Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

What's It Like To Pilot a Drone? a Bit Like Call of Duty

Posted by Soulskill on from the make-it-like-minecraft-and-you've-got-yourself-a-soldier dept.

Velcroman1 writes "Teenagers raised on Call of Duty and Halo might relish flying a massive Predator drone — a surprisingly similar activity. Pilots of unmanned military aircraft use a joystick to swoop down into the battlefield, spot enemy troop movements, and snap photos of terror suspects, explained John Hamby, a former military commander who led surveillance missions during the Iraq War. 'You're always maneuvering the airplane to get a closer look,' Hamby said. 'You're constantly searching for the bad guys and targets of interest. When you do find something that is actionable, you're a hero.' Yet a new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found real-life drone operators can become easily bored. Only one participant paid attention during an entire test session, while even top performers spent a third of the time checking a cellphone or catching up on the latest novel. The solution: making the actual drone mission even more like a video game."

5 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Death becomes acceptable, doesn't it? by siddesu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There is no guilt. The "enemy" is no longer people, but pixels rendered in false colour. No need to justify or otherwise rationalize murder. Neat. Welcome to the Ender's game.

    1. Re:Death becomes acceptable, doesn't it? by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How quickly we forget the lessons learned on September 11th, 2001.

      And what lesson is that?

      Take repeated intelligence reports from your allies seriously?
      Bother to read and take heed of reports entitled "Bin Ladin plans to attack within the US" that detail planned use of aircraft?

      Ohh -- I'm sorry, I forgot.. we're all supposed to shove our heads up our ass and run around in fear while the US Government takes away more and more of our rights every time they say boo.

    2. Re:Death becomes acceptable, doesn't it? by couchslug · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Death was ALWAYS acceptable, done up close and personal.

      Have some Kampuchea, Rwanda, the Holocaust, etc.

      Also, "cannons" called, citing prior art.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    3. Re:Death becomes acceptable, doesn't it? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

      At least you're out on a field where the other guy can shoot back, not in a cozy armchair,

      Close contact with the enemy does not make one dispassionate, and less likely to commit war crimes. It is exactly the opposite. A grunt on a patrol probably hasn't slept more than a few hours in the last week. He is hungry, and tired. His whole body aches with fatigue and itches with bug bites. His canteens are empty and his eyes sting with sweat turned to brine. Just yesterday he saw his best friend get his foot blown off by by a "toe popper". You think he is going to make more ethical life and death decisions than a well-rested, well-fed operator in an air conditioned van in Nevada who is having his every decision recorded? The depersonalization of war is a GOOD THING. Mistakes are still made, but we do not see any intentional atrocities like we did at My Lai, or No Gun Ri.

  2. Re:No Motivation to End the War by jbeaupre · · Score: 4, Insightful

    His point was that people cared about the wars and pushed for them to end when there was a republican president. People don't seem to care as much now with a democrat as president.

    You may or may not agree, but it is an interesting way of looking at things.

    --
    The world is made by those who show up for the job.