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Description
The programme examines some typical systems engineering problems which have arisen in the BART system.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: TD342, Systems performance: human factors and systems failures
Item code: TD342; 06
First transmission date: 09-05-1976
Published: 1976
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:24:30
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Producer: Andrew Millington
Presenter: Ronald John Beishon
Contributors: Bill Rhine; Tony Venturato; Ray Carroll; Don Evans
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Automatic train control system; Electromagnetic interference; Manufacturing stage; Simple remedy; Systems engineering problems; Uncoupling cars; University of California at Berkeley; Wayside control boxes
Footage description: Bill Rhine (BART Director of Engineering) introduces the programme with a brief discussion on the nature of systems engineering. John Beishon uses an animation to discuss, very briefly, safeguards against unexpected failures which should be built into a system. He introduces a classic example of failure to do this from the BART system - the problems which arose during the jogging of BART rolling stock. Film shots of a BART car being 'jogged'. Tony Venturato (BART Senior Engineer) explains and demonstrates the design fault on the hortling panel of a BART car which caused the motor reverser to blow up under certain conditions during jogging. John Beishon uses an animated diagram to illustrate the nature of this problem. Venturato then goes underneath a BART car to relate the diagram to the motor system. John Beishon and Tony Venturato examine a further problem which was caused by a poor solution to the jogging problem - welding of the power brake contact in the 'on' position, thereby not allowing the reverser to be activated. Beishon sums up the two problems above with the aid of an animated diagram. Venturato, inside a BART car, explains the solutions for these two problems which the BART engineers finally came up with. John Beishon, over shots of BART cars being coupled and an animation, introduces a problem area, encountered by BART, due to misconceived systems boundaries. Ray Carroll (BART maintenance Director) gives two specific examples of problems which occurred because of this misconception. John Beishon, with the aid of animated diagrams, outlines another case where, in the BART system, a modification of a low level function interferes seriously with a vital function. In this case a fault in a minor circuit caused the train to come to a stop. Tony Venturato, inside a BART car, takes up the story. He explains the engineering details of the above problem and points out how it could have been avoided. John Beishon and Don Evans (Univ. of California Consultant) discuss a technique - failure mode analysis, which was used to detect some of the more intransigent problems of BART. They examine the application of this technique to a specific sub-system, the computer augmented block system (CABS) . Shots of a BART station, tracks and trains. John Beishon (V/O various shots of the BART system) sums up.
Master spool number: 6HT/72223
Production number: 00525_5241
Videofinder number: 760
Available to public: no