:
- The 'best' clock means the most accurate
- The clock must be able to be accurately corrected for relativistic effects. 100 km/s isn't that fast, but errors can add up over time.
- The clock must give an analog signal output that can be integrated into other electro-mechanical devices. For example, the only way for an old-timey pocket watch to control a burn time is through a human operating a switch.
technology space-travel near-future time
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
Introduction
See background information here.
1000 years after darkness fell on Old Earth, humanity is scattered throughout the solar systems. Apart from the Harmonious Republic of Mars, there are colonies in orbit of Venus, Earth and its moon, throughout the asteroid belt, and scattered among the many moons and moonlets and trojans of the Jupiter and Saturn systems.
Problem
As per the rules here, computers are outlawed everywhere in the solar system. In short, the characteristics that make something a computer are electronic memory and being re-programmable.
But, interplanetary trade goes on, even without computers. Powered by nuclear salt-water rockets, torch ships can reach speeds of 100 km/s. Earth to Mars can be done in a few weeks, Jupiter in a few months, and even Saturn in less than a year.
In order to fire these immense engines precisely, you need a clock that is capable of timing the 'burn'. Furthermore, to successfully navigate the solar system, you will need good timekeeping to determine where you are in your orbit in relation to the other planets.
Question
How do you design the 'best' shipboard clock for interplanetary travel, in a future where there are no computers.
Considerations:
- The 'best' clock means the most accurate
- The clock must be able to be accurately corrected for relativistic effects. 100 km/s isn't that fast, but errors can add up over time.
- The clock must give an analog signal output that can be integrated into other electro-mechanical devices. For example, the only way for an old-timey pocket watch to control a burn time is through a human operating a switch.
technology space-travel near-future time
technology space-travel near-future time
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
edited 19 mins ago
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
asked 1 hour ago
kingledion
67.9k22224384
67.9k22224384
can i suggest you change the description of a computer from "being programmable." to being "re-programmable" there is an important distinction, programmable systems have been around for centuries, whereas re-programmable systems have only been around for 70 or so years
– Blade Wraith
49 mins ago
@BladeWraith Agreed.
– kingledion
48 mins ago
I misread the title at first and pictured a cosmic-sized, space-dwelling man.
– Renan
38 mins ago
add a comment |Â
can i suggest you change the description of a computer from "being programmable." to being "re-programmable" there is an important distinction, programmable systems have been around for centuries, whereas re-programmable systems have only been around for 70 or so years
– Blade Wraith
49 mins ago
@BladeWraith Agreed.
– kingledion
48 mins ago
I misread the title at first and pictured a cosmic-sized, space-dwelling man.
– Renan
38 mins ago
can i suggest you change the description of a computer from "being programmable." to being "re-programmable" there is an important distinction, programmable systems have been around for centuries, whereas re-programmable systems have only been around for 70 or so years
– Blade Wraith
49 mins ago
can i suggest you change the description of a computer from "being programmable." to being "re-programmable" there is an important distinction, programmable systems have been around for centuries, whereas re-programmable systems have only been around for 70 or so years
– Blade Wraith
49 mins ago
@BladeWraith Agreed.
– kingledion
48 mins ago
@BladeWraith Agreed.
– kingledion
48 mins ago
I misread the title at first and pictured a cosmic-sized, space-dwelling man.
– Renan
38 mins ago
I misread the title at first and pictured a cosmic-sized, space-dwelling man.
– Renan
38 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
They could use pulsars emission as clock
Neutron stars are very dense, and have short, regular rotational periods. This produces a very precise interval between pulses that ranges from milliseconds to seconds for an individual pulsar. [...] Certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time.
A suitable observatory has to be pointed to one or more pulsars and the collected EM emission is converted to an output electric signal (think something like a photodiode), and by collecting and measuring their emission act as "pace maker" for the ship. By measuring the interval dilation for a pulsar, one can also account for relativistic deviations.
Since rotation is used to stabilize objects in space, the ships could be put in rotation with the rotation axis pointing at a pulsar, providing also an indirect way to measure proper alignment (when signal is lost orientation has been disrupeted)
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
First, how would you make a clock that is constantly making observations of pulsars without a computer? Second, this doesn't address requirement 3, that it must be able to output an analog electrical signal.
