World says MORE DRONES are the solution

[Bob]

4 Dec 2013

Billions of dollars are being invested by nations worldwide in manned, and unmanned drones.

UAVs continue to be the most dynamic growth sector of the world aerospace industry this decade, according to Teal Group market analysts in Fairfax, Va.

Teal Group staff predict UAV spending to more than double over the next decade-from current worldwide UAV expenditures of $5.2 billion annually to $11.6 billion-amounting to more than $89 billion in the next 10 years.

The militaries are "demanding" more autonomous control, where the UAV is able to make decisions by itself and attack by itself. General Atomics leads in the brainy Predator drones for now, but groups world-wide are racing to come up with their own version of "smart" attack drones.

from Military and Aerospace Industry news
http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/print/volume-24/issue-11/special-report/flexible-integrated-unmanned-command-control.html?cmpid=EnlMAEDecember42013


http://www.militaryaerospace.com/content/dam/mae/print-articles/volume-24/issue-11/1311MAE_NovCoverLockheed.jpg

Above is Lockheed's design for a radio control console for a "man" controlled system.

Closeup


http://www.militaryaerospace.com/content/dam/mae/print-articles/volume-24/issue-11/1311MAE_SR_LockheedmGCS.jpg

"The performance and affordability of tactical UAVs like our Shadow system make them an invaluable battlefield asset with a growing mission spectrum," says Steven Reid, senior vice president and general manager of AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

"Our private satellite network services can deliver the dedicated bandwidth needed to distribute tactical UAV video throughout the battlespace," says Paul Baca, vice president and general manager for ViaSat Global Mobile Broadband."

Israel - The Hermes UGCS from Elbit Systems in Haifa, Israel, can control two concurrent missions when allocated two ground data terminals.

Italy - "Piaggio Aero Industries in Italy tested complete ground handling control of the company's new Piaggio Aero P.1HH HammerHead multirole UAV and mission management system (MMS) based on Selex ES Sky- ISTAR technology. Selex ES provides the vehicle control and management system (VCMS), the remote-piloting ground control station (GCS), and the UAV datalink and communications systems "to ensure safe operations during all flight activities, throughout the whole chain of UAV command and control," says a representative. "

Just look at these chairs for the General Atomics Mobile Mission control system. This system can be picked up and transported to any location for convenient arm chair search and destroy missions.


http://www.militaryaerospace.com/content/dam/mae/print-articles/volume-24/issue-11/1311MAE_SR_GeneralAtomicsmo.jpg

--more to come

[Bob]

http://www.elbitsystems.com/elbitmain/pic/UCS_[638X253].jpg

Elbit Systems, Haifa, Israel - Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) division

They don't provide the cushy chairs that General Atomics provides :( the purchasers of their Predator Systems.

BUT

their website says: "The UGCS is built to enable the full control of any type of UAV. It provides full mission debriefing and simulation as well as in-flight mission editing and payload control. The UGCS system includes a ground data terminal, a remote video terminal and a flight line tester/loader. STANAG 4586 interoperability capability is optional."

I suppose the ability to carry out its mission is more important than any utility comfort for the troops that have to work 10 hours a day behind the consoles.

Their premier drone, HERMES 900 resembles the industry LEADER, the General Atomic unmanned drone


http://www.elbitsystems.com/elbitmain/pic/Hermes900-2012(638x253).jpg

"Based on the heritage of over 300,000 operational flight hours of the Hermes® 450 UAS, the Hermes® 900 employs identical building blocks using a larger air vehicle with nearly double the performance. Hermes® 900 incorporates flexible cutting edge multi-payload configurations employing standard and long-range EO/IR/Laser, SAR/GMTI & MPR, COMINT/DF, COMINT GSM, CoMMJAM, ELINT, EW, hyperspectral systems, large area scanning systems, wide area persistent surveillance and other payloads." (Impressive buzz-words, eh?)

And are the Swiss neutral? er, sadly no... from Elbit's solicitation webpage -
"Invitation to Participate in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System Program - Elbit Systems Ltd. is competing to develop and supply Armasuisse’s next Unmanned Air Vehicle System, and is seeking Swiss suppliers and manufacturers to participate in this challenging and rewarding program"

Armasuisse’s explains that they need UAV's for reconnaissance purposes - http://www.defense-unmanned.com/article/480/switzerland-short_lists-iai,-elbit-for-new-uav.html

"Armasuisse is preparing to evaluate a new reconnaissance drone. This unmanned aircraft will carry no weapons. :)

"Out of the eleven systems put forward by nine companies that were originally solicited, only Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems Ltd. remain in the running for the next phases.

"Flight evaluation in Switzerland is expected in the second half of 2012, and selection of the winner in 2014.

"The Swiss Air Force currently operates the Model 95 reconnaissance drone (ADS 95) which has been in service for over 12 years. This aircraft will reach the end of its service life in the coming years.

"This is the reason why Armasuisse, which is responsible for the procurement of complex systems for the Swiss Army, received in mid-2011 a mandate from the General Staff to conduct the evaluation of a new UAV system and to prepare its acquisition with the Armaments Program 2015 budget.

"Of the nine manufacturers originally solicited, two now remain in the running, based on the evaluation criteria and results. Armasuisse has invited both Israeli manufacturers, Israel Aerospace Industries LTD (IAI) and Elbit Systems (Elbit), to submit detailed tenders"

"The Ministry of Defence expects that the new UAV system will be capable of deployment regardless of weather conditions, with increased flexibility, and that it will provide a greater range while being quieter. It must also reduce life-cycle costs.

"The new system will be operated by the Swiss Air Force. The winner should be selected during the first half of 2014.
The current ADS 95 drone system is operated by the army, but it also makes a valuable contribution to civil security, for example in assisting the border guard and police. "

"We will watch you but we won't shoot at you.." seems like a very appropriate statement from the Swiss group buying Israeli attack drones modified for "peace-ful" uses..

website for Armasuisse - http://www.ar.admin.ch/


http://www.ar.admin.ch/internet/armasuisse/de/home/dok/publi/hauszeitung0.parsys.28206.Image.gif

[Bob]

We of course know of the style and flare and precision Italian workmanship, technology and exquisite upholstery afforded in fine Italian luxury sports cars.. We can only imagine what they have in mind for the command and control system consoles that will fly these models..

