Robot Software

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Robot Software

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

SSC Guru

Points: 736212
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August 25, 2006 at 5:12 pm

#172211

Robot Software
This was kind of funny, at least for someone whose car was not trapped by a robot. Apparently a software license expired and trapped hundreds of cars in New Jersey a couple weeks ago. The city of Hoboken got into a contract dispute with the company that built the software that runs it. While this dispute was ongoing, the license ran out and the cars were trapped in the structure. Talk about some leverage.
The city didn't realize that the software is kind if important in ensuring that the robot can park the cars efficiently, and more importantly, retrieve them from the slots in which they are stored. Unlike a vending machine, robotic tape backup machine, or many other types of robot storage devices, cars aren't so easily removed if the robot breaks.
But more importantly than the planning for robot issues is the impact that software licensing had here. This was a relatively unimportant case. I know it was a hassle, but no one's car was damaged, just locked up for a few days. Can you imagine the situation if a hospital got into a dispute over it's software? Or an traffic control software company?
There are lots of potential places where software licensing can cause serious issues as more and more departments responsible for infrastructure are not building or maintaining the complete infrastructure. Software gets increasingly more complex and while I don't think either government or corporations should be able to hold the other hostage for contract purposes in public support areas, both deserve the chance to address their grievances somehow.
I hate to see the courts involved, but they might need to be in some cases. More likely I'd guess that we'll see more and more corporate disputes handled through arbitration just like many retail disputes are now.
Steve Jones
August 28, 2006 at 8:00 am

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Sarah Norton Newbie Points: 7 More actions · Answer 1

I know what you mean! I used to work for a company that did police/fire/ambulance dispatching software. You can't exactly hold 911 hostage, but a vendor still deserves to be paid...

Rudyx - the Doctor SSC-Forever Points: 43695 More actions · Answer 2

Caveat Emptor <period>

RegardsRudy KomacsarSenior Database Administrator"Ave Caesar! - Morituri te salutamus."

Aaron Akzin Grasshopper Points: 17 More actions · Answer 3

I've worked for a few software vendors that made programs for the health care industry. It was always policy to support a health care facility when patient care was in question. Unfortunately, a number of hospitals were aware of this fact and took advantage of it on occasion.

Mike Dougherty Ten Centuries Points: 1112 More actions · Answer 4

Why wasn't this failure mode disclosed? It seems obvious to me that properly designed software could have allowed retrieval without allowing storage after the license expiration. It is simply abusive to inconvenience the 3rd party car owners because of a dispute over licensing that does not involve them.