text:
Digital Arts = Mac Lab MediaLearn how to run an actual business and work your way up the corporate ladder
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can take Digital Arts?
Any student, grades 9–12, may enroll in Digital Arts. Some students take Digital Arts multiple times. A few students enroll in two sections each year.
I'm not good with computers. Does that matter?
If you're willing to work hard and play by the rules it won't matter at all because you'll learn to use a computer like a pro.
IMPORTANT: If you want to learn and are willing to work each day, you'll succeed. If you're not really interested in working hard each day, please do us both a favor and take a different elective.
If there's no homework or tests, how do you grade?
Short Version: Play by the rules and give it your all to earn an A. If you want a different grade, take a different elective because I'm not interested in babysitting kids who don't want to learn.
Long Version: Read this blog post.
The Grit-Based Rubric measures your willingness to work each day; it's based on effort, not test scores.
IMPORTANT: Here's a challenge to see if you're actually willing to work hard: Read this blog post. Yes, it's long. If that's too much to ask, take a different elective. Why? Because you aren't willing to work hard enough to enjoy the class.
What if I try and try but never produce anything good?
Did you read the blog post?
The quality of your work is not a factor. If you try and try and don't give up, you will have earned an A.
But fear not. Those who don't give up always produce something wondrous.
Digital Arts is supposed to be fun. Why are you so hung up on hard work?
Short Answer: So you'll have fun in Digital Arts.
Longer Answer: It's like learning to play a sport or a musical instrument. Those who work at it learn more quickly. The more you learn, the better you become. The better you become, the more you begin to enjoy the process. In time, the effort is no longer hard work but a kind of focused play. At that point, Digital Arts becomes a fun class that you'll look forward to each day.
The Flip Side: Those who refuse to follow instructions day after day do not have fun in Digital Arts. The class is stupid, or boring, or a waste of time. It happens every year and the complainers are always the lazy ones.
I don't want you to be miserable so I'm trying to make this as clear as possible.
Okay, fine. I'll work. What's this stuff about running a business? It's not a real business, is it?
Yes, Mac Lab Media is a real business, established February 16, 2017 in conjunction with Real World Scholars. We will create and sell custom digital resources on global design marketplaces like Design Cuts in London and Creative Market in San Francisco.
IMPORTANT: None of us get paid. As a 501(c)(3) business entity, all profits are reinvested in new creative tools and resources for you to use. Our goal is to become a self-funded classroom by the 2020/2021 school year.
Like any business, Mac Lab Media is looking for inspired individuals willing to trade hard work for pay—in your case the pay's in the form of cutting edge training. And who knows? Maybe one day, if you work hard enough, you'll learn enough to set up your own shop.
Will you be the next Nicky Laatz?
What if I want to work on something different?
You will have an opportunity to earn creative freedom. Note the word, earn.
If you chose to work toward creative freedom on day one, you could earn your first 20% perk by week six. That means you would have the right to work on any school appropriate project of your choosing one day a week from that point forward (providing, of course, you continue to work diligently for Mac Lab Media the other four days. By week 12 you could earn a second 20% perk, and so on.
Please understand that creative freedom is an earned privilege and not a right.
What if I want to code?
If you're serious about code, it takes six weeks to earn the privilege so long as you've satisfied the usual play by the rules / work hard clause in our contract.
At that point you'll learn to produce generative art with Processing. If you want to work on something different, please understand that we code with purpose. We provide services and solve real world problems. If you want to create an FPS, it better be something along the lines of a white blood cell fighting infection.
Or you could earn 20% time six weeks after you join the coding team
If you think you have what it takes, you can always apply to join the Game On team. Oh yeah, Mac Lab students wrote that. And it's being used in classrooms around the world.
Are there any exceptions to your rules?
Copied and pasted from the blog post:
If our overt academic goal is to create and publish evidence of successful student-directed learning, we're effectively defining flexible boundaries for student autonomy and introducing an element of what might be called academic entrepreneurship into the learning environment. We're the equivalent of venture capitalists in this scenario and students are startup founders trying to find funding for their innovative ideas.
Pitch me. I'm always willing to listen to your ideas.


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text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Mar 24, 1987
|Filing date
|Jul 1, 1983
|Priority date
|Jul 1, 1983
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Bruce E. Gray
|Original Assignee
|Rockwell International Corporation
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (54), Non-Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (35), Classifications (18), Legal Events (7)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This invention relates to meter data gathering systems and, in particular, to such systems that employ a mechanical-type meter having a plurality of wheels, the positions of which indicate successive magnitudes, e.g., units, tens, hundreds, thousands, of a utility to be measured.
It has been a long-standing problem of utility companies dealing with the distribution of such utilities as water, gas or electricity, for example, to obtain an indication of the utility consumption by each of its customers, so that customers may be accurately billed for their consumption. It has been a typical practice for the utility company to employ "meter readers" to visit each customer location or home and take the reading, by visually observing the meter and recording in tabulated form a hand-written record of the utility consumption and the corresponding customer. Such a method is very time-consuming and, thus, costly in that the meter reader must typically gain access to the interior of the customer's house, wherein the meter is located, and on many occasions will find the customer absent, thus requiring repeated return visits to secure the necessary reading.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,904 of Weinberger et al., assigned to the assignee of this invention, discloses a utility meter, illustratively a water meter, for measuring the flow of water to incrementally record upon a coupled, mechanical-type register, an indication of the amount of water consumed by the customer. In turn, an electrical signal is derived from the register upon coupling to a portable interrogation unit and is applied to an external receptacle, typically located upon the exterior of the customer's home or place of business, whereby the portable interrogation unit carried by the meter reader to the customer's location, is coupled thereto to derive a readout signal indicative of the water consumption by the customer.
The mechanical register associated with the water meter, as described in the Weinberger et al. patent, comprises a series of wheels, the positions of which indicate successive magnitudes, e.g., units, tens, hundreds, thousands, of the quantity of water consumed. For example, the water meter incrementally moves the register for each 100 or 1,000 gallons of water that the customer has consumed. Each of the series of wheels has 10 digital positions and causes a step-wise unit progression of the following wheel, when the preceding wheel has itself completed a cycle or revolution of movement. In an illustrative example wherein the series of wheels represents a value of the measured parameter of "5432", the movement of the first or "units" wheel from the value "9" to the value "0" causes the second or "tens" wheel to make a step-wise change from "3" to "4" and similarly, the movement of the second wheel from "9" to "0" will progress the hundreds or third wheel from "4" to "5". A resistance ladder is associated with each wheel to provide an electrical signal indicative of the position of its wheel and, thus, the water consumed. Selected connections are made from the plurality of resistance ladders to an external receptacle disposed upon the exterior of the customer's home or place of business, whereby the utility reader may readily gain access to the mechanical register. In addition, a circuit-board or wiring matrix is disposed, illustratively within the external receptacle, that is so configured or wired to uniquely identify the customer.