– kingledion
1 hour ago
@kingledion electromechanical systems got pretty (nay, really) sophisticated in WW2. I'm sure a clever mechanical engineer could figure something out in concert with an electrical engineer.
– RonJohn
57 mins ago
@RonJohn That is more of what I am interested in. I think a quartz timepiece would be sufficient, I just want to know how to turn it into useful equipment without computers.
– kingledion
47 mins ago
You could handily use a photoresistor and a circuit with known electrical properties, the tricky part is focusing enough light and keeping it on target, but again that should handily be doable with solid state electronics.
– Joe Bloggs
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
This is probably more of a loophole than the answer you are looking for, but an electronic circuit with a quartz oscillator need not be programmable. It doesn't even need an electronic memory. You'd need to add some frequency dividers, which can also be analog, to provide the final output signal that controls the rocket.
Here's another thought: ultra-precise timing of the burn is only needed if your rocket is on/off only. If you can throttle it back, then you can do the main acceleration/deceleration burn at full power, followed by an orbital correction at much lower power. Or you can use a different set of engines for that part of the manoeuvre.
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The joy of this is that it doesn't matter. Objective time is irrelevant, only subjective time matters.
All your navigation calculations can be done on subjective time. All your shift patterns are going to work on subjective time.
You're far better off building a really good shipboard clock and doing good calculations relative to that, than attempting to automatically convert from some sort of external time prompt. Once you're out of contact with others, the only time that matters is ship time.
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
1
This question is about the engineering challenges of building a good shipboard clock. What is the most accurate clock you can reasonably put on a ship, ensuring that it works without a computer?
– kingledion
20 mins ago
@kingledion, isn't that what you want though? A simple mechanical clock built at the limit of the materials. Even a pocket watch hooked into the system can trigger a switch. Clockwork calendar watches have been available for 50 years so the mechanisms you want are nothing new.
– Separatrix
7 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Realistically i can't think of a way to do this without a computer... a very complex mechanical system could in theory keep a match of all those different timezones on each different planet or moon, and then keep track of them based off a pendulum swing, but these systems will eventually go out of sync and lose time, keeping time accurately is a very difficult thing to do, that's why we have atomic clocks:
https://www.livescience.com/32660-how-does-an-atomic-clock-work.html
However
why were the computer's banned, presumably because they caused the downfall of Earth, but a multi-planet species is unlikely to ban computers, so there is only one real thing that could be used as a reason to band the survivors together and have them agree to ban computers... Religion
And while i don't want to start any form of religious debate, it is entirely plausible that the figureheads of this new religion could possess an Atomic Clock, now while this does rely on computers these days. they could either be Holy Artefacts or just that the religion is massively hypocritical. think of films such as Equilibium,
where emotions are banned, and that "religion" has clerics that go around and find and kill those that feel and destroy anything that could entcite emotion such as art. and yet the heads of state actually have lavish art decorating the walls etc.
You could easily expand they storyline in this way.
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
2
A better answer would discuss how to make an atomic clock without a computer. Is it possible?
– kingledion
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
They could use pulsars emission as clock
Neutron stars are very dense, and have short, regular rotational periods. This produces a very precise interval between pulses that ranges from milliseconds to seconds for an individual pulsar. [...] Certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time.
A suitable observatory has to be pointed to one or more pulsars and the collected EM emission is converted to an output electric signal (think something like a photodiode), and by collecting and measuring their emission act as "pace maker" for the ship. By measuring the interval dilation for a pulsar, one can also account for relativistic deviations.
Since rotation is used to stabilize objects in space, the ships could be put in rotation with the rotation axis pointing at a pulsar, providing also an indirect way to measure proper alignment (when signal is lost orientation has been disrupeted)
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
First, how would you make a clock that is constantly making observations of pulsars without a computer? Second, this doesn't address requirement 3, that it must be able to output an analog electrical signal.
– kingledion
1 hour ago
@kingledion electromechanical systems got pretty (nay, really) sophisticated in WW2. I'm sure a clever mechanical engineer could figure something out in concert with an electrical engineer.
– RonJohn
57 mins ago
@RonJohn That is more of what I am interested in. I think a quartz timepiece would be sufficient, I just want to know how to turn it into useful equipment without computers.
– kingledion
47 mins ago
You could handily use a photoresistor and a circuit with known electrical properties, the tricky part is focusing enough light and keeping it on target, but again that should handily be doable with solid state electronics.
