A future for drones: Automated killing

By EmmaZahn on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 1:26pm |

One afternoon last fall at Fort Benning, Ga., two model-size planes took off, climbed to 800 and 1,000 feet, and began criss-crossing the military base in search of an orange, green and blue tarp.

The automated, unpiloted planes worked on their own, with no human guidance, no hand on any control.

After 20 minutes, one of the aircraft, carrying a computer that processed images from an onboard camera, zeroed in on the tarp and contacted the second plane, which flew nearby and used its own sensors to examine the colorful object. Then one of the aircraft signaled to an unmanned car on the ground so it could take a final, close-up look.

Target confirmed.

This successful exercise in autonomous robotics could presage the future of the American way of war: a day when drones hunt, identify and kill the enemy based on calculations made by software, not decisions made by humans. Imagine aerial “Terminators,” minus beefcake and time travel.

URL:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/a-future-for-drones-automated-killing/2011/09/15/gIQAVy9mgK_print.html

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Open the pod door, Hal

I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that...

by jollyroger on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 2:26pm

Scary.

Scarier: Did you read the part about facial recognition applications? Take out a couple of lines of software and imagine the genocidal possibilities.

by EmmaZahn on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 2:35pm

ALL HUMANS LOOK ALIKE. ALL HUMANS ARE ILLOGICAL. ALL HUMANS MUST BE ELIMINATED.

by Verified Atheist on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 2:42pm

Too funny.

by EmmaZahn on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 2:43pm

There's a sci fi short story like that. A humanoid robot is sent to eliminate political strongmen - anyone with a great deal of personal power. Upon his return, he decides that now his creators have a great deal of personal power.

by Donal on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 2:47pm

There are probably hundreds if not thousands of sci-fi stories using the same trope. The Terminators e.g. as the article notes. I was reminded of a movie about a bullet drone keyed to personal DNA, Gene Simmons was the villain; Tom Selleck, the hero. Cannot recall the title.

by EmmaZahn on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 2:53pm

I'd watch that movie if Richard Simmons were the villain.

by Verified Atheist on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 2:54pm

Really?! Hmmmm.

Richard with a gun is a scary thought but Gene is more menacing.

by EmmaZahn on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 5:18pm

I'm picturing him wielding a knife intoning, "A slice becomes a slab becomes a slob."

by Verified Atheist on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 7:58pm

Hmm. Can't get embedded video to work, but here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1BdQcJ2ZYY&feature=related

Flight of the Conchords

Affirmative. I touched one. It was dead.

by Red Planet on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 3:27pm

Can't get embedded video to work

Mr. Wolraich, white courtesy phone please, paging Mr. Khan, G. Khan, to admin. kiosk asap.

That is to say, I'm delighted I'm not the only one...

by jollyroger on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 10:43pm

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