The Piaggio Aero P.1HH HammerHead is no exception :) of innovation, and elegant configuration. Both Form and Function are applied to make for a perfect surveillance platform capable of both endurance and speed when needed to get the hell out of the way when it has been spotted.


http://www.p1hh.piaggioaerospace.it/img/p1hh-circle1.jpg

It uses turbo-prop engines made by Canada - 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66B 850 SHP (ISA, sea level) - those are impressive engines.

"P.1HH HammerHead, is suited for a wide range of ISR, Defense and Security missions, and defines an unsurpassed mission role flexibility and sets a new frontier of CONcept of OPerationS (CONOPS) for Defense. The P.1HH HammerHead Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is derived from the successful Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II business aviation aircraft, the fastest twin turboprop aircraft in the world with a proven, uneventful, service record of more than 20 years and 800.000 flight hours."

From Defense Tech - another industry trade journal
http://defensetech.org/2013/06/18/italians-unveil-hammerhead-drone/


"The international market continues to demand medium to large sized unmanned aircraft. It’s a market that U.S. and Israeli defense firms have dominated. The P1HH Hammerhead is a sign that growth is coming outside the two leaders. China and Russian defense companies are also looking to expand the number of larger scale drones they produce. The Hammerhead can climb to 35,000 feet in 20 minutes and operate with a 45,000 foot ceiling. The UAS is designed as a surveillance aircraft with an endurance of 16 hours carrying 500 pounds of payload and a range of up to 4,400 nautical miles."

The Air Shows in Abu Dhabi and Dubai - my my, that stuff gets your juices flowing..


http://arabiangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Dubai-Air-show.jpg

[Bob]

Let not China be outdone by the west when it comes to drones, both for surveillance and hunter killer models.


http://www.suasnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/chinese-joined-wing-aircraft.jpg

"It shows a similarity with the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk (http://euro-police.noblogs.org/gallery/3874/NG-GHawk-B20-POSTER.jpg) type of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) even if it seems much smaller than the High Altitude Long Endurange (HALE) kind of drone. This suggests it may be even smaller than a MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) remotely piloted aircraft.

"And above all, it shows an interesting joined wing similar to that of the Chengdu Soaring Dragon. We are describing the latest Chinese drone, spotted and filmed at an unknown location.

"A few months after the first image of Lijian (“sharp sword”), China’s first weaponized stealth drone, appeared on the prolific Chinese Internet, a new prototype has emerged (even though it is not clear when this footage was filmed).

"It’s worth noting that the drone has not yet been painted with the typical dark radar-absorbing paint, even if it features the cockpit-like mark of what could be the antennas’ upper bay (possibly made of a different material to avoid interference caused by RAM coating)."

The inside of the Grumman Global Hawk looks like this:

http://euro-police.noblogs.org/gallery/3874/NG-GHawk-B20-POSTER.jpg

It would be interesting to get a peek under the wrapper of this current Chinese "soaring dragon"

[Bob]

China's drones aren't just peaceful surveillance drones.

Sharp Sword, China's known attack killer drone is shown in this photo:

http://chanlo.com/images/1-WhNE2rAgwh8wZAO7WlUWWg.jpeg

Configured with stealth capabilities, this drone is jet powered, fast and able to launch weapons system similar to what is mounted on the Russian Mig-Skat shown below

http://chanlo.com/images/1-IgbU4w7DlaRU4UfsTPiVgg.jpeg

"Sharp Sword is reportedly a co-development of Hongdu and aerospace firm Shenyang. The single-engine drone seems to sport the tailless flying-wing shape shared by several U.S.-, European- and Russian-made prototypes and demonstrators dating back to the mid-1990s. The U.S. Navy’s tailless X-47B is a precursor of what should be the world’s first operational jet-powered armed drone.

"But Sharp Sword seems to most closely match the Russian MiG Skat robot. Not coincidentally, China often borrows heavily from Russian warplane designs—and even illegally copies some planes acquired from Moscow."

ref: https://medium.com/war-is-boring/1766036badc0

The report summarizes as follows:

"It’s hard to say how much success China has had with this softer side of killer drone technology. The Pentagon China report (http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2013_China_Report_FINAL.pdf) specifically cites “solid-state electronics and micro processors [and] guidance and control systems” as techs that Beijing finds it easier to buy or steal than to develop on its own."

[Bob]

But of course the US Navy feels just flying around spying on folks, isn't good enough - the drones of others MUST be able to be shot down - so air superiority (and of course sea superiority) is maintained. Between blinding satellites, and shooting down competitors drones (which could be armed significantly..) the logic is come up with a great attack sky killer pilotless aircraft robot.

ref: http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/X47BUCAS/Pages/default.aspx


http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/X47BUCAS/PublishingImages/ss_UC-10028_001_734x265.jpg

The X47 UCAS (the designation means, "Unmanned Combat Air System") is a fighter drone.. Pretty impressive.. Launched from an aircraft carrier, it is to be easily deployable where and needed to keep "peace" in the world.


http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/X47BUCAS/PublishingImages/sm_UC-10028_001_250x190.jpg

Foundation for the Future
"UCAS-D is designed to help the U.S. Navy explore the future of unmanned carrier aviation. A successful UCAS-D flight test program, including a series of successful carrier-based launches and recoveries, will help set the stage for the development of a more permanent, carrier-based fleet of unmanned aircraft."

"Today's historic carrier landing and our operations aboard USS George H.W. Bush show, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that tailless unmanned aircraft can integrate seamlessly and operate safely from an aircraft carrier at sea," said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Navy UCAS program manager. "Beyond X-47B, this moment in history was made possible by an extremely disciplined and dedicated government-industry team that took a brand new unmanned combat air system from initial concept to highly successful demonstration in one of the most demanding operating environments in the world."


http://smnewsnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Engdahl-CAPT-240x300.jpg

[Milneman]

It gets better....

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/tech/innovation/amazon-drones-questions/

Amazon is working a way to use drones to deliver packages.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

This is really significant, Bob!

You know what sucks, right when my uncle was really starting to publicize his Scorpion (small manned jet by Textron AirLand),
the gov't announced the "Son of Blackbird" nonsense.

