When reading the article I thought This sounds like genetic Beano for Cows. For those not familiar with Beano tablets quote. beano® Tablets contains a natural enzyme that breaks down the complex carbohydrates found in many foods, making them easier to digest so they don't cause gas.*

I have two XigmaNas (free) Servers (formerly FreeNAS). Both have older quadcore mini ITX Motherboards with 8GB RAM each. I use Sata cards and do not use motherboard sata ports. Both use Intel dual port gig NICS since MB's are old. One server is 6x3TB and second is 8x8TB. Both run ZFS Raid with UPS power. ZFS is pretty robust.. Both boot from SD cards so all hard drives are used. Xigmas has lots of features and customization. There is a bit of a learning curve at first but Xigma support is good. Web management console makes managing servers easier although I sometimes SSH in to do some tasks.

Originally wrote for Raspberry PI but can also be run on other platforms. I am retired and just wrote as a fun coding project. I realize this is blatant self promotion. Just a demonstration of a simple opencv motion tracking for those that want to see code. https://github.com/pageauc/spe...

My 96 Dodge RAM cummins diesel truck does not have any computer chips to control engine. Just a few chips in the paint. It is possible to make vehicles with no computer chips RoadKill style. Fuel prices are certainly lower these days.

Everytime I hear of disputes over software and applications. Hacking, Apps, Crypto, Github banning, media control, Etc. I think this must be another skirmish in the Code Wars. I guess the future is here.

Best journalistic practice needs to use alternatives wording..

Seems to me you could accomplish thermo nuclear capable explosion(s) using a large kinetic weapon or by redirecting a space rock to the poles. This would eliminate radiation hazard. You would need to provide a heat shield to avoid burning up in the atmosphere. May I should make T-Shirts for this alternative method. ROCK MARS ...

When the article mentioned launching an electric drive, I was hoping it would be an EMDrive since they did some testing and validation of Roger Shawyer's impossible microwave in a coffee can drive, but looks like it is just an ion drive that is going up. Guess we will have to wait for Cannae Inc cubesat http://www.popularmechanics.co... or Roger's version that maybe the military has already send into space. Who knows.

So I drive a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel Truck with 450,000+ km that runs reliably and gets good mileage without a computer. If I park it in an area that does not seem safe I attach a club to the steering wheel. This is old school but no one is going to hack it with a laptop. Maybe get in with a bar along the window to unlock the door but not much to take. or steal.

I agree that a sensor to measure speed/distance, connected to an arduino would do the job if you could position it near the road. The arduino solution would still need a computer to save and display data, trigger a camera for speed photo, Etc. Monitoring remotely using only a camera needs a bit more. At least the RPI can do all of the imaging, data processing, display as well as being able to communicate with the internet and other devices. Attaching a speed/distance sensor to the RPI would work as well. The arduino solution would be hard pressed to do this without the help of another computer attached in some way.

Last summer I wrote a python opencv program for a Raspberry Pi computer and Pi camera module. This monitors in real time. It has a lower fps due the hardware capability but does work Ok when calibrated for the distance. Here is my YouTube video https://youtu.be/eRi50BbJUro github repo is here https://github.com/pageauc/mot.... This was just done for fun after reading a forum article on the subject.

The location is mentioned at the bottom of the first page of this article Quote from Article "As part of the Proposed Action, SpaceX proposes to construct a vertical launch area and a control center area. The proposed vertical launch area site is currently undeveloped and is located directly adjacent to the eastern terminus of Texas State Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard) and approximately 3 miles north of the Mexican border on the Gulf Coast. It is located approximately 5 miles south of Port Isabel and South Padre Island. At the vertical launch area, the new facilities required would include: an integration- and processing-hangar, a launch pad and stand with its associated flame duct, propellant storage and handling areas, a workshop and office area, and a warehouse for parts storage." https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/04/10/2012-8556/office-of-commercial-space-transportation-notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact If you look at the area on google maps you will see an private area north of the park that fits the description

I believe the correct location is Boca Chica State Park, Brownsville, TX, United States Not Boca Rica I have cycled in this park and would be interested in the exact siting location. The article is a little light on details. I look forward to seeing launches.