Drone swarms. Why we should pay attention.

What are drone swarms and why might they matter?

A mob of them is on the hunt in a mock US city. 🏙️

The American military's research and development unit set up the fake urban area to experiment with hundreds of unmanned systems.

[daviddenley]

Even if a drone was completely destroyed in the process then it could still be seen as a cheap method of assassination with no Risks to the operator.

[jsmythib]

From what I have seen from drone tech, specifically fpv- I would be forced to assume the face of war has changed completely. Totally. I need a defensive swarm I can call to protect me, or carry me away. If I need it :)

[ksun]

Ukraine is a great example of drones playing their part in war. Dropping bombs on soldiers with no risk to the user, costing less than 2000 dollars

[GSpotter]

If the purpose of the drone is to slam into something and destroy it then long term survivability and recharging is no longer an issue.

[robc]

This is the tip of the ice berg. Imagine how many China could build fast with their manufacturing capability

[black_site_media]

BBC Radio 4 had a very frank and in depth conversation by Stuart Russel looking at Autonomous drone warfare and the even more dangerous threat of AI… Covering not on only the technological implications but also the ethical and what could go wrong.

[stoufer]

some kind of scrambling system and then a baseball bat may be of assistance

[rileyuktv]

Having added Semtex to each drone it’s a small upgrade add some AI to identify targets …

[flamingsmore]

I mean the new Tempest designed jet, is suppose to be able to control drone swarms. I believe it was said,

[MrKuemmelbrot]

Drone swarms: im gonna get you!
Me: puts up a regular net.

[romeojames]

Massive nettings will catch them from all directions high and low or use an EMP pulse

[WizardOfCheese]

frightening. that said, what about air-to-air recharging? or air-drop induction charging stations?

[DP-hyvh]

Equip the drone swarm with explosives and they could be used to take out enemy missile launch sites before they have a chance to launch. They simply attach themselves to the missile and blow up or detonate nearby.

[skycatu.k]

All this latest stuff and new tech they bring outs all well n good till 'they' start using it against us 😔

[johnmay]

A modern version of a punt gun would take them out.

[henryp.]

Imagine 10, 000 of these mass produced quickly and cheaply and released into cities...scary. And this is only the beginning they will get much smaller closer to fly sized eventually....will able to inject poison or detonate at targets.

[rebellion]

Maybe we could do with more agile and quicker ‘kill vehicle’ versions of these protecting our carrier group?

[seankingwell]

smoke and fire in the area forces drones to go too high to see anything or go low, where they are easier to take strategy but yeah crazy time right.

[goodquestion]

They already have autonomous drones with facial recognition equipped with a small charge which detonates on impact ...

[paulsholar]

Countermeasure .. fly defensive drones that lift large, stationary, vertical nets