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Off-Beat Subject for the Poli Board - Why don't we already have Ground Combat Drones?
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:12 pm
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:12 pm
No, I'm not talking some terminator shite. But given that we already have armed flying drones manned by people sitting at a terminal here in the states, it just doesn't seem like a grand leap to have small wheeled vehicle drones equipped with some type of small arms that we could field by the hundreds that were just armored enough to repel small arms fire.
Think of the limitations removed.
1. The obvious. Not human loss if blown up.
2. Human soldiers have a limit to the amount of ammo they can carry. So would the drone but I suspect it would be about 10x as much.
3. Drones don't need a supply chain......or at least not as large a supply chain. You don't have to feed them. And, they can drive BACK to the supply depot for shite like fuel/maintenance. You don't have to fly the shite to them.
4. The frickers could be networked. They would each know where the other is and maintain their spacing / intersecting fires almost perfectly.
5. I submit they'd kill fewer civilians because humans are firing under duress. IE....you come around that corner, you're shooting that fricker if he moves. If it turns out to be an 8 year old, human error. BUT, if you are watching it on video, you ain't scared. You can hesitate until you know it's not an 8 year old. So what if he gets a shot off first. You're armored AND, you're chillin in the U.S.!
6. I'm not even convinced that they'd be more expensive than human infantryman. Humans require salaries, health insurance, life insurance, family health, retirement etc etc.
So, what say ye? Doesn't this seem like something we will be seeing in the relatively near future? (20 years or less?)
Think of the limitations removed.
1. The obvious. Not human loss if blown up.
2. Human soldiers have a limit to the amount of ammo they can carry. So would the drone but I suspect it would be about 10x as much.
3. Drones don't need a supply chain......or at least not as large a supply chain. You don't have to feed them. And, they can drive BACK to the supply depot for shite like fuel/maintenance. You don't have to fly the shite to them.
4. The frickers could be networked. They would each know where the other is and maintain their spacing / intersecting fires almost perfectly.
5. I submit they'd kill fewer civilians because humans are firing under duress. IE....you come around that corner, you're shooting that fricker if he moves. If it turns out to be an 8 year old, human error. BUT, if you are watching it on video, you ain't scared. You can hesitate until you know it's not an 8 year old. So what if he gets a shot off first. You're armored AND, you're chillin in the U.S.!
6. I'm not even convinced that they'd be more expensive than human infantryman. Humans require salaries, health insurance, life insurance, family health, retirement etc etc.
So, what say ye? Doesn't this seem like something we will be seeing in the relatively near future? (20 years or less?)
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:14 pm to ShortyRob
BEcause it would be a lot easier to disable one of these drones using a kind mine or booby trap and steel the technology.
Also rpg’s would be highly effective against them.
Also rpg’s would be highly effective against them.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:15 pm to ShortyRob
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:16 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
BEcause it would be a lot easier to disable one of these drones using a kind mine or booby trap and steel the technology.
How high tech are we talking it would even need to be? And, most of the high tech wouldn't even be in the vehicle. It would be in how we communicate with it.
quote:
Also rpg’s would be highly effective against them.
Um. Not to put too fine a point on it. But RPGs are pretty effective against humans too.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:16 pm to ShortyRob
Pretty sure DARPA is working on it...........
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:17 pm to geaux88
quote:
Pretty sure DARPA is working on it...........
Follow on question.
Will such drones make wars more likely?
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:17 pm to ShortyRob
What I meant about the rpg line is that you don’t even need a booby trap to disable it and steal the communications equipment.
ETA
I also have no doubt that this is coming, even if just in a support role for soldiers. Imagine no longer having to carry your ruck sack because gizmo is? How much further could you walk/march?
ETA
I also have no doubt that this is coming, even if just in a support role for soldiers. Imagine no longer having to carry your ruck sack because gizmo is? How much further could you walk/march?