In order to obtain a meter reading, the meter reader gains access to the external receptacle by coupling a connector in the form of a gun through a removable face plate, whereby the interrogator gun including contacts, is coupled with contacts within the receptacle so that an electrical connection is made between the portable interrogation unit and the resistance ladders associated with the utility meter. Upon insertion of the interrogator gun, the control logic associated with the portable interrogation unit, sequentially reads out or obtains an encoded readout signal from the resistance ladder associated with each of the wheels of the mechanical register, and a six-digit customer identification signal from the wiring matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,866 of St. Claire et al. discloses a meter reading system employing a meter having a mechanical register including a set of four dials or wheels. Each dial has 10 contacts disposed about its periphery and a wiper rotatably disposed to mate sequentially with one contact at a time. The wiper is rotated to a position dependent upon the flow of a utility through the meter. The positions of the four wipers of the four dials indicate the quantity of the metered utility. One of a first set of conductors is connected to each wiper, and corresponding of the ten contacts of each dial are connected to a common conductor of a second set of ten conductors. Thus, the position of the wiper arm of each disc may be determined in the following fashion. A signal is selectively applied to one of the first set of conductors at a time, to establish a circuit through the wiper to a corresponding one of the ten conductors of the second set; thus, the appearance of the signal on one of the ten conductors indicates the position of the wiper arm of the corresponding dial. After the wiper arm of one dial has been so determined, the signal is placed upon a second conductor of the first set to determine the position of its wiper. The second set of ten conductors is coupled to a complex of diodes that acts as a decimal to binary decoder, whereby selected signals appear upon its four output terminals indicative of that contact through which a circuit is completed by the wiper arm and, thus, the position of the wiper arm.
St. Claire et al. discloses that the above described meter and set of four encoding dials are part of a transmitter that is stationarily disposed. A portable receiver may be carried by a meter reader to each of the stationary transmitters to read out an indication of the metered utility. In particular, the complex of diodes selectively energizes four radiant energy transmission means in the form of either an electromagnet or a light source. A portable interrogator unit is a carried to the transmitter and includes a similarly disposed array of receiving elements, i.e., either a set of reed switches or photo cells, that are aligned to detect the radiant energy as generated by each of the corresponding radiant energy transmission means of the transmitter. The reed switches are illustratively connected to a binary to numeric converter that converts the binary data indicative of the utility consumed to a corresponding digital display. In operation, the portable interrogator unit is aligned with the transmitter such that the arrayed sets of electromagnetic relays and reed switches are coupled with each other and, then, a switch is closed in the portable unit to energize a starter electromagnet to close a related switch within the transmitter, whereby a transmitter battery is connected in circuit to energize the elements of the transmitter. Upon completion of the readout, the transmitter battery is removed from circuit and the transmitter is de-energized.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,287 of Kullmann et al. discloses an interrogation circuit or unit that is coupled via a pin plug and corresponding socket receptacle to a transmitter associated with a utility meter. The meter is associated with four decade switches similar to those of the St. Claire et al. patent '866. The four switches represent the 0, 10, 100 and 1000 units of cubic feet of water as measured by the meter. Upon coupling of the pin plug and socket receptacle, the interrogation unit is actuated to transmit a clock/power signal via an input channel formed through the coupled pin plug and socket to the transmitter associated with the meter. The clock/power signal is rectified to charge a capacitor, whereby a DC voltage is developed to energize the circuit elements of the transmitter. In addition, the clock signals are used, not only to scan the four switches, but also to time the transmission of a digital signal from the transmitter to the interrogation unit in synchronism with the input clock signal. The output of the transmitter is developed from a code generator logic circuit that applies its output along an output channel within the coupled pin plug and socket to the interrogation unit, the output channel being separate from the input channel. Each of the input and output channels is formed by a male/female type of connection within the coupled pin plug and socket, as is well known in the art. The output or return signal is in the form of a train of 16 characters, each comprised of four bits. Four of the 16 characters are used to provide data indicative of the position of the switches. The output as obtained from each switch is in the form of decimal binary data and is converted to binary coded signals to be, in turn, transmitted in a synchronous, serial fashion by the generator code logic. The ten other remaining characters of the output signal of the transmitter relate to a unique code identifying the particular meter. The unique code is provided by a hard wire circuit dependent upon the selected interconnection of rows and columns of conductors.
The Kullmann et al. patent '287 also suggests that upon coupling of the pin plug and socket receptacle, that the power/clock signal is applied to a character counter and a BCD to decimal converter that selectively energizes one of ten input conductors. The four of the ten input conductors are respectively coupled to the wiper arms of the decade switches. Each decade switch has ten output contacts. The ten output contacts of each of the four decade switches are coupled in parallel to a set of ten output conductors. Thus, as each of the four input conductors is energized, a corresponding wiper arm of a decade switch is energized to apply a voltage to one of its ten output contacts, indicating the position of that wiper arm. By sequentially applying an energizing signal to each of the wiper arms, four sets of data indicating respectively the positions of the four arms and, thus, the 0, 10, 100 and 1000 units of cubic feet of water is provided. Six of the ten input conductors are coupled to the coded wire circuit and are energized in sequence to output signals on selected of the output conductors to thereby indicate the particular meter or customer being read. In turn, the ten output lines are coupled to a decimal to BCD converter, whereby the decimal input data is converted to binary coded decimal data appearing in parallel on its four output lines. The code generator logic converts the input parallel data to the aforedescribed return signal. The output is transmitted serially in synchronism with the input power/clock signal, each bit transmitted out in response to the detection of a pulse of the inputted clock/power signal.
U.K. Pat. No. 1,253,826 of Lapsley discloses a remote meter reading system employing a mechanical meter of the type employed above having a set of five index members or wheels, where successive wheels represent successive orders of a numerical value of the metered utility. Each wheel of the set has ten electrical contacts. Corresponding of the ten contacts of each of the four wheels are connected to ten output conductors forming a cable connected to a socket disposed on the outside of the consumer's premises. In order to read the meter, a portable interrogator or recording unit is connected by a plug to the outside socket. Upon being coupled to the meter, the interrogator unit is energized and, in particular, its oscillator generates a series of clock pulses to control an interrogation sequence unit which outputs ten sequential pulses on corresponding input leads, whereby a current is applied to an indexing or wiper arm of each of the index wheels in sequence. The wheel contacts are coupled, as explained above, by the output conductors through the plug and socket connection to a decimal-to-binary encoder of the interrogator unit. The binary output of the encoder is recorded upon a suitable memory such as a recording tape. A second group of output leads are permanently connected to individual ones of the first mentioned group output leads. The second group of output leads are sampled in a predetermined sequence to detect a serial code as determined by the connection of the first and second groups of leads; this serial code identifies the particular lead and its installation. Lapsley discloses that the meter index and identification circuits are scanned a second time, in a manner similar to that described above, in order to ensure that the meter data is accurately recorded on the tape. In addition, the Lapsley patent '826 is concerned with the ambiguity in the meter output reading that would arise if there is a change over in the position of the wiper arm while the output conductors are being read. In particular, the index wheels are supported on a rotary shaft and are axially disposed along the shaft by a solenoid whereby the plurality of contacts on each index wheel are mated with a corresponding second set of contacts when it is desired to read out a particular wheel. An indexing mechanism is used to advance or retard the position of an index wheel disposed in a position intermediate of two adjacent contacts. The index mechanism includes a stationary wheel with a first set of teeth and a second wheel affixed to the rotatable shaft. When it is desired to make a reading of each of the index wheels, the second wheel is disposed by the solenoid into a mating relation with the stationarily disposed wheel, whereby if one of the index wheels is in an intermediate position, it will be displaced either forward or rearward depending upon the meshing of the first and second wheels so that the contacts of the index wheel are aligned with the second set of contacts.
