Fit to Fight Armed with precision-guided bombs and missiles, the Reaper MQ-9 is the deadliest war drone yet. Here, it sits on the flight line at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. Lance Cheung/U.S. Air Force Photo A software company CEO who is trying to train drones to think like pilots promises he is not producing a cadre of mutinous rebel aircraft. He just wants to prevent collisions between drones and human-powered airplanes.
Last summer, we told you about an Air Force program that seeks algorithms that would allow drones to predict other airplanes’ intent. This is ostensibly to avert disaster — if a drone can anticipate a pilot’s next maneuver, it will know to get out of the way.
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Air Force Wants Drones That Can Sense Other Airplanes' Intent
When Drones Go Rogue In Friendly Skies, How Do We Bring Them Home?TagsTechnology, Rebecca Boyle, air force, drones, FUTURE OF weapons, military, mq-9 reaper, predator, uav, unmanned aerial vehicles, warfareIt seems logical — think of driving on the highway, and how you can sometimes just feel when the guy in the SUV next to you is about to merge into your lane.
Dick Stottler’s company, Stottler Henke Associates, is working on a software package that can help drones learn how to anticipate other aircraft's actions. The firm recently won a $100,000 Air Force contract to develop its Intelligent Pilot Intent Analysis System, which models pilots’ behavior in real and predicted scenarios, according to Danger Room.
The program models how piloted airplanes take off, maneuver and land, incorporating information from air traffic control and runway-specific data, Danger Room reports. The information will help the drones build human pilot profiles, telling them how to react when two planes get too close. The algorithm can even handle a damaged plane or a troubled aircraft, whose behavior might deviate from normal models.
But Stottler acknowledges the algorithm can’t predict errant pilot behavior. What about errant drone behavior? Is Stottler teaching drones to disobey their human masters?
“No, I am not,” Stottler promises.
It is not clear whether the aircraft will become aware and figure this out for themselves. If so, at least we can rely upon the rogue drone corps.
[Danger Room]
Previous Article: Atomic Gardens, the Biotechnology of the Past, Can Teach Lessons About the Future of FarmingNext Article: SpaceX Will Send Humans To Mars In the Next 10 to 20 Years 15 Comments Link to this comment Navy1270 04/22/11 at 6:10 pmOk, but if this thing is going against a fighter or interceptor, this thing is toast, despite the fact that it can think. I'm sure the survivability rate increases, but if it learns to fly like Maverick, the thing won't be coming back from any missions any time soon. But really, the thing is just for avoiding collisions anyway.
Link to this comment drchuck1 04/23/11 at 1:07 pmthis will be incorporated into all drones so they can fly in any airspace, but it will also alow them to fly together, a huge increase in capability, hopefully they will like their creators
Link to this comment JediMindset 04/24/11 at 6:31 pmcool. i guess this is a good thing. unless they find a way to go against their creators.
Link to this comment
gizmowiz 04/24/11 at 8:01 pm Obviously not well enough to meet Pakistan's requirements to stay from their Al Queda members!
Link to this comment millenniumparty 04/25/11 at 4:03 amThe only way to solve world problems is with math and science
Millenniumparty.org
Link to this comment boka 04/25/11 at 8:26 amI'm getting sick that American military war machine keeps pumping our stuff that murders civilians. When amerikkka kills everyone who do think they will turn the war machines on next? Amerikkkan civilians.
Link to this comment Delkomatic 04/25/11 at 8:45 am@boka
Nor sure if the miss spellling of America is supposed to.an insult but i leave you with these fine qoutes " America Fuck Yeah!" And "Freedom cost a buck 'o five". Btw you sir are the worst kind of hate breading douche go troll on a nom science site we dont care foe your rants here.
Sorry bout the typos but i think i got what i was trying to say across on my cell at work.
Link to this comment
Aldrons Last Hope 04/25/11 at 1:10 pm @boka, I agree, these drones will be used against the american civilians sometime in the future.
Link to this comment combatko 04/25/11 at 3:07 pmSo... Every American citizen is a member of the KKK? Maybe I've been hooked by a troll, but that seriously pisses me off.
Up yours, Boka.
Link to this comment combatko 04/25/11 at 3:16 pmYou know, I also resent the implication that if these things were to be released upon unsuspecting civilians in our country, that it would be some kind of poetic justice.
In this world, it takes strength to survive. That doesn't mean that you have to use it, just possess it. But we NEED the capability to defend ourselves, or we will lose our way of life; a way of life that hundreds of thousands of Americans have already died for. I can't believe that some people (I'm looking at you, Boka. You too, Aldron.) would actually want civilians of one country to pay for the mistakes of other governments.
I don't know - or care - where you come from, but here in America we do our best, dammit. We might not be everything that we should be, but America is still the greatest damn country on God's Green Earth.
I guess all I'm really trying to say is what I've already said: "Up yours, Boka," with the addendum of, "You're a real douche."
Link to this comment ThisNameTaken 04/25/11 at 4:15 pm"There was a time when battles could be won and lost with the mere push of a button, and these mobile dolls (AKA DRONES) are the absolute root of that detestable and hateful spirit."
"When wars are dehumanized, both victory and defeat become miserable, and God no longer lends a helping hand."
"A war with no civility can only give rise to massacres...that's why all the previous battles on the earth have been so tragic."
"Tradition is a history. It's a history of caring built by deep true feelings of people. I do believe that fighting in battles can at times be beautiful. But at the same time, I'd like to express my regret over the lost souls by appealing to you to recognize how priceless man's life is. I believe what mankind needs is not absolute victory but a certain demeanor in fighting, an attitude toward fighting. I fear that the era of the soulless weapons called mobile dolls (AKA DRONES), in other words, the era that the Romefeller Foundation is creating, may become an embarassment to the people of the future."
-Treize Khushrenada, Gundam Wing
Link to this comment Aldrons Last Hope 04/25/11 at 4:59 pm @combatko I didn't say that it would be poetic justice when these drones are turned on the american public. It is really ironic though cause it's your tax dollars that is paying for this.
I hope I'm wrong cause I have a lot of family and friends in the states...but did you ever read the Patriot Act? You should give it a go...these things will be turned on the public at some point.
I would also like to say the pre-2001...I could look at all of these cool invetions, & know that if any sinister commie were to invade or declare war they would lose. But now the purpose of these machines are not to defend...but to kill, and in most cases kill innocent people, and in many cases peope that are fighting for their freedom, and in many cases 3rd world people that have nothing to do with the U.S...excet they are living on an oil field.
And also by saying the U.S is the best country on earth, you are proving boka right cause that's KKK mentality. There's nothing wrong with loving your country, but when you go as far as to say "we are the best"...you are implying that there is a pecking order. And even your own constitution says 'All men are created equal"...Not all"American men are created equal"
Link to this comment Navy1270 04/25/11 at 5:54 pmEveryone!, Nothing will be used against anyone that's not military. This is a full fledged military tool used against terrorists not civilians. Whenever a stray missile hits some civilian house, you people take it seriously like it's a big deal. "Oh, America is such a shame, they killed those poor civilians on purpose." I don't want any of that, ok? It's fights like these that really make me angry.
Link to this comment Navy1270 04/25/11 at 5:59 pmAnd I admit, killing isn't right, but when something like this happens, you guys always blame it on America. What about UK or France. They are participating in the war too. You people make me sick.
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