– Joe Bloggs
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
They could use pulsars emission as clock
Neutron stars are very dense, and have short, regular rotational periods. This produces a very precise interval between pulses that ranges from milliseconds to seconds for an individual pulsar. [...] Certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time.
A suitable observatory has to be pointed to one or more pulsars and the collected EM emission is converted to an output electric signal (think something like a photodiode), and by collecting and measuring their emission act as "pace maker" for the ship. By measuring the interval dilation for a pulsar, one can also account for relativistic deviations.
Since rotation is used to stabilize objects in space, the ships could be put in rotation with the rotation axis pointing at a pulsar, providing also an indirect way to measure proper alignment (when signal is lost orientation has been disrupeted)
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
First, how would you make a clock that is constantly making observations of pulsars without a computer? Second, this doesn't address requirement 3, that it must be able to output an analog electrical signal.
– kingledion
1 hour ago
@kingledion electromechanical systems got pretty (nay, really) sophisticated in WW2. I'm sure a clever mechanical engineer could figure something out in concert with an electrical engineer.
– RonJohn
57 mins ago
@RonJohn That is more of what I am interested in. I think a quartz timepiece would be sufficient, I just want to know how to turn it into useful equipment without computers.
– kingledion
47 mins ago
You could handily use a photoresistor and a circuit with known electrical properties, the tricky part is focusing enough light and keeping it on target, but again that should handily be doable with solid state electronics.
– Joe Bloggs
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
They could use pulsars emission as clock
Neutron stars are very dense, and have short, regular rotational periods. This produces a very precise interval between pulses that ranges from milliseconds to seconds for an individual pulsar. [...] Certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time.
A suitable observatory has to be pointed to one or more pulsars and the collected EM emission is converted to an output electric signal (think something like a photodiode), and by collecting and measuring their emission act as "pace maker" for the ship. By measuring the interval dilation for a pulsar, one can also account for relativistic deviations.
Since rotation is used to stabilize objects in space, the ships could be put in rotation with the rotation axis pointing at a pulsar, providing also an indirect way to measure proper alignment (when signal is lost orientation has been disrupeted)
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
They could use pulsars emission as clock
Neutron stars are very dense, and have short, regular rotational periods. This produces a very precise interval between pulses that ranges from milliseconds to seconds for an individual pulsar. [...] Certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time.
A suitable observatory has to be pointed to one or more pulsars and the collected EM emission is converted to an output electric signal (think something like a photodiode), and by collecting and measuring their emission act as "pace maker" for the ship. By measuring the interval dilation for a pulsar, one can also account for relativistic deviations.
Since rotation is used to stabilize objects in space, the ships could be put in rotation with the rotation axis pointing at a pulsar, providing also an indirect way to measure proper alignment (when signal is lost orientation has been disrupeted)
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
edited 57 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦
67.1k20162316
67.1k20162316
First, how would you make a clock that is constantly making observations of pulsars without a computer? Second, this doesn't address requirement 3, that it must be able to output an analog electrical signal.
– kingledion
1 hour ago
@kingledion electromechanical systems got pretty (nay, really) sophisticated in WW2. I'm sure a clever mechanical engineer could figure something out in concert with an electrical engineer.
– RonJohn
57 mins ago
@RonJohn That is more of what I am interested in. I think a quartz timepiece would be sufficient, I just want to know how to turn it into useful equipment without computers.
– kingledion
47 mins ago
You could handily use a photoresistor and a circuit with known electrical properties, the tricky part is focusing enough light and keeping it on target, but again that should handily be doable with solid state electronics.
– Joe Bloggs
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
First, how would you make a clock that is constantly making observations of pulsars without a computer? Second, this doesn't address requirement 3, that it must be able to output an analog electrical signal.
– kingledion
1 hour ago
@kingledion electromechanical systems got pretty (nay, really) sophisticated in WW2. I'm sure a clever mechanical engineer could figure something out in concert with an electrical engineer.
– RonJohn
57 mins ago
@RonJohn That is more of what I am interested in. I think a quartz timepiece would be sufficient, I just want to know how to turn it into useful equipment without computers.
– kingledion
47 mins ago
You could handily use a photoresistor and a circuit with known electrical properties, the tricky part is focusing enough light and keeping it on target, but again that should handily be doable with solid state electronics.
