Just had to jump back to this comment to make a correction. A PLC is not AI, in any definition of the word. Quite the opposite. PLC stands for Programable Logic Controller. As in pre-programed logic that the machine controls. There's no decision making going on. The PLC's role is to take inputs and convert them into outputs. For example, if A = B then allow C.
Using the block break example, all the PLC is doing is constantly checking to see if all the parameters are correct for allowing the train into the next section. If yes then it precedes. If no it shuts the system down.
That's why they are are excellent from a safety perspective to run rides. Unlike a computer that is capable of AI they won't deviate from a pre-programed sequence.
When we talk about PLC's "talking to each other" all that is being referred to is 2 or more PLC's running the same checks, which are synced together to confirm they are seeing the same inputs. No intelligence going on.
AI is one of those buzz words of the last 10 years that has had its meaning stretched way beyond what it really is. The way AI is described in DistortAMG's second paragraph is correct, but that's not just the modern meaning of AI, that's what it has always been.
The main point I was making, was the word AI has been used Interchangeably for many, many decades and there is a clear distinction between the artifical intelligence in a PLC or calculator to the AI that we associate with the word today.
The definition of a PLC according to one of the biggest industry players.
"A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is a robust computer designed for industry that contains the logic and rulesets that make intelligent decisions to control automatic manufacturing production and processes."
It was over a decade ago now that we saw an abstract paper written that outlined a new level of intelliengece into PLC's, most modern PLCs now, over a decade later incorporte very similar things as outlined in the paper below.
I'm sorry but we will have to agree to disagree, there is a level of AI in PLCs, it is not the same as the AI that powers your Siri. But PLCs can make intelligent decisions, it needs to in order to operate a block system. That said, the intelligence is not great enough for it to learn and develop, but there is a level of intelligence there. Something the industry also agree on.
One more quote,
"PLCs are compact, yet powerful, automation devices which actively monitor input signals from various sources, including drives. The PLC uses this data to make intelligent real-time decisions that can guide the actions of these drives. This results in more reliable, cost-efficient operation of the application they control."
The "intelliengece" that is being referred to is not natural, it is man made, artifical, aka AI. Any intelligence in a computer is artifical. Doesn't matter if that intelliengece comes from the ladder logic we see in PLCs or neural networks seen for things like Siri. Intelligence doesn't mean it can learn and grow. It doesn't have to do that to be intelligent. Would you not agree?
I still maintain PLCs do have a level of intelligence. It's not much intelligence but it's there for sure. Without it, it wouldn't work as a PLC.
To be fair I think we are referring to the same thing just I call it AI, you don't. I am only naming it as the industry names it.
themeparkguide.co.uk