The huge price tag on these drones is mind boggling.
IIRC the Global Hawk costs 250 mil apiece easily, factoring the R&D costs...

They can plot millions of miles of terrain per week given enough drones.

You know what I am thinking? No normal human pilot would want to fly endlessly for no other reason than spying/gathering endless intel.
We all know that it's not possible to predict or anticipate every scenario. Yet our gov'ts are knowingly pouring trillions of dollars away buying these stupid drones,
when the point of it all is doing a job that infringes on our constitutional rights and far too boring for the average human to handle.

The job of policing humanity has become so tedious that a machine is expected to do it.

This smacks of extreme waste to me.

The Scorpion aircraft provides a human pilot with a job while at the same time reducing an enormous amount of financial waste.
There may be a trend for "all-purpose" inventions in our modern world, but the truth is, they are still too expensive to be practical.

Not to mention, there is an extreme need for drones that can retrieve trapped humans from earthquake and flood regions,
drones that can perform rescue dives, and missions like that. You know, real humanitarian mission.
De-mining Afghanistan and Cambodia might be a nice thing to do for tomorrow's kids, assuming we want them to stand on their own two feet and not on a prosthetic limb.

[johnf]

Bobd,
Thank you for all this information.
Same to others that have and will contribute.
Drones have certainly been in the news, and I saw the amazon thing crop up just a day or two ago.
This is something that is not as visible as it should be.
The other side of this that I am interested in is the miniaturization of these things, and spying applications as well as assassination "tools".
A few years ago a neighbor shared his thoughts about how much further along the tech must be, and speculated that we probably already have the capability to fly a very small craft into tight spaces and fire some sort of lethal rounds.
At this point, I am thinking they might have the capability to calculate trajectories etc and frame people
for the murders.
We are on the verge of a very large explosion of tech here.

jf

[Bob]

All seriousness tho.. it is happening and will only get more intense..

BUT until then.. the issues of domestic spying worldwide can be happening sooner than we expect


http://raymondpronk.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/domestic-drone-cartoon.jpg

And the uN of course has the protection and best interests of everyone in mind flying their own drone

http://www.un.org/News/dh/photos/large/2013/December/12-03-2013Drones_Ladsous.jpg

[Bob]

"What's that humming outside?"

Maybe a local surveillance drone.

Congress has told the FAA that the agency must allow civilian and military drones to fly in civilian airspace by September 2015. This spring, the FAA is set to take a first step by proposing rules that would allow limited commercial use of small drones for the first time.

http://chanlo.com/images/drone1.jpg

http://chanlo.com/images/drone2.jpg http://chanlo.com/images/drone3.jpg

A good paper on drones is available here: http://www.priv.gc.ca/information/research-recherche/2013/drones_201303_e.asp - this goes over the use of DRONES in CANADA.
from the paper,

"Currently in Canada, domestic UAV operations are extremely limited because they are subject to licensing approvals and safety parameters set by Transport Canada (see Part III of this paper). This limiting factor, however, “is not technological, but regulatory.”

" While the use of drones in Canada is still fairly limited by these regulatory and licensing parameters, Transport Canada has indicated on its website that UAVs “operate in diverse environments and in high risk roles, including but not limited to: atmospheric research (including weather and atmospheric gas sampling), scientific research, oceanographic research, geophysical research, mineral exploration, imaging spectrometry, telecommunications relay platforms, police surveillance, border patrol and reconnaissance, survey and inspection of remote power lines and pipelines, traffic and accident surveillance, emergency and disaster monitoring, cartography and mapping, search and rescue, agricultural spraying, aerial photography, promotion and advertising, weather reconnaissance, flight research, and fire fighting monitoring and management.”

[Bob]

It gets better....

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/tech/innovation/amazon-drones-questions/

Amazon is working a way to use drones to deliver packages.


http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f273eb6f71ec4308c31231919173d9506ae054c0/c=193-0-810-464&r=x383&c=540x380/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/12/01//1385949215000-AmazonPrimeAir.JPG


Conditioning, acceptance?

[MargueriteBee]

Twenty years ago my sister and her husband went for a walk about 4 am one day. While walking they saw a small flying craft like a model airplane. It hovered over them and beamed them with a blue light. Maybe drones have been around a long time.

[Bob]

Bobd,
Thank you for all this information.
Same to others that have and will contribute.
Drones have certainly been in the news, and I saw the amazon thing crop up just a day or two ago.
This is something that is not as visible as it should be.
The other side of this that I am interested in is the miniaturization of these things, and spying applications as well as assassination "tools".
A few years ago a neighbor shared his thoughts about how much further along the tech must be, and speculated that we probably already have the capability to fly a very small craft into tight spaces and fire some sort of lethal rounds.
At this point, I am thinking they might have the capability to calculate trajectories etc and frame people
for the murders.
We are on the verge of a very large explosion of tech here.

jf

Hi John

as you mentioned hit drones, advanced cloaking and all that... here is an article from US-News about something like that:

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/03/08/police-kill-suspects-with-snipers-all-the-time--why-not-droneshttp://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/03/08/police-kill-suspects-with-snipers-all-the-time--why-not-drones

"Could law enforcement ever use a drone to kill an American? The answer to that question was the basis for Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster of the confirmation of CIA Director John Brennan earlier this week. Police use deadly force to kill Americans if they feel they are threatened, but it's unclear if they could use a drone instead of, say, a sniper rifle to take out a hostage-taker if they felt it was the safest way to do so.

"Paul's filibuster was essentially a response to Attorney General Eric Holder's statement that, under extreme circumstances, a drone could be used to target people in the United States. Holder said it is "possible" for President Obama to "authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States."

Are the police authorized to use deadly force by "drone" ?

"According to the 1985 Supreme Court case Tennessee v. Garner, police may not use deadly force "unless … the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others." But that decision didn't establish what weapons law enforcement can use to carry that out, according to Mark Lomax, executive director of the National Tactical Officers Association."

These new and newer drones can become weapons besides surveillance devices if equipped with that capability.

http://www.avinc.com/uas/small_uas/switchblade/ - the SwitchBlade DRONE system is equipped with an explosive, it is small, like a model aircraft as innocent in appearance.

