Hunt in Swarms

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

"With tensions high on the border, a new commander in Afghanistan, and complaints of civilian deaths from robotic U.S. strikes in Pakistan raising anti-American sentiment, the Air Force is sketching out concepts for new robotic hitmen, reports Esquire.com. Among the new drones (which are all very small) are the Suburb Warrior (loaded with four or five mini missiles for semi-urban environments), the Sniper targeting system ("that can lock on to multiple targets, allowing a single drone pilot to coordinate the attacks of a squadron of robots"), and a backup fleet of flying buggies that act as suicide-bomber snipers. From the article: "Picking through the dozens of systems in this briefing, many of which will be flight-tested within five years, there's a clear set of goals: build smaller, even microscopic drones with smaller weapons that can hunt in swarms and engage targets in the close quarters of urban battlefields. And hunt as soon as possible.""

Joeaksa · 06-17-2009, 05:42 PM

"Live by the sword, die by the sword." Hope that they reap what they sow....

m21sniper · 06-18-2009, 07:09 AM

Creating vast fleets of robotic killing machines specifically designed to kill human beings.

Brilliant.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

You guys ever read Dan Brown's Deception Point? He talks about a weapons system there that sounds kind of similar to these microscopic killer robots. There's also a section in the front of book that says every military gadget he mentions there is real and already in use. And that book is several years old. Dunno.

Tim Hancock · 06-18-2009, 07:26 AM

I often daydream about designing/building RC systems for the military, but then I wake up and realize every idea I come up with has already been thought up by someone else.

M.D. Holloway · 06-18-2009, 08:20 AM

Sure would clean up and collaterial damage issues. Would hate to see them catch a virus though.

Great way to carry out an assassination.

So what happens when the 'net' develops a conscience, decides that the human race is just plain silly and should be extinguished?

I'm getting off the grid...

m21sniper · 06-18-2009, 10:37 AM

The assassin bug is something that conspirasts go goofy over. They swear the US gov't uses them to take out it's opponents.

BTW, i agree with Lubemaster77 entirely. We need swarms of microscopic machines that can handily kill human beings like we need a hole in our head.

tabs · 06-18-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m21sniper

We need swarms of microscopic machines that can handily kill human beings like we need a hole in our head.

Acht Zoe..so thats how that hole got there...

tabs · 06-18-2009, 10:42 AM

Did I ever say they fly that stuff from right up the road form me...

m21sniper · 06-18-2009, 11:00 AM

I had a lockheed program manager carrying on in a discussion with me about the assasin bug a few months ago.

It was a pretty bizarre conversation.

M.D. Holloway · 06-18-2009, 02:07 PM

The rock changed warfare forever until the knife changed warfare forever until the spear changed warfare forever until the bow and arrow changed warfare forever, until the crossbow changed warfare forever until the gun/cannon changed warfare forever, until the rocket changed warfare forever until the airplane changed warfare forever until the tank changed warfare forever until chemical weapons changed warfare forever until the atom bomb changed warfare forever until biological warfare changed warfare forever until the UAV changed warfare forever...

As soon as we started removing ourselves from direct contact with those we want to kill, there became no difference by which to carry out the wet work.

kycarguy 935 · 06-18-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I often daydream about designing/building RC systems for the military, but then I wake up and realize every idea I come up with has already been thought up by someone else.

Tim I use to work in the hobby business in Southern California for about 9 years. One of my customers was the US Navy. Back in the 80's they were buying remote control units along with the engines for drones. It was amazing to hear and learn about at the time.

One of the other companies that was a customer of mine was the company that build the underwater robot that eventually found the remains of the Titanic.

Another company I sold unique parts to was working along with one of the military branches to develop some sort of strange thing like lazer eye surgery. I guess we all know how that one turned out.

The special effects companies? That is a whole other thread.