Mechanical-type meters, as described above, are susceptible to errors as noted in the U.K. Pat. No. 1,253,826 due to movement of one of their index wheels while being accessed. In addition, the contacts of such index wheels are subject to corrosion and other contamination to an extent that the interrogation may indicate that more than one contact of the index wheel appears to be closed. In particular, corrosion may cause a circuit to be completed, not only between the wiper arm and one contact, but also between more than one contact. In the same vein, corrosion may also prevent the completion of a circuit from the wiper arm to any of the plurality of contacts. The Kullmann et al. patent '287 suggests the use of an error checking logic circuit that is coupled to the output of their four decade switches and serves to detect any presence of that condition where no circuit is completed between the wiper arm of a decade switch and any of the plurality of its contacts. Kullmann et al. suggest that a particular error code be generated and transmitted to their interrogator unit. However, the meter transponders of the prior art have not provided any warning signals indicative of the short circuiting or closing of more than one contact with its wiper arm.
In accordance with these and other objects of this invention, there is disclosed a utility data gathering system comprising a register including a series of index members coupled to a meter mechanism. Each index member includes a plurality of contacts and a switch arm moveable with its index member. The meter mechanism is responsive to utility consumption for moving the index members to positions indicative of the utility consumed, whereby each switch arm completes in normal operation a circuit with just one of its plurality of contacts dependent upon the position of its index member. A digital computer is programmed for performing first and second scans of each contact of each index member to obtain corresponding first and second sets of data indicative of a completed circuit through the switch arm and contacts of each index member. The completed circuit data obtained from each of the first and second scans are compared and if the circuit data of the first and second scans are different, an alarm manifestation is generated.
In a further aspect of this invention, the digital computer is programmed to determine that a circuit has been completed through a contact arm and to provide a first contact closure manifestation indicative thereof. The digital computer comprises a memory having a storage location corresponding to each of the index members. The digital computer is programmed to store an error code in each of the plurality of storage locations, to respond to a first contact closure manifestation indicative of the closure of one contact of one of the index members for accessing the storage location corresponding to the one index member to determine the presence of the error code in the addressed storage location and, if present, to provide an indication that no contacts of the one index member had been previously closed. The digital computer is further programmed to respond to the first contact closure manifestation for erasing the error code as stored in the addressed storage location and for storing therein the first contact closure manifestation indicative of previous contact closure. If a second contact of an index member is closed, the corresponding storage location is addressed to read the previously stored first manifestation, and a fault signal is provided to indicate that two or more contacts of the same index member are closed.
In a further aspect of this invention, the digital computer includes an input terminal coupled to receive an interrogation signal and an output terminal at which is provided a return data signal. The interrogation signal comprises a train of signal burst, each burst having an initiate edge. The digital computer is programmed with a set of instructions for responding to the interrogation signal to access the register to obtain a digital manifestation indicative of the utility consumed, and responsive to each initiate edge of the interrogation signal for applying to the output terminal a unit portion of the digital manifestation. The recurring frequency of the initiate edges of the interrogation signal is set so as not to exceed the capability of the digital computer to execute the program.
The data gathering system further includes a power conversion circuit comprising a storage element. Each pulse of the interrogation signals comprises a signal burst of a relatively high frequency compared with the envelope of that burst. The storage element comprises illustratively a capacitor and a resistor coupled together to permit charging of the capacitor by the interrogation signal. The capacitor and resistor have impedances selected to provide a time constant to permit the rapid charging of the capacitor by a single signal burst. The data gathering system further includes a detection circuit for detecting the envelope of each signal burst and for providing a signal wave form indicative of the envelope and its initiate edge to the input terminal. The detection circuit comprises a filter circuit having a time constant that is relatively small compared to the time constant of the power conversion means for removing from its output the high frequency signal burst.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by referring to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a transponder unit implemented by a microprocessor programmed in accordance with the teachings of this invention to scan and gather data measured by a utility meter, storing such data and, upon command, transmitting the stored data to a remote interrogation unit (not shown);
FIG. 2 graphically illustrates the storage locations of a memory as incorporated within the microprocessor shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D show the signals and their wave forms, respectively, of the utility data return signal as transmitted in a second direction from the meter transponder unit of FIG. 1 to the interrogator unit (not shown), the interrogation or power/clock signal as transmitted in a first direction from the interrogator unit to the meter transponder, the data out signal as developed by the microprocessor shown in FIG. 1 comprising a serial train of bits representing a sequence of characters indicative of the consumed utility count and the customer or ID manifestation, and the output of a fast noise filter, as shown in FIG. 1, whose negative going edges synchronize the data out signal developed by the microprocessor;
FIG. 4 is a high level flow diagram of the program stored within and executed by the microprocessor of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a relatively low level flow diagram of the data gathering or meter scanning step generally shown in FIG. 4.
With reference to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1, there is shown a meter transponder 10 coupled to a mechanical register or meter data matrix 22 of the type as shown in the Weinberger et al. patent '904, which illustratively discloses a utility meter of the water type for measuring the flow of water to incrementally record upon a coupled, mechanical-type register, an indication of the amount of water consumed by the customer. As explained above, the mechanical register of the Weinberger et al. patent '904 comprises a series of index wheels indicative of successive magnitudes, e.g., units, tens, hundreds and thousands of the quantity of water consumed. The Weinberger et al. water meter is coupled to a water conduit and upon consumption of a unit of water flow, the first index wheel rotates through a unit incremental arc. For decade-type index wheels, ten unit arcs of rotation represent a complete revolution of the index wheel. Upon completion of a complete revolution, the first wheel causes the second or tens wheel to rotate through an incremental arc. In this fashion, the sets of wheels are capable of accumulating, storing and providing an indication of water flow. Further, each index wheel is associated with a wiper arm and, upon rotation, the wiper arm is disposed in contact with one of a plurality of its contacts, e.g., ten; the wiper arm and contacts form a digit selector switch.
As shown in FIG. 1, a bus 28 comprised of four conductors 28-0 to 28-3 is coupled from the channels 1 and 2 outputs of the microprocessor 20 to corresponding digit selector switches as formed by the four meter wheels of the meter data matrix 22 associated with the utility meter to be interrogated. As will be explained in detail later, the microprocessor 20 under the control of its program selectively reads a signal from one of the conductors of the bus 28, while scanning its outputs DI/09 through DI/0 to identify that output at which one of the selector switches or formed by an index wheel applies the signal inputted to the data matrix 22 on the bus 28. The output at which the signal appears also indicates the degree of rotation of the corresponding index wheel. After one digit selector switch has been scanned, its conductor 28 is de-energized and the next conductor 28 is energized, before the 10 outputs DI/09 through DI/0 are scanned again. It is understood that the conductors 26-0 to 26-9 of the bus 26 are coupled in parallel to the ten contacts of each of the digit selector switches as formed by the corresponding index wheels. By scanning all four digit selector switches, the position of the four wheels and, thus, the measured utility is determined.
In similar fashion, a second bus 30 of eight conductors 30-0 to 30-7 are coupled from channels 1 and 2 of the microprocessor 20 to an ID matrix 24 comprising eight column conductors as coupled to the corresponding conductors of the bus 30 and ten row conductors coupled to corresponding conductors 26-0 to 26-9 of the bus 26. Selected of the row and column conductors of the ID matrix 24 are uniquely connected together to particularly identify the meter associated with the meter transponder 10 and its customer, whereby billing data is identified and billed to that customer.