Although AV does not publicly like to talk about that capability, Times of India pointed it out pretty clearly..

From AV


http://media.defenceindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_UAV_Switchblade_Launch_AV_Brochure_lg.jpg

"This miniature, remotely-piloted or autonomous platform can either glide or propel itself via quiet electric propulsion, providing real-time GPS coordinates and video for information gathering, targeting, or feature/object recognition. The vehicle’s small size and quiet motor make it difficult to detect, recognize and track even at very close range. The Switchblade is fully scalable and can be launched from a variety of air and ground platforms.

"Switchblade is operated from AeroVironment’s battle proven ground control system (GCS) with a communications range of greater than 10 km."

From Times India - http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-19/us/30297294_1_drones-reapers-tribal-badlands

"The 'switchblade' will join the US army's arsenal after a $4.9 million deal was signed with the manufacturer Aerovironment in June, the Defence News reported. But, the US army was tightlipped about its exact induction schedule. The drones are touted as a weapon which only hits the targets and can avoid collateral damage.

"The California-based firm said the drone weighing just 2kg is powered by a small electric motor and can receive signals from overhead in realtime, allowing soldiers to identify an enemy, the paper quoted a company statement as saying.

"After the targets are identified , using the live video feed, the operator locks its trajectory onto the target and the drone then flies into the target, detonating a small explosive."

"Miniaturized "Kamikaze" drones, launched by soldiers in the battlefield itself, labelled 'switchblade' these mini drones are small enough to fit into a soldier's backpack and hover quietly in the sky before diving to slam into a human target with precision."

ouch - notice for this system all it needs is a simple notebook PC with some advanced software..


http://www.avinc.com/img/banners/uas/Vampire_Banner_Ad_2.png

[johnf]

Interesting Bobd, I didn't see much discussion about how it would strike.
I have wondered about kickback etc, and if this would prevent them from using bullets etc.

jf

[Bob]

Interesting Bobd, I didn't see much discussion about how it would strike.
I have wondered about kickback etc, and if this would prevent them from using bullets etc.

jf

I am aware of "miniaturized smart munitions", basically very small rocket-like propelled ammo, that would not have any kickback.. consider miniature rocket launcher. A round the size of a 50 calibre projectile with a simple guidance system, and explosive payload. That no doubt should be explored in another thread I think to do it justice. i.e. what payload on the drone, what weapon on the drone, what intended use(s)..

[johnf]

Interesting Bobd, I didn't see much discussion about how it would strike.
I have wondered about kickback etc, and if this would prevent them from using bullets etc.

jf

I am aware of "miniaturized smart munitions", basically very small rocket-like propelled ammo, that would not have any kickback.. consider miniature rocket launcher. A round the size of a 50 calibre projectile with a simple guidance system, and explosive payload. That no doubt should be explored in another thread I think to do it justice. i.e. what payload on the drone, what weapon on the drone, what intended use(s)..

Well that should prove both interesting and really creepy at the same time!

jf

[Bob]

Twenty years ago my sister and her husband went for a walk about 4 am one day. While walking they saw a small flying craft like a model airplane. It hovered over them and beamed them with a blue light. Maybe drones have been around a long time.


http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/moenpux/AR_Drone-LED_Head-Light-Blue.jpg

Hard telling MargueriteBee, as you can see above, there are blue light lit drones, but it could possibly have been a high flying police helicopter searchlight on, with the wind just right that the sound wasn't heard.. or one of those 'other' things.. :)


http://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/WindowsLiveWriter/Police%20helicopter%20Atherstone%205264.jpg

or


http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/moenpux/AR_Drone-LED_Head-Light-Blue.jpg

[Bob]

This is really significant, Bob!

You know what sucks, right when my uncle was really starting to publicize his Scorpion (small manned jet by Textron AirLand),
the gov't announced the "Son of Blackbird" nonsense.

The huge price tag on these drones is mind boggling.
IIRC the Global Hawk costs 250 mil apiece easily, factoring the R&D costs...

They can plot millions of miles of terrain per week given enough drones.

You know what I am thinking? No normal human pilot would want to fly endlessly for no other reason than spying/gathering endless intel.
We all know that it's not possible to predict or anticipate every scenario. Yet our gov'ts are knowingly pouring trillions of dollars away buying these stupid drones,
when the point of it all is doing a job that infringes on our constitutional rights and far too boring for the average human to handle.

The job of policing humanity has become so tedious that a machine is expected to do it.

This smacks of extreme waste to me.

The Scorpion aircraft provides a human pilot with a job while at the same time reducing an enormous amount of financial waste.
There may be a trend for "all-purpose" inventions in our modern world, but the truth is, they are still too expensive to be practical.

Not to mention, there is an extreme need for drones that can retrieve trapped humans from earthquake and flood regions,
drones that can perform rescue dives, and missions like that. You know, real humanitarian mission.
De-mining Afghanistan and Cambodia might be a nice thing to do for tomorrow's kids, assuming we want them to stand on their own two feet and not on a prosthetic limb.

Scorpion light attack Jet
"Rather than enlist engineers at Cessna or Textron's other aviation unit, Bell Helicopter, to lead the program, the company has instead formed a joint venture with a small startup called AirLand Enterprises, created by former defense officials including retired Air Force Secretary F. Whitten Peters."

A manned small jet with operating costs that are lower than the bigger jets..

"Described as a "versatile Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)/Strike aircraft platform," the Scorpion will cost less to buy and operate than other military airplanes and drones currently used for border patrol, narcotics intervention and spy missions. Textron is reportedly targeting an operating cost of around $3,000 an hour versus nearly 10 times that much for some platforms in use now. The Scorpion is a twin-engine jet with a straight wing and tandem seating. The engines are reportedly Honeywell TFE731s and the avionics will come from Cobham. Standard empty weight would be 11,800 pounds and max takeoff weight 21,250 pounds. The jet would have a top speed of 450 knots and a ceiling of 45,000 feet. "

Great specs for a manned aircraft.
ref: http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/scorpion-light-attack-jet-nobody-asked

Possibly tho, some of the points about drones is they fly in areas where the likelihood of being shot down is pretty great.. And it's possible that a pilot on site with the plane may have a conscience and decide not to pull the trigger.. but then again some drone pilots have said NO too to shooting where collateral damage may happen.. Drones that are prop driven like to go to slow flight, and loiter at high altitude, just hanging around snooping.. A Jet currently is kinda noisy, mostly to get in fast and get out fast.. if it were a stealth configured jet now, that would be something..

