When it all goes wrong?

That is indeed the case- all units in a train carry the SelTrac equipment.

I'm still confused by the DLR. Does it run automatically and is operated remotely/by computers, or is the guy on the train really necessary for driving the things?

And if it's the former, how does it manage to account for things like wind-resistance or different levels of friction on the tracks to make sure it stops at the right times?

'McGuinness

They are known as PSA's.

Everything I'm about to say refers to when I was a huge enthusiast of the DLR in my younger teenage years, So things may have changed.

When DLR trains stop at a station the doors automatically open. The PSA then uses a control panel which are situated by every door on the train, to close the doors. There is one button marked 'COD' (Close Other Doors) and another marked 'CTD' (Close This Door) and another marked 'ROD' (Re-open Other Doors). PSA's will close all the other doors then once closed they will close the door they are using. Once all doors have closed and the train is RTD, the train will automatically depart.

Alternatively PSA's can use the EDP at the front but this is only really allowed between West India Quay & Crossharbour (that's why you will never see a PSA using the EDP at Poplar) barring certain circumstances. When using the EDP PSA's have to press the Close button which closes all the doors unlike the door panel. They then press the start button. They can also reopen all the doors from here, providing they haven't pressed the start button yet.

Any more questions I'd be happy to answer them, I haven't lost my DLR knowledge just yet ;D

the doors will automatically close after about 2 minutes, but passengers can reopen them until the PSA closes/locks them remotely.
The train cannot depart until the PSA gives the train permission, either from a doorway or at the front (which can be used everywhere if needed).
Whether the trains could be programmed to operate entirely automatically I don't know.

Do they? You may well be correct but I've never heard that anywhere else and as a regular DLR user have not really noted that. I have however been on trains where the PSA has been aware of a delay so has closed the doors but then immediately pressed the 'Re-open Other Doors' button. And I've also been on trains where the train has been held for 5 minutes or more and the doors have not closed.

As for full automation, I guess there would be a H&S issue (how would the automated system know that everyone had alighted or boarded the train for instance?) and what would happen if the automated system broke down and the train had to be driven manually? Also don't forget that the PSA is responsible for revenue protection.

I expect the doors were closed by the PSA, then re-enabled (ROD) again. They often do this just to keep the heat in during the Winter - they are not the warmest of trains to sit on, especially at those dizzy high up stations with the wind blowing a gale. I am not aware of any timer as such - if there is its a recent new modification, but I suspect its the PSA doing it.

This is an excellent point. DLR trains have a tendency to stop in the wrong place especially during bad weather and if a DLR train is not perfectly docked (above the marker) the doors will not open. The PSA has to go the EDP at the front and manually shunt it forward onto the docking marker.