The meter transponder 10 is coupled by an inductive coupling in the form of a transformer 12 to a portable interrogator unit 11 represented by a pair of driving transistors 13. The transformer 12 includes a primary winding 12a as coupled to the interrogator unit 11 and, in particular, to the driving transistors 13. The transformer 12 includes a secondary winding 12b coupled to the meter transponder 10. The interrogator unit 11 suggested in FIG. 1 may illustratively be of the type fully disclosed in co-pending application entitled INDUCTIVE COUPLING SYSTEM FOR THE BI-DIRECTIONAL TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL DATA, filed in the name of Felice Sciulli on June 20, 1983 and awarded Ser. No. 505,032. As disclosed, the interrogator unit 11 transmits an interrogation or power/clock signal, as shown in FIG. 3B, in a first direction from the interrogator unit 11 to the meter transponder 10 and, in particular, to a power/clock reference circuit 14, which functions to detect the square wave envelope of the interrogation signal to clock the functions of the meter transponder 10 and to energize the circuit elements thereof, as will be explained in detail. The interrogation signal actuates the meter transponder 10 to access or scan the meter data matrix 22, whereby an indication of the consumed utility, e.g., gallons of water measured by the meter, is determined and transmitted in a second direction from the meter transponder 10 to the interrogator unit 11. The manifestation of the consumed utility is the utility data return signal, which comprises a series of high frequency signal bursts indicative of a sequence of characters, as shown in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3C, the sequential characters of the utility data return signal are indicative of the consumed utility, as well as the ID indication or number indicative of the transponder 10 and its customer. Typically, the interrogation unit 11 receives, demodulates and stores such data, whereby bills may be subsequently prepared by calculating the cost of the consumed utility and directed to that customer as identified by the transmitted ID indication.
The power/clock reference circuit 14 comprises a rectifying diode D2 and a capacitor C1, whereby a DC voltage is stored upon the capacitor C1 of a level determined by a Zener diode D1. The voltage developed across the Zener diode D1 is applied to the VSS and VDD inputs of the microprocessor 20. In addition, the circuit 14 detects and applies the interrogation signal, as shown in FIG. 3B, to a noise filter circuit 16 comprised of diode D3, capacitor C3, diode D4 and resistor R4. The output of the noise filter 16 resembles the wave form, as shown in FIG. 3D, and essentially follows the envelope of the interrogation signal, as shown in FIG. 3B. The impedances of capacitor C3 and resistor R4 are selected to have a relatively fast time constant with respect of the carrier wave forming the interrogation signal, as shown in FIG. 3B. Examining the interrogation signal, it is seen to comprise a relatively high frequency carrier signal having a wave form or envelope as indicated by the dotted line of FIG. 3B. The frequency of the modulation of the carrier signal is set to be in the order of 100 to 1000 HZ, which range is selected to permit detection of the negative going edge at the input INT 1 of the microprocessor 20. In particular, the noise filter 16 has a relatively long time constant, whereby the high frequency of the carrier signal is filtered out to provide an output signal essentially following that of the envelope of the interrogation signal, as shown in FIG. 3B.
By contrast, the frequency of the carrier signal within the envelope of the interrogation signal, as shown in FIG. 3B, is selected to permit charging of the capacitor C1 of the power/clock reference circuit 14. The circuit elements D2 and capacitor C1 permit a half-wave rectification and their impedances are determined such that the resulting time constant is relatively low to permit the efficient charging of capacitor C1, whereby a DC voltage is established across the capacitor C1.
The microprocessor 20 uses the negative going edge of the output of the noise filter 16 to clock information and, in particular, to transmit one bit of the data output signal, as derived from the serial output of the microprocessor 10 and as shown in FIG. 3B. The space between the negative and positive going edges of the envelope of the interrogation signal is wide enough to permit the microprocessor 10 to respond to each positive going pulse, thus, permitting the high flux level within the transformer 12 to dissipate and the utility data return signal to be transmitted in the second direction via the transformer 12 from the meter transponder 10 to the interrogator unit 11. Illustratively, a time period of 1 millisecond will permit the flux within the transformer 12 to dissipate to a level that the burst of the pulses may be transmitted efficiently to the secondary winding 12b and inductively coupled to appear upon the primary winding 12a.
As seen in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the microprocessor 20 responds to the negative going edge to generate a 0 or 1 bit and, in particular, to generate the utility data return signal as a burst of a relatively high frequency in the interval. In particular, the presence of a burst of the high frequency signal, typically in the order of 40 KHz, indicates a "0" and its absence a "1". The frequency of the output bursts, as shown in FIG. 3A, is selected to be as high possible in view of the impedence presented by the transformer 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the DATA 0 terminal of the microprocessor 20 is coupled through a resistor RX1 to the base of transistor QX1, whereby the utility data return signal, in the form of a series of signal bursts, as shown in FIG. 3A, is applied to the secondary winding 12b to be inductively coupled during the transmission interval, marked as TCL in FIG. 3B, to be inductively coupled to the primary winding 12a. Data may also be output from channel B of the microprocessor 20 and applied via resistor R1 to the base of transistor Q1, whereby a data output signal appears at terminal A.
The microprocessor 20, in an illustrative embodiment of this invention, may comprise that microprocessor manufactured under the model no. MM 76 EL by the assignee of this invention. Such a microprocessor includes an internal memory (not separately shown in FIG. 1) for storing a program, whereby a response is made to the input interrogation signal to scan the switch contacts of each of the select digit switches or index wheels of the meter data matrix 22, as well as the ten outputs of the ID matrix 24, and to transmit a data output in terms of a train of digital data formatted in a sequence of characters, as shown in FIG. 3C. The program is illustrated in FIG. 4 as a high level flow diagram and step 52 thereof is illustrated in more detail by the relatively low flow diagram of FIG. 5.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the overall operation of the meter transponder 10 will now be explained. Initially in step 52, each of the four select digit switches as comprise the meter data matrix 22 is scanned to output data in terms of the units, tens, hundreds and thousands of the utility measured. As explained above, selected of the outputs of channels 1 and 2 are coupled by conductors forming the bus 28 to the four digit switches of the data matrix 22. Each conductor of the bus 28 is sequentially energized with a high voltage to thereby place that voltage on the wiper arm of the corresponding digit switch. Depending upon the degree of rotation of the corresponding index wheel, that wiper arm completes a circuit through one of its ten contacts; each of the ten contacts are connected to the outputs DI/0 to DI/09 by the conductors of bus 26. As a result, a high signal will be detected at one of the outputs corresponding to which contact of digit switch is mated with the wiper arm and, therefore, the position of the index wheel. In a similar fashion, step 54 scans the ten columns 0 to 9 of the ID matrix 24. Selected of the outputs of channels A, 1 and 2 of the microprocessor 20 are connected by conductors of the bus 30 to the ID matrix 24. As explained above, there is a row conductor of the ID matrix 24 for each of the eight conductors of the bus 30. Each such row conductor is coupled selectively to one of the ten conductors of the bus 26 to thereby uniquely identify its meter. Thus, step 54 begins by placing a high voltage on that conductor 30-0 corresponding to the least significant digit of the ID matrix 24 and, thereafter, scanning sequentially each of the conductors 26-0 through 26-9. After the first scan of the conductors of the bus 26, the high voltage is applied to the conductor 30-1 and again the conductors of the bus 26 are scanned in sequence. In this fashion, there will be eight scans of the conductors of bus 26 with result that each of the eight digits of the ID matrix 24 are identified to provide a unique ID manifestation corresponding to the meter and its customer.