There is some information on the drone pilots here: http://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/201311/drone-uav-pilot-assassination?currentPage=2 I started with page 2, but one can move back and forth in the article..

[Craig]

the true age of SKYnet begins

I don't look forward to the treading on of the skulls against a blood red night time sky either.

[Bob]

Countries with known operational armed drones:

Azerbaijan - IAI Heron,Elbit Hermes 900,Elbit Hermes 450
Botswana - Elbit Hermes 450
Brazil - Elbit Hermes 450, IAI Heron
Colombia - Elbit Hermes 450
China - Guizhou WZ-2000, AVIC Wing Loong I, CH-3, CH-4
Croatia - Elbit Hermes 450
Cyprus - Elbit Hermes 450
France - EADS Harfang (based on the IAI Heron), SAGEM Sperwer
Germany - Modified IAI Heron from Israel
India - IAI Heron, IAI Harop and IAI Harpy from Israel, DRDO AURA, DRDO Rustom
Iran - Karrar, Shahed 129 (UCAV), and others
Ireland - Aeronautics Orbiter UAV, number: 3+. Used in Irish Army duties.There is no evidence of using Armed drones by Irish army
Israel - IAI Heron, IAI Harpy, Elbit Hermes 450, IAI Eitan, IAI Harop
Italy - MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper from the U.S.
Mexico - Elbit Hermes 450
North Korea - MQM-107-based flying bombs
Pakistan - Shahpur (Testing), Falco UAV from Italy modified to carry rockets (Testing), Nescom Burraq (under development)
Singapore - Elbit Hermes 450
Russia - IAI Heron from Israel
Taiwan - The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) is developing a defending and attack UCAV based on the U.S. X-47B
Tunisia - TATI Buraq, TATI Jinn (Under Development)
Turkey - TAI Anka, Vestel Karayel
United Kingdom - MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper from the U.S.[citation needed], Elbit Hermes 450
United States - MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, Elbit Hermes 450

ref: http://www.digplanet.com/wiki/Unmanned_combat_air_vehicle

Public Opinion
In February 2013, Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind poll conducted a study to measure public opinion on the use of drones. The study was conducted nationwide, and it asked registered voters whether they "approve or disapprove of the U.S. Military using drones to carry out attacks abroad on people and other targets deemed a threat to the U.S.?" The results showed that three in every four (75%) of voters approved of the U.S. Military using drones to carry out attacks, while (13%) disapproved.

I am sure I read this wrong, but here goes..

"The next generation of the Predator is the even more menacing-sounding Reaper, an Air Force drone about four times bigger and nine times more powerful.

"Among its improvements is a Microsoft Windows software package that has "automatic man-made object detection" and "coherent change detection."

"Not only can the plane come close to flying itself, but its sensors can recognize and categorize humans and human-made objects. It can even make sense of changes it is watching, such as being able to interpret and retrace footprints or even lawnmower tracks." ref: http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2009/08/28-robots-singer That reference came from the Brookings University (brookings.edu) seriously.. and we wonder why there is collateral damage?

I wonder if Bill and Melissa Gates know about this is happening with the Window(tm) Operating system? Would that be Windows 10 (ruggedized/mil version) maybe?


http://dcon.com.br/jd.comment/img/damix.png

[ghostrider]

drones = human not needed , computer will do it ... job killer

[Bob]

The French tactical Sperwer Mk.II UAV system -


http://www.uavglobal.com/wp-content/gallery/sperwer-mk-ii/sperwer_23.jpg

Main characteristics:
MTOW 330 kg
Endurance: 6 hours
High-performance gyrostabilized day/night EO/IR payload
Catapult takeoff, parachute for recovery
Range of action: 200km with a direct link (LOS)
Digital data link in Ku (15GHz) bandwidth. UHF band redundant link
Air Traffic Control integration: Transponder/IFF mode 3C and on-board VHF relay for communication with ATC
Handover capability between two GCSs
Air transportable in C-130-type freight aircraft
Direct image transmission to ground troops and forward observers via Sagem RVT

"The Sperwer tactical UAV system (also known as SDTI by the French Ministry of Defense) is used on a daily basis in combat operations in Afghanistan and in other theaters of operation outside NATO. It is perfectly adapted to tactical missions at a brigade and Task Force level. "

ref: http://www.sagem-ds.com/spip.php?rubrique127

[Bob]

From Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch

A call for review of tactics and disclosure of proof of civilian casualties. ( 22-Oct-2013 )


http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2013/6/8/201368131824210734_20.jpg

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch unveiled reports detailing civilian casualties in a number of US operations in Pakistan and Yemen.

Collateral damage prevails. Inaccuracy in targeting killing of innocents is the argument.

Amnesty International warned that civilian-killing strikes could constitute war crimes.

The United States responded: "The administration has repeatedly emphasised the extraordinary care that we take to make sure counter-terrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable law."

Pointing out though, the US isn't the only Country using deadly force by Drones. As shown in post #21 above (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?66131-World-says-MORE-DRONES-are-the-solution&p=767667&viewfull=1#post767667) there are 23 additional Countries around the world using Drones to kill with besides the US.

The Killer Drone issue is not solely US originated.

The US has fantastic skills in technology innovation a large "budget" to develop new "stuff" and for those reasons and because it is big and because it is strong, and because it has brilliant technologists able to connect seemingly impossible to solve mathematical and hardware issues, it is constantly poked at. And it pokes at others to maintain political views. There was a question on another thread, what does one do to a bully and with a bully? Is one who represses another a bully? Human rights go across many borders, across many boundaries. When ways of lives interfere against others way of lives, interfere against others beliefs that they have a right to live in an area, grow food, or develop their infrastructure or community, when one's rights to having created and developed "something out of nothing" are stolen from by others, do they have the right to defend themselves by any means necessary against the bully or oppressor?