– Joe Bloggs
34 mins ago
First, how would you make a clock that is constantly making observations of pulsars without a computer? Second, this doesn't address requirement 3, that it must be able to output an analog electrical signal.
– kingledion
1 hour ago
First, how would you make a clock that is constantly making observations of pulsars without a computer? Second, this doesn't address requirement 3, that it must be able to output an analog electrical signal.
– kingledion
1 hour ago
@kingledion electromechanical systems got pretty (nay, really) sophisticated in WW2. I'm sure a clever mechanical engineer could figure something out in concert with an electrical engineer.
– RonJohn
57 mins ago
@kingledion electromechanical systems got pretty (nay, really) sophisticated in WW2. I'm sure a clever mechanical engineer could figure something out in concert with an electrical engineer.
– RonJohn
57 mins ago
@RonJohn That is more of what I am interested in. I think a quartz timepiece would be sufficient, I just want to know how to turn it into useful equipment without computers.
– kingledion
47 mins ago
@RonJohn That is more of what I am interested in. I think a quartz timepiece would be sufficient, I just want to know how to turn it into useful equipment without computers.
– kingledion
47 mins ago
You could handily use a photoresistor and a circuit with known electrical properties, the tricky part is focusing enough light and keeping it on target, but again that should handily be doable with solid state electronics.
– Joe Bloggs
34 mins ago
You could handily use a photoresistor and a circuit with known electrical properties, the tricky part is focusing enough light and keeping it on target, but again that should handily be doable with solid state electronics.
– Joe Bloggs
34 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
This is probably more of a loophole than the answer you are looking for, but an electronic circuit with a quartz oscillator need not be programmable. It doesn't even need an electronic memory. You'd need to add some frequency dividers, which can also be analog, to provide the final output signal that controls the rocket.
Here's another thought: ultra-precise timing of the burn is only needed if your rocket is on/off only. If you can throttle it back, then you can do the main acceleration/deceleration burn at full power, followed by an orbital correction at much lower power. Or you can use a different set of engines for that part of the manoeuvre.
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
This is probably more of a loophole than the answer you are looking for, but an electronic circuit with a quartz oscillator need not be programmable. It doesn't even need an electronic memory. You'd need to add some frequency dividers, which can also be analog, to provide the final output signal that controls the rocket.
Here's another thought: ultra-precise timing of the burn is only needed if your rocket is on/off only. If you can throttle it back, then you can do the main acceleration/deceleration burn at full power, followed by an orbital correction at much lower power. Or you can use a different set of engines for that part of the manoeuvre.
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
This is probably more of a loophole than the answer you are looking for, but an electronic circuit with a quartz oscillator need not be programmable. It doesn't even need an electronic memory. You'd need to add some frequency dividers, which can also be analog, to provide the final output signal that controls the rocket.
Here's another thought: ultra-precise timing of the burn is only needed if your rocket is on/off only. If you can throttle it back, then you can do the main acceleration/deceleration burn at full power, followed by an orbital correction at much lower power. Or you can use a different set of engines for that part of the manoeuvre.
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
This is probably more of a loophole than the answer you are looking for, but an electronic circuit with a quartz oscillator need not be programmable. It doesn't even need an electronic memory. You'd need to add some frequency dividers, which can also be analog, to provide the final output signal that controls the rocket.
Here's another thought: ultra-precise timing of the burn is only needed if your rocket is on/off only. If you can throttle it back, then you can do the main acceleration/deceleration burn at full power, followed by an orbital correction at much lower power. Or you can use a different set of engines for that part of the manoeuvre.
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
answered 37 mins ago
Tumbislav
956413
956413
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The joy of this is that it doesn't matter. Objective time is irrelevant, only subjective time matters.
All your navigation calculations can be done on subjective time. All your shift patterns are going to work on subjective time.
You're far better off building a really good shipboard clock and doing good calculations relative to that, than attempting to automatically convert from some sort of external time prompt. Once you're out of contact with others, the only time that matters is ship time.
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
1
This question is about the engineering challenges of building a good shipboard clock. What is the most accurate clock you can reasonably put on a ship, ensuring that it works without a computer?
– kingledion
20 mins ago
@kingledion, isn't that what you want though? A simple mechanical clock built at the limit of the materials. Even a pocket watch hooked into the system can trigger a switch. Clockwork calendar watches have been available for 50 years so the mechanisms you want are nothing new.
