3 ms·

I'm no tactical attack expert, but don't think that the prototype in the video is "battle ready". However, the news of al-Awlaki killed by a drone attack (along

by Jun8 15y ago

I'm no tactical attack expert, but don't think that the prototype in the video is "battle ready". However, the news of al-Awlaki killed by a drone attack (along with numerous other such successful hits) implies that the armed forces are definitely moving towards more drones and robots. I don't know what the chances of AlphaDog against a man with a high powered rifle, but think of this: A number of these, armed with some sonic weapons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_weapon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_weapon), attacking a compound at night. Then, the "instill a little fear in the enemy" bit may not sound so stupid.

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
- Jun8 15y ago
  Hmm, I don't get your point. Nobody said drones are "nice". I guess they are as "nice" as, say, an A-Bomb, an AH-64 Apache, or an RPG. Now, are they effective? That is the question that is being discussed here. But I think you've touched upon an important point. One should direct unhappiness about weapons technologies to the people who control those weapons and authorize their use, not to the technology itself, which can have beneficial uses. A good example is the Roomba robot, derived from iRobot's expertise in military (and police) technology. EDIT: another interesting thought: Why do people find the general concept of autonomous drones so "horrifying" (not that we're close to that currently). Is it worse than a bunch of stressed out, afraid/angry soldiers coming to your house/compound? In a search and destroy mission, like the one that was done by SEALs on bin Laden's house, would it have mattered if he faced drones instead of SEALs?
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
    - HeyLaughingBoy 15y ago
      It's no more horrifying than bombs or smart missiles, or mines, or just about any other means of dealing death on a large scale. For that matter, go back a few hundred years to when artillery was becoming popular, how do you think archers men with spears and axes felt going up against field cannon? If you're looking someone in the eye in those last moments before he shoots you, I doubt very much that you'd be "enjoying" anything. Bottom line is war sucks. Not a whole lot can be done to make it "better" other than working to eliminate the causes.
      - Jun8 15y ago
        (Unfortunately the person who posted the above two comments proved him/herself to be a total jerk by deleting them, so this thread became an orphan) Exactly. Now that I think about it, I would very much like to go against an autonomous drone than a manned one, I wouldn't want to fight a proxy of a person sitting a large distance away. At least you have a chance (albeit very small) of harming/disabling your opponent so it seems more "fair".
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]

by Jun8 15y ago

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

Jun8 15y ago
Hmm, I don't get your point. Nobody said drones are "nice". I guess they are as "nice" as, say, an A-Bomb, an AH-64 Apache, or an RPG. Now, are they effective? That is the question that is being discussed here. But I think you've touched upon an important point. One should direct unhappiness about weapons technologies to the people who control those weapons and authorize their use, not to the technology itself, which can have beneficial uses. A good example is the Roomba robot, derived from iRobot's expertise in military (and police) technology. EDIT: another interesting thought: Why do people find the general concept of autonomous drones so "horrifying" (not that we're close to that currently). Is it worse than a bunch of stressed out, afraid/angry soldiers coming to your house/compound? In a search and destroy mission, like the one that was done by SEALs on bin Laden's house, would it have mattered if he faced drones instead of SEALs?
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
  - HeyLaughingBoy 15y ago
    It's no more horrifying than bombs or smart missiles, or mines, or just about any other means of dealing death on a large scale. For that matter, go back a few hundred years to when artillery was becoming popular, how do you think archers men with spears and axes felt going up against field cannon? If you're looking someone in the eye in those last moments before he shoots you, I doubt very much that you'd be "enjoying" anything. Bottom line is war sucks. Not a whole lot can be done to make it "better" other than working to eliminate the causes.
    - Jun8 15y ago
      (Unfortunately the person who posted the above two comments proved him/herself to be a total jerk by deleting them, so this thread became an orphan) Exactly. Now that I think about it, I would very much like to go against an autonomous drone than a manned one, I wouldn't want to fight a proxy of a person sitting a large distance away. At least you have a chance (albeit very small) of harming/disabling your opponent so it seems more "fair".
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]