From publication http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2013/10/how-human-rights-groups-misinterpret-drone-strikes/72593/ - defense ONE dot com..

http://cdn.defenseone.com/media/img/upload/2013/11/22/Screen_Shot_2013-11-22_at_12.16.08_PM/defense-large.png

Defense One points out China has a successful test flight of it's killer drone a Lijian stealth drone, also known as “Sharp Sword,” , 22nd Nov, 2013, that is configured to be low radar profile and minimal emission, or stealth.

[Bob]

11 Dec 2013 New class of HACKING DRONES have hit the air

Drone Wars -

Designed to tail slower propeller style attack drones, the smaller miniature computer and radio (microwave, mid and low band) equipped "hunter" drones seek out these other killer and surveillance drones and over-ride or otherwise take them out.

From Military and Aerospace Electronics news, "Serial hacker Samy Kamkar has released all the hardware and software specifications that hobbyists need to build an aerial drone that seeks out other drones in the air, hacks them, and turns them into a conscripted army of unmanned vehicles under the attacker's control," reads the story by Dan Goodin on Ars Technica entitled Flying hacker contraption hunts other drones, turns them into zombies."

No, I'm not kidding, because I couldn't make this stuff up. I doubt, quite frankly, that a hobbyist's helicopter model drone could hunt down and hijack a wide variety of UAVs out there, but that's beside the point.

The ability for remote control infiltration of both commercial aircraft and drones exists.

Such has been demonstrated.

See ref: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Technology/2013/04/11/Hack-shows-how-smartphone-can-take-over-airplane-flight-computers/UPI-35931365715652/
"MANHASSET, N.Y., April 11 (UPI) -- A software hack could take over aircraft avionics systems and feed them incorrect navigation information and other data, a German security researcher says.
Hugo Teso, a researcher at security consultancy N.Runs who is also a commercial pilot, demonstrated the hack on a "virtual" airplane system at the Hack In The Box conference in Amsterdam, InformationWeek reported Thursday."

ref: http://conference.hitb.org/hitbsecconf2013ams/hugo-teso/
"Teso, a trained commercial pilot for 12 years, reiterated that the Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is unencrypted and unauthenticated which can lead to passive attacks like eavesdropping or active attacks such as message jamming and injection. Furthermore, the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) – a service used to send text-based messages between aircraft and ground stations - also has no security.

"With these vulnerabilities in mind, he used virtual planes in a lab to demonstrate his ability to hijack a plane rather than attempting to take over a real flight as that was “too dangerous and unethical.” He used ACARS to gain access to the plane’s onboard computer system and uploaded Flight Management System data.

"Once in, he demonstrated how it was possible to manipulate the steering of a Boeing jet while it was in autopilot mode. The security consultant said he could cause a crash by setting the aircraft on a collision course with another jet or even give passengers a scare by dropping down the emergency oxygen masks without warning."

Hobby grade "attack drones", the low cost hunters are freaking out military and industry alike.

The little guy strikes back it appears..

ref: http://conference.hitb.org/hitbsecconf2013ams/materials/D1T1%20-%20Hugo%20Teso%20-%20Aircraft%20Hacking%20-%20Practical%20Aero%20Series.pdf


http://chanlo.com/images/h1.jpg

[Sidney]

Now they just need to implement the robots, to operate the drones. Absolute non human = no judgement needed. Maybe in the end they will all eventually just blow each other to smithereens.

[johnf]

11 Dec 2013 New class of HACKING DRONES have hit the air

Drone Wars -

The ancient dance of measure counter measure continues.
It is hard to imagine this stuff continuing forever.
Things have a tendency to find an equilibrium, perhaps less so
in the various arenas created by manipulative species.

jf

[Bob]

14 Dec 2013

Area 51 Nevada, CNN reports a new high efficient flyer.. Citing a 24 hour flight time endurance, stealth cloaking, ultra-high resolution "radar" illumination of targets.. That last one is an odd one, as when one turns on the radar, the location is instantly known. (disinformation maybe?)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcXKPQbiOAo

When requested by CNN to comment, the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grunman refused to comment to both CNN and Aviation Week when asked about the aircraft’s development program.

They are calling it the RQ-180. Northrop Grumman has a plant in Palmdale, California where it is believed (by CNN reporters) that the wing is being spec'd and prototyped.

Amy Butler is the Aviation Week reporter digging into this. Bill Sweetman is the other investigative reporter who leaked the Aurora stealth plane articles (http://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/aurora.htm). Barbara Starr is the CNN Pentagon Correspondent .

The reporters citing leaks from "officials", say the drone may be able to fly as high as 11 miles and remain quite invisible to being spotted by sensors (radar, tropo-shockwave detectors). The last detection technology mentioned is a system which was originally developed to determine if atomic devices were being tested by nations in violation of test ban treaties. Such is believed to be the only technology capable of picking up the shock wave of a "stealth" craft remaining in radio/radar silence mode.


http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/X47BUCAS/PublishingImages/ss_UC-10028_001_734x265.jpg

See my earlier post on Avalon - http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?66131-World-says-MORE-DRONES-are-the-solution&p=767456&viewfull=1#post767456 for the writeup on the X47B

Hoax, disinformation? or the real deal.

Aviation week reporters on the scoop feel by 2015 this will be flying. I wonder if the Aurora which was also hyped ever flew? This RQ-180 is supposed to not be supersonic, so it couldn't possibly be the Aurora..

Defense Review tho, an industry trade journal, feels this is real. Or so we can assume, but there is some tongue in cheek comments in the middle of that article.

They are saying this looks like a remake of the earlier Northrop Grumman X47B UCAS (http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/X47BUCAS/Pages/default.aspx) - the UCAS is what is called an "Unmanned Combat Air System", or a plane that can do more than just spy. A UCAS system means can fight back. But the reports are the RQ-180, this new variant of the X47 series won't be armed (why call it UCAS then?) - so more disinformation possibly..

In the Wiki article about some UCAS capabilities, we can find this particularly interesting...

"Over the long term, the Air Force is interested in using a UCAV as a platform to carry directed-energy weapons, initially a "high power microwave (HPM)" weapon to fry adversary electronic systems. The HPM weapon would be "fired" out an aperture on the front of the aircraft, with electronic steering used to direct the beam over an arc covering about 45 degrees to either side of the UCAV. The HPM weapon could be followed by a high power laser weapon." That sounds like a most interesting "armed" drone to me with some pretty exotic weapons.

