Autonomous Aviation and the Future

    Unmanned systems are the future. They give hope for this futuristic metropolis you only see in movies along with the idea of flying cars and time travel. That may be a little dramatic but when you think of the future, revert to the first time you've ever seen a Futurama episode. Autonomous aviation is advancing not only military intelligence and technology but also improving operations and aircraft utilization. Autonomy will reduce costs and enable better use of our airspace and it is projected by the 2040's, aviation will be entirely autonomous or mostly automated. Is that a good thing, though? If technology is our future, do you think America is the only nation chasing this dream? Because of the many great benefits that autonomous systems bring, counter-drone technology is significant. 

Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE)

    Mid-2023 with the ongoing war with Ukraine and Russia, the United States sent over $75 billion of assistance which included a Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment also known as the VAMPIRE for example. The VAMPIRE is essentially used by ground forces to target and destroy enemy drones with laser-guided rockets and help assist with the war. On January 7, 2024, 28 drones and three missiles were launched by Russian Forces to Ukraine. 21 of those drones were destroyed and 12 people were injured by the attack in the city of Dnipro. Ethically, is this justifiable because of war? Yes, unmanned systems are the future but at what cost? As I write this, we're on day 10 of the New Year and the first attack on the country of Ukraine was through drones sent to the front line. Who needs hand-to-hand combat when you can program and produce mass casualties with the press of a button? Russia deployed almost 300 missiles and more than 200 drones in attacks in the last days of 2023 and the first days of 2024. And seriously, don't get me started on Israel and Gaza and the extent how which they're using their drone capabilities. 

GEDACS digital terrain mapping output.


    Like many ideas that start simple and then become bright, one bright idea can change the course of how drones can determine our future and I guarantee you it won't look like a Futurama episode. Drones can be used for good whether it's cargo handling, surface and terrain mapping, and even piloting. Autonomous systems can help with the undermanned pilot crises we are experiencing with proper training! You don't hear much about it because it is not talked about enough. They can also be used strategically and tactfully during wartime which is why I believe people overlook ethics and moral compass when speaking on what's to come or expect. Autonomous systems are so diverse in their usage, that their potential is limitless. If I make a list of more pros and cons instead of a blog, I'd have to make you a website. 

  Technology can be inconsistent and intercepted and that's how information can easily be mishandled and put in the wrong hands. Again, yes autonomous systems are the future, especially within the aviation community but compromising integrity and using drone power for injustices does not sit well with me. In my opinion, I believe that more good can come from the extensive technology drones provide especially when it comes to expanding the utilization of everyday transactions i.e the delivery of food and resources to areas in need,  providing aid natural disasters, and that's just to name a couple. But with power, or the lack thereof, drone capabilities will continue to be "abused and justified" because of war and right of defense. It takes more than one entity to partake in such tragedies and though it is inevitable, I believe that a nations moral principle should never waiver just to cause terror to one's own people or other nations. 

References


1.Dinius D. Autonomous Systems. NASA. Published December 7, 2021. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/armstrong/autonomous-systems/
  

2.10 anti-drone weapons used by the U.s. military. Potomac Officers Club. Published October 24, 2023. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://potomacofficersclub.com/articles/10-anti-drone-weapons-used-by-the-u-s-military/
  

3.Reuters.com. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-launches-28-drones-three-missiles-ukraine-ukraines-air-force-2024-01-07/

4.Masters J. How much aid has the U.s. sent Ukraine? Here are six charts. Council on Foreign Relations. Published December 16, 2022. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://www.cfr.org/article/how-much-aid-has-us-sent-ukraine-here-are-six-charts

 

5.Lushenko P. The moral legitimacy of drone strikes: How the public forms its judgments. Texas National Security Review. Published November 17, 2022. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://tnsr.org/2022/11/the-moral-legitimacy-of-drone-strikes-how-the-public-forms-its-judgments/

 

6.Xu J. Aviation’s future is safer, more efficient and more autonomous. Honeywell.com. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://aerospace.honeywell.com/us/en/about-us/blogs/aviations-future-is-safer-more-efficient-and-more-autonomous
  

Comments

  1. ZENOJanuary 12, 2024 at 10:08 AM

    The addition of artificial intelligence has enabled unprecedented progress in the aviation industry. As you said, the addition of drones to the battlefield is now mainstream. But it also helped in the war effort. This is not something we can decide. A country's decisions can spiral out of control because the dictator is in a bad mood that day. But we cannot stop the development of science and technology. I very much hope that no one will be able to use computer systems widely in our lives, such as express delivery.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ZENOJanuary 12, 2024 at 10:09 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. ZENOJanuary 12, 2024 at 10:22 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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