Step 56 repeats the scanning steps 52 and 54, whereby each of the meter data matrix 22 and the ID matrix 24 are again scanned. The data from the first and second scans of the data matrix 22 and the ID matrix 24 are compared in step 58 to determine whether each digit of the first and second scans agree with each other; if not, step 58 indicates that an error condition exists and that a change has occurred between the first and second readings as would occur if at least one of the select digit switches changed its position and, thus, a change of the meter reading. As will be explained, if step 58 does not sense an agreement between these stored sets of data, an error signal will be generated to inform the meter reader that there has been an increment of the consumed utility.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown graphically the structure of the storage locations of the random access memory (RAM) of the microprocessor 20. The first scan of the data matrix results in four bytes of data indicating the positions of the four register wheels as are stored in locations 3 through 6 of the first row of the RAM. During the second scan, each of the plurality of data bytes resulting from a scan of the conductors of the bus 26, is stored within the bit select location (BITSEL) and is compared with the corresponding byte of the data bytes obtained during the first scan and stored within row 1 of the RAM. If step 58 indicates an agreement, step 60 formats the data into an ASCII format comprised of 7 data bits and an 8th parity bit as shown in FIG. 3C; in addition, a start bit and a stop bit is added at the beginning and end of the 8 bit character. In particular, step 62 examines the 7 bits of data and adds an 8th parity bit.
As shown in FIG. 3B, step 64-1 examines the input INT 1 of the microprocessor 20 and, in particular, senses the negative going edge of the envelope of the interrogation signal, i.e., the output of the fast rise noise filter as seen in FIG. 3D, which indicates the beginning of the transmission interval in which a bit of the utility data return signal is to be transmitted. Upon detection of the negative going edge, step 66-1 transmits the first bit of the first character. Then step 64-2 waits for the next negative edge of the interrogation signal and, upon receipt, step 66-2 sends the second bit of the first character. In this fashion, the program 50 detects successive negative going edges of the interrogation signal to send in sequence each bit of each character up to step 66-N, which transmits the last bit of the last character of the ID.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the scanning step or sub-routine 52 is more fully explained. In the scanning sub-routine 52, step 80 initially sets an error code F in each of the data switch locations of the RAM of the microprocessor 20; in particular, the error code F is set into the four storage locations 4-7 of row one, as shown in FIG. 2. The storing of the error code F, permits a check after the data has been read during either of the first or second scans of the meter data matrix 22 and the ID matrix 24 to determine whether a scan has been completed without the detection that a circuit has been completed through at least one of the wiper arms of the select digit switches of the meter data matrix 22 or through one of the interconnections of the column and row conductors of the ID matrix 24. In either instance, where there has been failure to complete the circuit through the meter data matrix 22 or the ID matrix 24, there is an indication of a malfunction in either element, which may require replacement thereof.
Next, in step 82, the data pointer location BPTR of the RAM, as shown in FIG. 2, is preset to the first location of the selector digit switch data location in the RAM corresponding to the most significant of the four digits of data to be read out from the meter data matrix 22. Next, step 84 clears the outputs DI/O 0 to 9 of the microprocessor 20 and, thereafter, step 86 sets the bit pointer, or more accurately, the bit pointer storage location BTPR as found in the first row of the RAM corresponding to the first of the digit selector switches of the meter data matrix 22; in particular, each of the first select digit switch contacts is coupled to the conductor 26-0 and the bit pointer BPTR access that output DI/O 0 to permit the microprocessor to examine the first switch location. Next, step 88 accesses that output of the outputs DI/O 0 to DI/O 9 as addressed by the bit pointer BPTR, and step 90 transfers that data in the form of a "0" or a "1" as would appear upon the addressed input terminal. More specifically, step 90 places a high or one signal on a selected one of the digital inputs corresponding to one of the conductors of the bus 28 coupled to the meter data matrix 22 to determine whether or not a circuit has been completed via one conductor of the bus 28, the corresponding wiper arm and the addressed input of the outputs DI/O 0 to DI/O 9.
Step 92 transfers the "1" or "0" signal indicative respectively of a completed or open circuit into the temporary storage location of row "0" of the RAM 32. Next, step 94 determines whether the temporarily stored data is a "0" indicating an open or clear circuit or a "1" indicating a closed circuit. If step 94 determines "no" indicating the presence of a "0" and an open circuit, step 96 increments the bit pointer location BPTR, before step 96 determines whether the bit pointer BPTR equals to ten, indicating that each of the inputs DI/0 to DI/9 have been scanned. If the bit pointer BPTR has not reached ten indicating the completion of a single scan of the conductors 26/0 to 26/9 as connected to the data matrix 22 and the ID matrix 24, steps 88 to 96 are repeated, whereby the inputs DI/0 to DI/9 of the microprocessor 20 are again sequentially scanned. When a single scan has been completed, i.e., step 98 indicates a "yes" or that the bit pointer BPTR equals ten, step 100 determines whether the present scan is the first or second pass or scan of the data matrix 22 or the ID matrix 24. If the first scan has not been completed, step 102 transfers the data temporarily stored in the bit select buffer to the switch data locations 3 to 6 of row "1" of the RAM 32. On the other hand, if step 100 indicates a "2" or that the second scan has been completed, step 54 compares the data obtained in the second scan as stored in the temporary select buffer with that data derived during the first scan and stored in the switch data locations 3-6 of row "1". If step 54 determines that there is an agreement, the program returns to step 60 of the main program 50, as shown in FIG. 4. If step 54 indicates a "0", an error signal is generated indicating that a data change or error has occurred between the first and second scans.
Returning now to step 94, as shown in FIG. 5, if step 94 indicates that a clear or "1" signal is sensed indicative of a circuit completion through one of the ID matrix 24 or the data matrix 22, step 106 performs an error check by looking at a storage location of the RAM 32 corresponding to each of the index wheels and its decade switch to determine whether an "F" error code is stored therein. If step 106 determines "yes", there is an indication that the error code "F" has not been erased and that no previous switch closure(s) have been detected. It is understood that the error code will remain in this storage location until erased. In the case where step 106 decides "yes", step 110 stores the bit pointer location BPTR corresponding to the closed contact of the decade switch in the bit selected location of the RAM 30, thereby erasing the error code "F", before returning to step 96. On the other hand, if step 106 should not detect the presence of the error code "F", i.e., the error code "F" has been previously erased indicating that a second switch closure is now detected, step 108 stores an error message "E" in the bit select location, thereby indicating that two or more switch positions are closed. Such an error message indicates the existence of possible contact corrosion or the "hang-up" of the wiper arm of a decade switch between one position and the next, whereby in effect both positions are closed. In such cases, the error message "E" is detected by the microprocessor 20 and may be transmitted in the form of an error message to the interrogator unit 13 so that operator is informed that either the data matrix 22 or the ID matrix 24 should be inspected for possible repair or replacement.