Wiki's writeup on the UCAS - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Unmanned_Combat_Air_Systems and it says armed..

Aviation week article ref: http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_12_06_2013_p0-643783.xml&p=1

Defense Review article ref: http://www.defensereview.com/northrop-grumman-rq-180-low-observable-flying-wing-stealth-uasuavdrone-aircraft-for-isr-missions-out-of-the-black-and-into-the-light/

Ref to the Aurora - hypersonic stealth plane - http://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/aurora.htm

[Bob]

14 Dec 2013

Feasibility of a PULSE WEAPON on a drone.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/pulse-weapon-brings-cars-to-a-halt-dystopian-future-en-1475673629

An article which was reprinted and Reposted from BBC News states that a successful test of L and S band high powered RADAR systems can be used to deactivate, damage or destroy the computers in automobiles at a distance of up to 50 meters (small by Drone standards), but it showed that civilians can create such devices with meager resources.

A higher power microwave burst on those frequencies (very readily doable by Vircator EMP devices) directed by a linear array antenna could easily have a range of 10 or more miles. EMP is what a nuclear weapon burst emits when deployed at altitude, and can totally destroy the electronics (computers, vehicles, powerstations, radio stations) rendering the opponent blind and dumb.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr2PWbLCyDc

The X47 class of UCAS UAV's deployed with such, possibly in the new RQ-180 definitely would be reason for tight lipped responses to what's happening with the new design of drones..

Here is the Vircator EMP weapon design in principle:


http://survivalplus.com/images/emp_06.gif

and


http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1996/helixvco.gif

Operation, a high voltage DC pulse is applied to the design as shown. The plasma shock wave travels along the electrodes as shown. The resonant cavity isolates the frequencies into the desired microwave beam. The antenna shapes and concentrates the beam into something that will contain the energy over a distance. When the microwave energy hits metallic circuits, the wave generates an electrical signal that blows out the sensitive parts with high voltage. In essence this method allows the high voltage pulse from the sender to be conveyed to anything that can receive it, and thereby be destroyed remotely.

Is there a defence for such an EMP weapon - "Not at this time"

[Carmody]

possibly... mu metal shielding



Nice one, though, their making the fundamental techniques of gravity and time-space matter manipulation..all mainstream like that.

intermixing that kind of signal with other similar signals, can create some very interesting effects.

[Bob]

Mu-Metal - great stuff, how about metglass? Would that work?

Right now folks have been saying tightly knit brass or copper mesh, covering and grounding your special electronics and devices that you want to protect.. (makes things impossible to operate though with a shield and no entry into the shield..


possibly... mu metal shielding



Nice one, though, their making the fundamental techniques of gravity and time-space matter manipulation..all mainstream like that.

intermixing that kind of signal with other similar signals, can create some very interesting effects.


mu-metal reference: http://www.mumetal.com/
metglass reference: http://www.metglas.com/products/magnetic_materials/

[Bob]

12 Dec 2013 Another Drone attack in Yemen

SANAA, Yemen — Yemeni officials say a U.S. drone strike has hit a convoy heading to wedding party, killing at least 13 people.

"The officials say Thursday’s attack took place in the Yemeni city of Radda, the capital of Bayda province. The city is known as a stronghold of al-Qaida militants.

"They said the convoy was heading to a wedding in the village of Qaifa when it was hit by the drone, and that the strike left charred bodies in the road and vehicles on fire.

"One official said that al-Qaida militants are suspected to have been traveling with the wedding convoy.

"The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media."

Yemen is unstable politically and has armed camps, no question on that, and al-Qaeda is heavily invested in the region.

A good article on RT is here http://rt.com/news/al-qaeda-yemen-drones-171/ where the discussion of Drone attacks in Yemen is covered in depth.

"AQAP, formed by a merger of Al-Qaeda’s Saudi and Yemeni branches, is regarded by the United States as one of the most active branches of the decentralized global terrorist network. Its stated goal is to establish an Islamic-run caliphate in Yemen and the Middle East free of non-Muslim influence."

AQAP has also been accused of a failed 2009 assassination attempt on a Saudi prince and the British ambassador in the capital Sanaa. ref: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

ref: Washington Post Article - http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/sectarian-clashes-kill-at-least-40-in-yemen/2013/12/12/71dba404-634e-11e3-af0d-4bb80d704888_story.html

[carriellbee]

"The performance and affordability of tactical UAVs like our Shadow system make them an invaluable battlefield asset with a growing mission spectrum," says Steven Reid, senior vice president and general manager of AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

"Our private satellite network services can deliver the dedicated bandwidth needed to distribute tactical UAV video throughout the battlespace," says Paul Baca, vice president and general manager for ViaSat Global Mobile Broadband."


Ack! Which part of the world was consulted about this solution? I was never asked for my opinion...

Last week, I noticed a strange helicopter as I was waiting for a traffic light while driving to the store. It was dark outside and what made the thing noteworthy was that it had a very different kind of light on it. It looked to me like it was shooting out sparks in front of it. It flew behind some trees and I did not see it again. Until...

About three days ago, I saw what I believe to be the same thing. Actually, there were two of them. This time, the light appeared to be more like a strobe light. They flew all over the neighborhood, then away, then back again, etc.

Tonight, I pulled into my driveway and got out of the car. I heard at least two helicopters, one to the south of me and one very, very close and loud, to my immediate north. I stood outside my car, waiting for the thing to clear the trees so I could see it and boy was I surprised. It made a sharp turn toward me, flew *just* over the power lines, stopped right next to me, tilted its nose down, hovered for a few seconds and then flew over my house and then turned and flew away to the east.

What surprised me was how small it was. It was maybe 15 - 20 feet above my head and I could see clearly that it was not large enough to accommodate humans. It was probably a little bit smaller than a sub-compact car. I ran inside to get my camera and when the thing(s) came back, I tried to get video. I stayed out there until my battery died. I may or may not have any useable footage.

I've started to do some research and it appears that there are also hobby drones. So now WTF? How do we know if we are looking at a UFO, a military or law enforcement drone or a hobby drone? Can I shoot it down if it harasses me?

