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US Navy Researchers Get Drones To Swarm On Target

Posted by Soulskill on from the teaching-skynet-how-to-kill-us dept.

coondoggie writes: The Office of Naval Research today said it had successfully demonstrated a system that lets small-unmanned aircraft swarm and act together over a particular target. The system, called Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) features a tube-based launcher that can send multiple drones into the air in rapid succession. The systems then use information sharing between the drones, allowing autonomous collaborative behavior in either defensive or offensive missions, the Navy said.

11 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Chewie by MrKaos · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've got a bad feeling about this!

    --
    My ism, it's full of beliefs.
  2. Smaller Is Better by JimSadler · · Score: 2

    Imagine a swarm of baseball size drones all seeking to fly into the air intake of enemy jet engines. One chunk of titanium rod inside the drone should make a real mess out of a spinning engine.

    1. Re:Smaller Is Better by jklovanc · · Score: 2

      The problem with conventional missiles is that if they miss, and they miss a lot, they are expended. A drone can hang around and attack the next aircraft coming by.

    2. Re:Smaller Is Better by oodaloop · · Score: 2

      I guess you remembered your Charlemagne: "Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky..."

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    3. Re:Smaller Is Better by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      Motorcycles are faster than dogs, yet many people get injured by dogs intercepting a motorcycle.

      I am thinking you did not take physics and algebra classes to learn about trajectories and interception.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. We're all in the field of PR by recharged95 · · Score: 2, Informative

    “This level of autonomous swarming flight has never been done before,” said Mastroianni. “
    I beg to differ. Some groups I know of have been doing this (with vehicle to vehicle communication) since 2012.

    1. Re:We're all in the field of PR by jklovanc · · Score: 2

      Citation needed.

  4. Re:They should use these... by amiga3D · · Score: 3, Informative

    Idiot. Why do you fools keep buying into that nonsense? There is only one party in Washington, the money party. It shows two faces to make foolish morons like you think they have a choice.

  5. Re:What about jamming by Needs2BeSaid · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The military is way ahead of you: http://www.slashgear.com/darpa...

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    Some things need to be said...
  6. That's called a beacon by Overzeetop · · Score: 2

    There's nothing like a good, strong RF+IR signal to home in on for pinpoint accuracy.

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    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  7. Applications by Translation+Error · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All the comments about killing machines aside, it sounds like these could be of great benefit in search & rescue and fire fighting.

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    When someone says, "Any fool can see ..." they're usually exactly right.