Thus, there has been shown and described above, a transmission system or transmitter unit implemented by a digital computer and, in particular, by a microprocessor for scanning switch contacts to determine which of a plurality of switches has been closed. In an illustrative embodiment of this invention, the transmitter unit is designed to gather data from a utility meter and, in particular, a utility meter comprised of a series of index wheels, the positions of which indicate successive magnitudes of the utility to be metered. Each index wheel has a plurality of contacts and a wiper arm that is moved to contact one of the plurality of contacts, thus, closing a circuit through that contact indicative of the wheel position and of the quantity of utility consumed. The series of wheels is mechanically coupled to the utility meter and an indication of the accumulated utility is obtained by accessing each of the index wheels to determine which of the contacts is mated with the corresponding wiper arm. In one aspect of this invention, the contacts of the series of index wheels are coupled to outputs of the microprocessor and are sequentially scanned to determine which contact is closed and, therefore, the position of each index wheel and the accumulated utility consumed. The microprocessor is programmed to effect at least first and second scans of the index wheels and also of an identification matrix of rows and columns of conductors selectively connected to each other to uniquely identify the meter and its customer. In addition, an error code is used to determine the closure of a wiper arm with more than one contact of an index wheel indicating a faulty index wheel. In particular, an error code is placed into storage locations corresponding to each index wheel and, upon detection of switch closure, the corresponding contact location is accessed to determine the presence of the error code. If the error code is absent indicating a previous detection of contact closure for that index wheel, a fault manifestation is generated indicating that more than one contact of an index wheel is closed, thus, requiring repair or replacement thereof.
In a further aspect of this invention, the transmitter unit may be solely energized by a combination power/clock signal that is transmitted from an interrogator unit via a coupling mechanism illustratively in the form of a transformer to the transmitter unit, whereby the transmitter unit is actuated to access its series of index wheels to determine the accumulated utility. A message is formulated by the transmitter and is transmitted as a return data signal to the interrogator unit. The transmitter unit is energized solely by the power/clock signal and does not require an external power source or a battery. In particular, there is included a power circuit that is responsive to the power/clock signal to charge a storage element typically in the form of a capacitor, whereby the elements of the transmitter unit including the programmed microprocessor are energized. The power/clock signal comprises a serial train of pulses, each pulse having an initiating edge that is sensed by the microprocessor to initiate the program that formulates and transmits data as the data return signal to the interrogator unit. Illustratively, the train of pulses has a wave form or envelope with the pulse width between a consecutive falling and rising edge thereof selected to be of a sufficient width to permit transmission of a data bit of the return data message within that interval. In addition, the repetitive, initiating edge is selected to appear at a frequency to which the microprocessor may readily respond. The power/clock signal more specifically comprises a serial train of bursts of a relatively high frequency of a carrier signal; the carrier signal is generated with a sufficient high frequency to efficiently charge the capacitor of the power circuit.
In considering this invention, it should be remembered that the present disclosure is illustrative only and the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.
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|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jul 1, 1983
Owner name: ROCKWELL INTERTNATIONAL CORPORATION, PITTSBURGH, P
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text:
Bottom Line Maintenance & Repair
Review for Bottom Line Maintenance & Repair
Carolyn S. on 02/20/2016
Carolyn said the business is the best. They are honest, and she has family members that go there as well.
Vehicle: Buick LaCrosse
Category: Service
Service Date: 01/20/2016
Review Created: 02/20/2016
This review was collected via phone interview by Customer Research Inc.


text:
An icosahedron is a three-dimensional geometrical shape with twenty faces. Joseph Mikrut, who has a background in architecture, engineering, industrial design, web and print marketing, nutrition, detox/cleansing, herbal medicine, and business development, decided to turn this shape into a treehouse.
Twenty feet off the ground, the treehouse is suspended by cables strung between four trees, allowing it to sway in the breeze. With views of the mountains, the treehouse is located at the Rancho Delicioso eco-village in Costa Rica, which supports projects such as an experimental organic farming learning center and tropical green-building research.


text:
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text:
Designer:.Dragon / Armory:MadDragon Modifications
- 43 Views
- Last Post 22 July 2017
Flyabout Gen Dyn
Custom Level 1 / 2750
Inner Sphere Conventional
5 Tons
.Dragon MadDragon Modifications
Flyabout HMA (Heavy Metal Aero) File
Faction Availability
Class/Model/Name: General Dynamics Flyabout
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: Conventional Fighter
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Mass: 5 tons
Inner Sphere / 2750: Flyabout 1.0
Length: 7 meters
Power Plant: 45 Turbine
Safe Thrust: 9
Maximum Thrust: 14
Armor Type: Heat-resistant titanium
Armament:NoneManufacturer: General Dynamics Location: Terra FirmaCommunications System: GD-CTargeting & Tracking System: GD-S
The era of the Star League was a time known for its prosperity and its (relative) lack of wars. Civilians were able to afford newer and better vehicles and entertain themselves with luxuries unheard-of in the Successor States. One of the luxury vehicles of the Star League era was not particulary comfortable to sit in, had no built-in mini-bar or television, but was popular nonetheless. General Dynamics, a small civilian aircraft maker in existence for 700 years, had built the "Flyabout" using all of their institutional knowledge of fighter aircraft from the 20th to the 21st century and technology available to civilians during the Star League era.
The Flyabout is clearly not designed as a military fighter. Its only "armor" a titanium skin chosen for its heat-dissipation properties and it mounts no weaponry or bomb racks. However, the engine and fuel system takes up fully 80% of the Flyabout's mass, which means that it "kicks like a mule" even before the afterburners engage. Using its "supercruise" function, the Flyabout can achieve supersonic speeds without the use of afterburners. With supercruise, the Flyabout has a maximum linear acceleration of 4.5 Gs, more than many military fighters of the day utilizing their afterburners. At maximum acceleration with afterburners, the Flyabout can generate 7 Gs of linear acceleration. Customers are warned that any attempts at maneuvering at that acceleration can cause both airframe stress (and possible destruction) or even physical damage to the pilot due to high G forces. However, it is this very brute force that made the Flyabout so popular, as there is very little that the jet cannot do. To make the Flyabout even more agile (at the expense of stability), the wings have negative dihidral, or the wings cant downwards. This makes the Flyabout very prone to rolls and makes it more responsive to control stick input. For ease of use, the Flyabout is equipped with three lift fans that can lift its 5-ton mass off the ground vertically and and allow vertical landings. However, this mode of takeoff and landing is very challenging and a far safer method of lift-supplemented takeoff and landing reduces takeoff distances to 300 meters and landing to 150 meters.
Class/Model/Name: General Dynamics Flyabout
Mass: 5 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 45 Turbine 2.00
Structural Integrity: 9 .00
VSTOL Equipment: Equipped .50
Safe Thrust: 9
Maximum Thrust: 14
Heat Sinks: None .00
Fuel: 2.00
Cockpit & Avionics: .50
Armor Factor: 0 Standard .00
Armor Value
(Standard Scale)
Nose: 0
Left / Right Wings: 0 / 0
Aft: 0
Weapons & Equipment: Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 71,443 C-Bills
Battle Value: 30
Cost per BV: 2,381.42
Weapon Value: 0 (Ratio = .00)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 0; MRDmg = 0; LRDmg = 0; ERDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 9N, Armor/Structure: 0 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: -/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: FL, Point Value: 0
User Reviews
Nice little STOVL design. Personally I always prefered having anhedral wings, the stability is a bit nicer, especially with novice pilots flying the aircraft.
Overall an impressive little craft. Nice image also.