– Separatrix
7 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The joy of this is that it doesn't matter. Objective time is irrelevant, only subjective time matters.
All your navigation calculations can be done on subjective time. All your shift patterns are going to work on subjective time.
You're far better off building a really good shipboard clock and doing good calculations relative to that, than attempting to automatically convert from some sort of external time prompt. Once you're out of contact with others, the only time that matters is ship time.
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
1
This question is about the engineering challenges of building a good shipboard clock. What is the most accurate clock you can reasonably put on a ship, ensuring that it works without a computer?
– kingledion
20 mins ago
@kingledion, isn't that what you want though? A simple mechanical clock built at the limit of the materials. Even a pocket watch hooked into the system can trigger a switch. Clockwork calendar watches have been available for 50 years so the mechanisms you want are nothing new.
– Separatrix
7 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
The joy of this is that it doesn't matter. Objective time is irrelevant, only subjective time matters.
All your navigation calculations can be done on subjective time. All your shift patterns are going to work on subjective time.
You're far better off building a really good shipboard clock and doing good calculations relative to that, than attempting to automatically convert from some sort of external time prompt. Once you're out of contact with others, the only time that matters is ship time.
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
The joy of this is that it doesn't matter. Objective time is irrelevant, only subjective time matters.
All your navigation calculations can be done on subjective time. All your shift patterns are going to work on subjective time.
You're far better off building a really good shipboard clock and doing good calculations relative to that, than attempting to automatically convert from some sort of external time prompt. Once you're out of contact with others, the only time that matters is ship time.
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
answered 21 mins ago
Separatrix
71.6k30169281
71.6k30169281
1
This question is about the engineering challenges of building a good shipboard clock. What is the most accurate clock you can reasonably put on a ship, ensuring that it works without a computer?
– kingledion
20 mins ago
@kingledion, isn't that what you want though? A simple mechanical clock built at the limit of the materials. Even a pocket watch hooked into the system can trigger a switch. Clockwork calendar watches have been available for 50 years so the mechanisms you want are nothing new.
– Separatrix
7 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
This question is about the engineering challenges of building a good shipboard clock. What is the most accurate clock you can reasonably put on a ship, ensuring that it works without a computer?
– kingledion
20 mins ago
@kingledion, isn't that what you want though? A simple mechanical clock built at the limit of the materials. Even a pocket watch hooked into the system can trigger a switch. Clockwork calendar watches have been available for 50 years so the mechanisms you want are nothing new.
– Separatrix
7 mins ago
1
1
This question is about the engineering challenges of building a good shipboard clock. What is the most accurate clock you can reasonably put on a ship, ensuring that it works without a computer?
– kingledion
20 mins ago
This question is about the engineering challenges of building a good shipboard clock. What is the most accurate clock you can reasonably put on a ship, ensuring that it works without a computer?
– kingledion
20 mins ago
@kingledion, isn't that what you want though? A simple mechanical clock built at the limit of the materials. Even a pocket watch hooked into the system can trigger a switch. Clockwork calendar watches have been available for 50 years so the mechanisms you want are nothing new.
– Separatrix
7 mins ago
@kingledion, isn't that what you want though? A simple mechanical clock built at the limit of the materials. Even a pocket watch hooked into the system can trigger a switch. Clockwork calendar watches have been available for 50 years so the mechanisms you want are nothing new.
– Separatrix
7 mins ago
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Realistically i can't think of a way to do this without a computer... a very complex mechanical system could in theory keep a match of all those different timezones on each different planet or moon, and then keep track of them based off a pendulum swing, but these systems will eventually go out of sync and lose time, keeping time accurately is a very difficult thing to do, that's why we have atomic clocks:
https://www.livescience.com/32660-how-does-an-atomic-clock-work.html
However
why were the computer's banned, presumably because they caused the downfall of Earth, but a multi-planet species is unlikely to ban computers, so there is only one real thing that could be used as a reason to band the survivors together and have them agree to ban computers... Religion
And while i don't want to start any form of religious debate, it is entirely plausible that the figureheads of this new religion could possess an Atomic Clock, now while this does rely on computers these days. they could either be Holy Artefacts or just that the religion is massively hypocritical. think of films such as Equilibium,
where emotions are banned, and that "religion" has clerics that go around and find and kill those that feel and destroy anything that could entcite emotion such as art. and yet the heads of state actually have lavish art decorating the walls etc.
