Drone Swarms: A Brave New World
In what could be thought of as a supplemental chapter to Aldous Huxley’s dystopian “Brave New World,” the WSJ discusses the first known routine use of “swarm tech” in combat: the use of Artificial Intelligence in Ukraine’s war with Russia. Thanks to AI, Ukraine can allow groups of drones to coordinate with each other to attack Russian positions.
Will the burgeoning swarm technology be the harbinger of the future of battle?
What is Swarm Technology
Swarm technology represents the next frontier for drone warfare. The technology, as reported in the WSJ, has the potential to allow several or even thousands of drones (swarms) to be concentrated to overwhelm the defense of a target, whether it’s a city or an individual military asset.
The Vanguard of Drone Warfare
This isn’t the first time Ukraine has used this strategy on the battlefield. For much of the past year, according to senior Ukrainian officials and a representative of the company responsible for making the software, these previously unreported attacks are the first known routine use of swarm technology in combat, underscoring Ukraine’s position at the vanguard of drone warfare, reports the WSJ.
One ethical concern: will machines decide the fate of civilians as well as combatants? Disturbing is the potential for machines to make life-or-death decisions without human oversight. According to the CEO of the software company:
“You set the target and the drones do the rest. They work together; they adapt.”
About a year ago, Ukraine first used Swarm tech to lay mines, before it advanced to targeting Russian soldiers, equipment, and infrastructure. Typically, according to one Ukrainian officer, the technology uses three drones, but the officer boasts that he has also deployed as many as eight drones.
A common operation uses a reconnaissance drone and two other UAVs carrying small bombs to target a Russian trench, the officer said. An operator gives the drones a target zone to look for an enemy position and the command to engage when it is spotted. The reconnaissance drone maps the route for the bombers to follow and the drones themselves then decide when, and which one, will release the bombs over the target.
Saving Time and Personal
The technology requires a drone operator and a navigator to be involved. Sans the swarm technology, as many as nine others would be involved. (One pilot can work with many drones.)
The Ukraine operations fall short of what many consider a full swarm. A UK-based think tank considers a full swarm as deploying hundreds of drones moving together intelligently and autonomously reacting. Preparations are now underway to test over 100 drones.
Funding from U.S. investors is already in place for on swarm technology, reports the WSJ.
On a visit last year to its office, hidden in a suburban house, two young engineers worked on a ping-pong table, welding circuit boards and attaching components to drones. Elsewhere, a 3-D printer noisily produced a new component.
Among countries using drone technology are the U.S., China, France, Russia, and South Korea.
Since 2016, businesses have been scrutinizing the technology. At that time, according to the Defense Department, the US launched more than 100 small drones from three jet fighters
“The micro-drones demonstrated advanced swarm behaviors such as collective decision-making, adaptive formation flying, and self-healing,”
Still, there are challenges to be conquered. Paramount is maintaining stable and reliable communication links between the UAVs.
Under current rules of engagement, the U.S. and its allies require a person in the so-called kill chain. What possibly could go amuck there?
If you’re willing to fight for Main Street America, click here to sign up for the Richardcyoung.com free weekly email.