Buzzer LSV-5
Custom Level 1 / 2750
Inner Sphere VTOL
5 Tons
.Dragon MadDragon Modifications
Mass: 5 tons
Movement Type: VTOL
Power Plant: Tyron 25 Internal Combustion Engine
Cruising Speed: 162 kph
Flank Speed: 248.4 kph
Armor: ProtecTech Light
2 tons of modular space
(A) 2 MainFire Miniguns
(B) 2 Zippo Vehicular Flamers
(C) 1 SuperStreak SRM/2
Manufacturer: Cal-Boeing
Primary Factory: Dorwinion
Communications System: Achernar Standard
Targeting and Tracking System: IsBM Lantirn
The original plans for the LSV-5 small VTOLs date back to a Star League infantry force-multiplier program. The wars against the Periphery states required a new VTOL that could provide close-support to infantry during occupations. Although Battlemechs dominated the battles in those wars, the heart of the occupations in all but the hottest zones was infantry supported by combat vehicles. However, most infantry garrisons were stretched thin as the Star League's force allocation often lagged behind the insurgency's focus. By issuing a fast single-man vehicle with effective anti-personnel firepower, garrisons could hold out as 'Mech regiments moved to support them. After years of development, a revolutionary new VTOL, dubbed the LSV-5 (Light Support VTOL, five tons), arrived at the first garrisons. Troops began calling the small machine the "Buzzer," for both its rapid speed and ability to "buzz" enemy formations and also for its particular sound as it approaches due to its electrical drive and ducted fans. Today, the LSV-5s are still produced in small quantities by Cal-Boeing of Dorwinion, which has much experience with light VTOLs.
As a five-ton single-man craft, the Buzzer is, quick, agile, lightly armed, and lightly armored. However, against many irregular forces, the armor on the Buzzer is still capable of repelling most small-arms fire with impunity. The LSV-5's configuration is unique: the model uses paired ducted fans mounted along the center of gravity. These fans are easy to store along the sides of the aircraft and could angle to the optimal angle for low-speed manueverability. These fans are each powered by electric motors which in turn link to the Tyron 25 ICE powerplant. This configuration both minimizes noise and allows folding of the fans alongside the fuselage. Unfortunately, the mass of the fan drive motors counter the mass savings of not having a mechanical transmission. The engine and fuel tank are fitted in a hexagonal armored compartment behind the cockpit. The weapons system is mounted directly above the fan mountings, which in turn are directly behind the cockpit. The vehicles have a top speed of 162 KPH in most city-fighting situations, where they act much like hovercraft. Any speed over requires a fan tilt to such a degree that a small loss in altitude would be unrecoverable. At altitudes above 10 meters, it becomes safe to fly the Buzzer at speeds up to 248.4 KPH, fast enough to run down or avoid virtually any opponent. For movement during storage, the rear landing wheels are powered and can move the LSV over pavement or other smooth surfaces at 10.8 KPH. To save weight and complexity, the landing gear is fixed, which gives it a very low ground clearance. The current configuration utilizes off-the-shelf components from several other Cal-Boeing VTOLs, such as the Achernar Standard commset, the IsBM Lantirn targeting, and the ProtecTech Light armor.
The armament varies over three versions, creatively named the LSV-5A, -5B, and 5C. All three configurations mount a specialized turret over a one-ton ammunition bay. Changes between variants are possible in the field simply by reconfiguring the ammunition bin and replacing the turret. The most common version, the LSV-5A, mounts a pair of 7.62x51mm rotary cannon. These full-powered rounds promote ammunition interchangability with many infantry units and their high rate of fire makes them potent anti-infantry weapons. Their four rotating barrels allows the cannon to fire for extended periods, but dramatically limits their range: they can only fire accurately at targets less than 90m distant. The LSV-5B is popular among crowd-control units, which can use the weaponry equally well for intimidation and offense. This variant utilizes a pair of heavy flamethrowers fed by a one-ton combined fuel tank, which holds both a pressurizer (usually nitrogen) and the fuel itself. Again, this model is ineffective at ranges above 90m, but it is very effective below that point. Notably, some out-of-service LSV-5Bs have had their ammunition tanks filled with firefighting foam and been used as fast-reaction fire response units. The final configuration, the LSV-5C, is the anti-vehicle variant. Its twin-tube short-range missile rack sits above a 100-missile bin which can be filled with any of the standard SRM warhead variants. This version is rare, but very effective at destroying improvised combat vehicles.
Originally intended to be used as a light support vehicle attached to platoons to supplement their range, firepower, and perception, the LSV-5's roles have dramatically expanded. As a city-fighter, the Buzzer has been effective at seeking out and destroying defensive positions. The LSV-5C is popular among militias as an ambush unit both in and out of cities. The Buzzer is also a popular scout as either a slow hovercraft or a fast VTOL. The most unusual use for the Buzzer is as an orbital assault unit. The Free Worlds League, having a large stock of Star League and later-issue LSV-5s, designed an ablative reentry pod for the unique VTOL. As the ducted fans retract to flush with the body, the pod can break free at high altitude, the pilot can extend the fans, and the craft can fly before even hitting the ground. This capability is unique among vehicles, as most either cannot take the shock of landing or have rotors which do not easily fit in reentry pods.
Battle History
The history of the Buzzer is both long and undistinguished. Despite winning the hearts of many infantrymen and pilots, the Buzzer's profile is so severely limited by its short-ranged weapons mix and vulnerability that it rarely participates in missions significant enough to merit honorable mention. However, the case of Pilot Jon Mayers of the AFFS is a fairly typical case of the modern battles that the Buzzers fight. Mayer and his LSV-5B were attached to a platoon of AFFS infantry during the War of 3039. On Algedi, assaulting a secondary objective city, he and his platoon came under fire from a mortar unit too heavily dug in for any of the platoon to take and the supporting 'Mechs refused to enter the city due to troubles at the main objectives. Mayer, without orders, gunned the fans on his craft, moving it forward at more than 200KPH (exceeding the safety margin for his altitude) and was able to bring his flamers to bear on the enemy position. The flamethrowers incinerated the bunker, allowing the platoon to move forward. Had the Buzzer not been there, the city could not have been taken without far greater casualties.
Type: LSV-5 "Buzzer"
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Movement Type: VTOL
Tonnage: 5
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: 0.5
Engine: 25 1.0
Type: ICE
Cruising MP: 15
Flank MP: 23
Heat Sinks: 0 0
Control Equipment: 0.5
Lift Equipment: 0.5
Armor Factor: 8 0.5
Front 3
R/L Side 1/1
Rear 1
Rotor 2
Weapons and Ammo Location Tonnage
Machine Gun Front 0.5
Machine Gun Front 0.5
Ammo (MG) 200 Body 1.0
Flamer (Vehicle) Front 0.5
Flamer (Vehicle) Front 0.5
Ammo (Flamer) 20 Body 1.0
SRM 2 Front 1.0
Ammo (SRM) 50 Body 1.0
Cost (LSV-5A): 56,097 c-bills
User Reviews
5 Ironraven
Dragon, I thought I'd already reviewed this. This thing is scary fast, I love it. For a short range, high speed reaction vehicle this rocks. Battltech's answer to the Little Birds.
I'd love to see a utility version of this, with passanger/cargo space. A small number of seats, say 5-7, wouldn't add a huge amount of bulk, and you could upgrade the einge or the armour. A good SWAT or commando delivery vehicle, with these in support of it. It would be great for law enforcement.
That, or a commuter vehicle, without the weapons, the rest of that mass in engine. That could handle up to a class-65 ICE. Cruise speed of 23!!!! Flank would be 35. 378 kph sprints, just the thing for rush hour. Even with a half ton of cargo and passanger space (3 passangers and a trunk), you can still mount a class-60 engine.