You could easily expand they storyline in this way.
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
2
A better answer would discuss how to make an atomic clock without a computer. Is it possible?
– kingledion
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Realistically i can't think of a way to do this without a computer... a very complex mechanical system could in theory keep a match of all those different timezones on each different planet or moon, and then keep track of them based off a pendulum swing, but these systems will eventually go out of sync and lose time, keeping time accurately is a very difficult thing to do, that's why we have atomic clocks:
https://www.livescience.com/32660-how-does-an-atomic-clock-work.html
However
why were the computer's banned, presumably because they caused the downfall of Earth, but a multi-planet species is unlikely to ban computers, so there is only one real thing that could be used as a reason to band the survivors together and have them agree to ban computers... Religion
And while i don't want to start any form of religious debate, it is entirely plausible that the figureheads of this new religion could possess an Atomic Clock, now while this does rely on computers these days. they could either be Holy Artefacts or just that the religion is massively hypocritical. think of films such as Equilibium,
where emotions are banned, and that "religion" has clerics that go around and find and kill those that feel and destroy anything that could entcite emotion such as art. and yet the heads of state actually have lavish art decorating the walls etc.
You could easily expand they storyline in this way.
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
2
A better answer would discuss how to make an atomic clock without a computer. Is it possible?
– kingledion
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Realistically i can't think of a way to do this without a computer... a very complex mechanical system could in theory keep a match of all those different timezones on each different planet or moon, and then keep track of them based off a pendulum swing, but these systems will eventually go out of sync and lose time, keeping time accurately is a very difficult thing to do, that's why we have atomic clocks:
https://www.livescience.com/32660-how-does-an-atomic-clock-work.html
However
why were the computer's banned, presumably because they caused the downfall of Earth, but a multi-planet species is unlikely to ban computers, so there is only one real thing that could be used as a reason to band the survivors together and have them agree to ban computers... Religion
And while i don't want to start any form of religious debate, it is entirely plausible that the figureheads of this new religion could possess an Atomic Clock, now while this does rely on computers these days. they could either be Holy Artefacts or just that the religion is massively hypocritical. think of films such as Equilibium,
where emotions are banned, and that "religion" has clerics that go around and find and kill those that feel and destroy anything that could entcite emotion such as art. and yet the heads of state actually have lavish art decorating the walls etc.
You could easily expand they storyline in this way.
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
Realistically i can't think of a way to do this without a computer... a very complex mechanical system could in theory keep a match of all those different timezones on each different planet or moon, and then keep track of them based off a pendulum swing, but these systems will eventually go out of sync and lose time, keeping time accurately is a very difficult thing to do, that's why we have atomic clocks:
https://www.livescience.com/32660-how-does-an-atomic-clock-work.html
However
why were the computer's banned, presumably because they caused the downfall of Earth, but a multi-planet species is unlikely to ban computers, so there is only one real thing that could be used as a reason to band the survivors together and have them agree to ban computers... Religion
And while i don't want to start any form of religious debate, it is entirely plausible that the figureheads of this new religion could possess an Atomic Clock, now while this does rely on computers these days. they could either be Holy Artefacts or just that the religion is massively hypocritical. think of films such as Equilibium,
where emotions are banned, and that "religion" has clerics that go around and find and kill those that feel and destroy anything that could entcite emotion such as art. and yet the heads of state actually have lavish art decorating the walls etc.
You could easily expand they storyline in this way.
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
answered 40 mins ago
Blade Wraith
7,60511240
7,60511240
2
A better answer would discuss how to make an atomic clock without a computer. Is it possible?
– kingledion
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2
A better answer would discuss how to make an atomic clock without a computer. Is it possible?
– kingledion
32 mins ago
2
2
A better answer would discuss how to make an atomic clock without a computer. Is it possible?
– kingledion
32 mins ago
A better answer would discuss how to make an atomic clock without a computer. Is it possible?
– kingledion
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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can i suggest you change the description of a computer from "being programmable." to being "re-programmable" there is an important distinction, programmable systems have been around for centuries, whereas re-programmable systems have only been around for 70 or so years
– Blade Wraith
49 mins ago
@BladeWraith Agreed.
– kingledion
48 mins ago
I misread the title at first and pictured a cosmic-sized, space-dwelling man.
– Renan
38 mins ago