Paragliding Military Drones Under Development 32
electric_mongoose writes "NewScientistTech has a story about paragliding military drones being developed by a US company called Atair Aerodynamics. These aircraft could be airdropped or ground launched and fly for over 48 hours carrying a 100 kilogram payload, including video surveillance equipment."
Red? (Score:1)
Re:Mod Parent Up, Comment Don't Censor (Score:1)
I'm one who believes that mod points should not be used to express agreement or disagreement. But I can see why the GP got gigged for O
Re:Red? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Red? (Score:2)
Re:Red? (Score:2)
The only thing this may be usefull for are police operations.
Surely this will be more use to guerrillas? (Score:5, Insightful)
Small irregular groups fighting state armies will use technology like this to balance their lack of cash and lack of supporters.
A simple example would be that an INLA unit instead of shooting a Member of Parliamnet could use a drone to track him and a second drone to dive bomb him with 100kg of C4.
The implication is that an organisation with little popular support and little capital could inflict heavy casualties on anyone it chooses. 100 kg is a LOT of C4. Even bank robbers could use this.
I have deliberately used an example from northern Ireland to avoid people with strong views on Iraq or Israel assuming that I want an off topic debate. Just think bout how this technology changes the balance of power that has traditionally shaped our thinking on policing and military defenses.
Re:Surely this will be more use to guerrillas? (Score:5, Interesting)
I've seen the conceptual UAV project that the new hires at Dahlgren, Virginia worked on http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Successful_Test_F
This technology needs a lot of maturation before any combat application including terror: it is very noisy, unstable at speed on the ground, and requires a lot of ground support personnel. Holds exciting promise to a well equipped military for something like convey escort, but it's too high tech for backwater armies.
Re:Surely this will be more use to guerrillas? (Score:2)
Re:Surely this will be more use to guerrillas? (Score:2)
A single bullet costs a lot less than 100 kg of C4 and a drone. Now against a humvee or some other vehicle it would be useful, but it's still cheaper to dig the C-4 under the road and wait for someone to drive over it instead of using expensive drones for the task.
Re:Surely this will be more use to guerrillas? (Score:2)
A flying eye in the sky coupled with a flying bomb gives the assassin all the advantages. If this technology works, we will have to rethink how we do security. It won't change the world but
Re:Surely this will be more use to guerrillas? (Score:2)
Flying Monkeys (Score:2, Interesting)
First processed that title as (Score:1)
Seeing a comment abut guerillas didn't help either :P
Not trivial at all (Score:1)
Re:Not trivial at all (Score:1)
GPS guided paragliders are nothing new. I remember visiting a small company at least
It could also carry... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It could also carry... (Score:2)
Re:It could also carry... (Score:1)
Impossible...the weight of the shark and the water tank required to sustain is far more than 100kg.
Funny (Score:2)
I'm no aviation engineer ... (Score:2)
Re:I'm no aviation engineer ... (Score:2)
Democratize Surveillance (Score:2, Interesting)
"Shoot me, I'm a big noisy parachute" (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:"Shoot me, I'm a big noisy parachute" (Score:2)
Re:"Shoot me, I'm a big noisy parachute" (Score:2)
(irony: capcha code for this reply is "disobey")
Also here: Flying like Batman (Score:2)
http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/0,1518,