5 Knightmare
Ditto Warhawk, an great design and extremely well written. The combo was a nice touch. Welcome back .Dragon!
very unique and fun. I can definitely see this thing skimming city streets.
5 Warhawk
A very cool design. I like the part about it working like both a hovercraft and a VTOL. Almost reminds me of an old seaplane/hovercraft that was rather short-lived, but I can't remember the name at the moment.
Great job with both the design and the fluff.
Marauder MAD-2R
Custom Level 2 / 2750
Inner Sphere Biped
75 Tons
.Dragon MadDragon Modifications
Faction Availability
Equipment Mass
Cockpit: Standard 3T
Engine: XL 375 19.5T
Gyro: Standard 4T
Walk: 5 MP
Run: 8 MP
Jump: 0 MP
Double Heat Sinks: 17 [34] 7T
15 in Engine
Internal Structure Armor
Standard Ferro-Fibrous
Tons 7.5 11
Head 3 9
Center Torso 23 30/10
L/R Torso 16 21/6
L/R Arm 12 20
L/R Leg 16 27
Battle Value: 0
C-Bill Cost: 0
Qty Weapons and Equipment Location Critical Tonnage
1 Medium Laser LA 1 1
1 Medium Laser RA 1 1
1 Double Heat Sink LT 3 1
1 Double Heat Sink RT 3 1
31 23
The MAD-2R Marauder is considered one of the most effective BattleMechs in existence. When first built by GM in the early 2600's, its unique design was intended as the precursor of a new generation of 'Mechs. With the fall of Star League, however, the other 'Mechs in the Marauder series remained on the drawing board. Although the Marauder is a common 'Mech today, many of its design elements remain unique.
Originally intended as a heavy attack/support 'Mech, the addition of sophisticated Dalban Micronics comgear enabled the Marauder to function as a command vehicle in areas of heavy fighting. It continues so today, with Marauders often appearing in command lances. Though its twin PPC arrangement is reminiscent of more traditional 'Mechs such as the Rifleman and the Warhammer, the Marauder's unique, more versatile ball-and-socket arm joints give it faster traverse rate and a greater field of fire. The Valiant Lamellor armor is another of the Marauder's singular features. Less massive and better able to distribute heat and kinetic energy than other armor types, the secret of its manufacture has been lost. In the present era, the Marauder is one of the few 'Mechs to use it. As blasted patches have to be replaced with conventional armor, some Marauders now resemble metallic patchwork quilts. The Magna Hellstar PPC's that provide the Marauder's main armament are of an advanced design, compact enough to be carried in the 'Mech's arms and durable enough to withstand the heavy shocks of hand-to-hand combat. The Marauder's secondary armament, a Magna Firestar Extended-Range PPC, provides a long-ranged punch to the 'Mech. However, its massive heat output and bulky design made it nearly impossible to mount in the Marauder's arms. Thus, only the spacious upper-torso housing was chosen as a Firestar model. The GM Corporation, when Magna lost the capabilities to make this advanced model of PPC, began installing their own GM Whirlwind Autocannon as a replacement. However, the quick redesign necessary left a legend of failures and linkage explosions that did not exist in the original Marauder. The 'Mech's unusual profile makes it a harder target than other manlike 'Mechs, but some design flaws occasionally plague Marauder pilots. The rotation ring between the chassis and the leg assembly is a frequent target, because a successful hit would disable the torso rotation drive. Numerous Marauders now bear improvised armor around these vulnerable areas. Another source of trouble is the Dalban HiRez tracking system located in the Marauder's forward section, which severely limits the operator's field of vision. These problems are comparatively minor, however. The Marauder remains a potent battlefield weapon. In addition to its command duties, the MAD-2R operates as a dangerous heavy-attack vehicle, outclassed only by 'Mechs such as the Stalker and the rare Battlemaster. Capable of shooting lighter 'Mechs to pieces and battling hand-to-hand with more heavily armored opponents, the Marauder is usually deployed in a heavy shock unit, along with Warhammers and Thunderbolts. Its PPCs also enable the 'Mech to lay down a long-range barrage before actual combat.
Configuration / Variants:
There are now five major variants of the durable and versatile Marauder. The "standard" model, the MAD-3R, replaces the Magna Firestar ERPPC with a GM Whirlwind Autocannon. It also trades in the GM 375 XL for an imported Vlar 300 standard engine. The double-chambered heat sinks were replaced with the engine, and more were added to cope with the immense amount of heat that the MAD-3R can put out. Finally, the Magna 400P Medium Lasers were replaced with the less complex Mark II models. Although this is a far inferior design to the original Marauder, this is the best that Inner Sphere technicians could do with the available building materials. The Marauder-3R serves as the "base" design for the other variants. House Davion's Marauder-D has dispensed with the troublesome autocannon altogether, replacing it and its vulnerable linkage with a heavy Magna Mark III laser. This modification is not without its problems. The addition of the laser had forced the removal of a heat sink, and the laser's high heat buildup occasionally limits the Marauder-D's effectiveness. Overheating and the lack of reliable PPCs have forced House Marik to replace the Marauder's characteristic twin PPCs with heavy lasers. The reduction in heat has, to some extent, compensated for the concurrent reduction in firepower, and so the Marauder-M is a widely used variant. A compromise between the two extremes is Liao's Marauder-L, which seems to have satisfied no one. Replacing one PPC with a heavy laser has caused problems, as the Dalban fire control system is sometimes unable to coordinate the two different weapons on the same circuit. Attempts to repair or modify the system have been unsuccessful, as no one alive understands the technology. Often, Marauder-L pilots will disconnect the heavy laser from the fire control unit altogether, and simply use a manual switch to shoot.
Battle History:
After the fall of Star League, the Marauder found ample employment in the hellish chaos of the Succession Wars. This common, dangerous 'Mech continues on the retinue of every Successor State. An early example of Successor State use of Marauders was in 2828 when Duchess Ilsa Liao sent Barton's Battalion of the 1st Regiment, McCarron's Armored Cavalry, against House Marik on Pella II. Barton's Battalion consisted of 90 Marauders massed together with 18 Warhammers. This experiment, tantamount to Duchess Liao placing all her eggs in one basket (House Liao possessed only a few hundred Marauders at this time, and Barton's unit represented a large portion of them), was a success. The Marauders annihilated the inferior 'Mechs placed in their way by the beleaguered Mariks, while losing only four of their number. Barton's Battalion continued to be extremely successful, until Marik forces, falling back on Graham VI, caught them in a gorge outside the city of Gijia. Realizing that they had finally cornered the infamous Major Barton, the Mariks threw two full battalions of Archers and Riflemen against him. Unable to close in on the Marik 'Mechs, and with their field of fire restricted by the rock walls and the Dalban optical system, the Liao Marauders withdrew with heavy losses. Realizing the value of her Marauders and the folly of concentrating them all in individual units, the Duchess dispersed Barton's battered 'Mechs to other units. Ilsa Liao's noble experiment has yet to be repeated on such a scale, but it is not uncommon for lances and companies to have a high number of Marauders.
User Reviews
And extrapolate is exactly what I intended to do. I also modified the TRO fluff slightly to fit my needs. Call it plagarism if you will. I don't see it that way.
Not to disparage your design, but you copied it completely from the original 3025 tech readout. The only new thing that you included was an extrapolated Star League version, but the rest is a simple plagarism of the original.
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