This post was edited on 4/12/18 at 2:19 pm
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:19 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
What I meant about the rpg line is that you don’t even need a booby trap to disable it and steal the communications equipment.
I don't think it would even require highly advanced comms.
Basically, all you really need is something that is a long range remote control small jeep with a weapon attached to it that can be aimed remotely.
Sure. More advanced shite would be cool. But, up front, basically any remote vehicle would do.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:20 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
I also have no doubt that this is coming, even if just in a support role for soldiers. Imagine no longer having to carry your ruck sack because gizmo is? How much further could you walk/march?
I could see this first. But not so much for the ruck sack as to drastically reduce the supply tail.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:22 pm to ShortyRob
quote:
it just doesn't seem like a grand leap to have small wheeled vehicle drones
Posted on 4/12/18 at 2:57 pm to Iosh
quote:
Iosh
I know they wouldn't be as agile........but, they would still be a pretty large pain in the arse and..........no casualties!!!
Posted on 4/12/18 at 3:00 pm to ShortyRob
Flying's just way more maneuverable for not that much more expense when you're not carrying 200lbs of hairy saline ballast
This post was edited on 4/12/18 at 3:01 pm
Posted on 4/12/18 at 3:03 pm to ShortyRob
We have them outside the DMZ
Posted on 4/12/18 at 3:04 pm to Iosh
quote:Que?
Flying's just way more maneuverable for not that much more expense when you're not carrying 200lbs of hairy saline ballast
I'm talking about remotely controlled infantry vehicles.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 3:04 pm to ShortyRob
Communication would have to be line of sight, that means either a transmitting tower on high ground or an overhead drone.
Both are easy to take out, they go dead, drones on the ground go dead.
Both are easy to take out, they go dead, drones on the ground go dead.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 3:05 pm to ShortyRob
This is within my field that I work in, as most of the technologies I'm working with have to do with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance for military systems, so systems that I work on are utilizing specific specialty sensors and optics that are ITAR and can't really be discussed or expounded on in this type of forum.
However, I can tell you that we have autonomous vehicles that operate on land, in the ocean and in the air that are militarized and that contain firepower or other ways of neutralizing an enemy's assets. One such item is a small drone that flies up out of a tube. The drone itself is shaped like a cylinder with a single set of helicopter-like blades on top. Its 180 degree camera is controlled by and can be monitored by local ground assets to quickly fly over a nearby location for identification and threat assessment (like... around a hill or into a village when they are sitting just outside the walls of that village) whenever high altitude overhead drones with their powerful sensors and powerful optics aren't available.
These drones also carry an explosive payload and once bogies are spotted, the local ground asset can just drop it right on top of the bad guys. The camera and helicopter can stay up in the air to provide after-action damage assessment.
However, I can tell you that we have autonomous vehicles that operate on land, in the ocean and in the air that are militarized and that contain firepower or other ways of neutralizing an enemy's assets. One such item is a small drone that flies up out of a tube. The drone itself is shaped like a cylinder with a single set of helicopter-like blades on top. Its 180 degree camera is controlled by and can be monitored by local ground assets to quickly fly over a nearby location for identification and threat assessment (like... around a hill or into a village when they are sitting just outside the walls of that village) whenever high altitude overhead drones with their powerful sensors and powerful optics aren't available.
These drones also carry an explosive payload and once bogies are spotted, the local ground asset can just drop it right on top of the bad guys. The camera and helicopter can stay up in the air to provide after-action damage assessment.
This post was edited on 4/12/18 at 3:07 pm
Posted on 4/12/18 at 3:10 pm to HubbaBubba
To see some of the newest technologies in warfare, one open event that you can register for is the annual AUSA event held every October in Washington DC. It's pretty cool to get to stop and talk with 4 star generals and see the items that aren't classified, but are still pretty cool to see.
Posted on 4/12/18 at 3:15 pm to HubbaBubba
We just need Boba Fett and a lot of parts.
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