It's nearly 5 a.m. here and I have been swamped with connectivity issues and other things. I have to get some sleep so I can pull myself together to deal with this tomorrow.

Has anyone else had any personal experience with these things?

[Bob]

18 Dec 13

Northrup Grumman to supply MAN-SEEKER radar packages to Drones, helicopters, and aircraft.

Grumman is hoping their Christmas present contract for $65.3 million US is going to stuff their stockings..

With a new type of ultra-resolution radar the package is able to bolted onto existing hovering vehicles which "lurk", or fly slowly at altitudes not readily able to be noticed by the eye..

This system tracks movement, such as people moving around and finds the hidden locations (potentially underground), or going into a door in a building.. and tracks vehicle movement.

This system is called the VADAR system - "NG will do the work on the U.S. Army's Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) system. Awarding the contract were officials of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The VADER man-hunting radar is for manned aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)."

ref: http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2013/12/northrop-vader-radar.html?cmpid=EnlMAEDecember182013


http://www.militaryaerospace.com/content/dam/mae/online-articles/2013/12/Grey%20Eagle%2016%20Dec%202013.jpg

"VADER is designed to track vehicles and foot traffic over a wide area from UAVs and manned aircraft, and provide Army ground commanders with real-time ground moving target indicator (GMTI) data and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery."

"VADER's exploitation suite includes the DARPA NetTrack tool for persistent reconnaissance, surveillance, tracking, and targeting of evasive vehicles and people moving on foot in cluttered environments.

"The system operates in two modes: as a synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution still images, and as a real-time ground moving target indicator for detecting and tracking moving targets-particularly moving vehicles and humans on foot.

"The overall idea of the VADER system is to detect teams planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to destroy or damage U.S. military vehicles and personnel.

"VADER also has been demonstrated to track animals and boats."

[Calz]

Me thinks it is time to move to Colorado ...

(for those not aware laws have been passed in a few places in the state to legalize shooting down government drones ... that said the fine print doesn't include what to do with the predator drones coming back to you with missiles ... but I digress)



http://vimeo.com/14383287

[Bob]

Heya Calz - shooting at drones in the States seems to be discussed in that one community..

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/10/us/colorado-town-drone-ordinance/

"Deer Trail -- population 598 -- was scheduled to vote Tuesday on a measure that would allow its residents to hunt for federal drones and shoot them down, but Mayor Frank Fields said Tuesday that the vote has been postponed while a District court decides whether the ordinance is legal. The vote probably won't happen until next year, the mayor said."

"The FAA recently announced plans to create six drone test sites around the country, none of which has been publicly listed.

"It plans to allow widespread use of domestic drones in 2015."

Deer Trail, is a microscopic community in Colorado takes up less than one square mile and is about 50 miles outside Aurora. The sentiments of a handful of people there do not carry a representative cross section of the rest of the Colorado residents and voters.

The FAA has said anyone shooting at aircraft, including drones will be prosecuted. Firing a laser at aircraft is a violation of federal laws, as well as firing any projectile(s). The FAA says it has the authority over the airspace and drones fall under their mandated control.

[Calz]

Well ... a bit off topic ... but Colorado sheriffs in many places in the state are saying "no" ... and "hell no" to fed gun rights being scaled back.

There have been recalled politicians brought to heel on that topic.

At some point we the peeps have to make a stand ... yes???

Can there be any denial about that???

[Bob]

Hobbyists are enjoying the Drones

Costing less than 350$ on average, smaller camera equipped drones are being used by hobbyists to spy on their neighbors, snoop inside of windows, look at swimming pools/spa hot tubs - voyeurs running rampant with the new technology...

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/spying-eyes-or-a-bit-of-fun-drones-fly-off-the-shelves-20130216-2ek6s.html

"Associate Professor Kevin Heller from the Melbourne Law School says the idea that private citizens can buy drones and record footage directly onto smartphones had serious privacy implications.
He said that while ''not everybody who buys these drones is a closet criminal … there are infinite mischievous possibilities''.

"Under the Surveillance Devices Act 1999, people are prohibited from knowingly using an ''optical surveillance device'' to record a private activity without consent.

''There is concern regarding the use of these devices outside the law,'' a police spokeswoman said.

''There is potential for possible breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act where operators of unmanned aerial vehicles do not comply with the provisions of 'private activity' as defined in the act.''

but that law in Oz hasn't stopped folks from having a good peep show while maneuvering the drones into amazing places.

"These don't have to be armed to have interesting capabilities, using the built-in recording camera and obtaining some unique compromising footage.." apparently are the sentiments of a few unsavory drone pilots.

"Harvey Norman stores began selling the Parrot AR. Drone 2.0, which can be controlled through a smartphone, late last year.

"On its website, the electronics retailer says the drone's camera allows its owners to ''see more with the clean, sharp image'' and ''record and share your flying experience''.

"Video footage and images can be shared instantly on social media such as YouTube."


http://rcelectricflyer.com/files/2012/07/Janine-proudly-shows-off-the-new-Parrot-AR.Drone-2.0.jpg

[Jeffrey]

Cross-posting from: http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?66372-Rise-of-the-Robot-Security-Guards


-----------

Skynet Drones Work Together for Homeland Security

oDyfGM35ekc

Video description from YouTube:


Professor Raffaello D'Andrea demonstrates the amazing capability of drones that can communicate with each other, technology he admits could be open to "abuse" and is "incredibly dangerous."

Aviation expert David Cenciotti expects the drones to be used for "hunting terrorists" and other "homeland security" purposes.

Here is the full presentation by Professor Raffaello D’Andrea:

C4IJXAVXgIo

See also: http://www.businessinsider.com/flying-drones-work-as-a-team-2013-3

kwkxx84wXNo

CgLkWT246qU

[Bob]

Well ... a bit off topic ... but Colorado sheriffs in many places in the state are saying "no" ... and "hell no" to fed gun rights being scaled back.

There have been recalled politicians brought to heel on that topic.

At some point we the peeps have to make a stand ... yes???

Can there be any denial about that???

Yup there can, cause see here in this post - the Sheriff's in Colorado ARE recommending the use of Drones, here is the pix too of it flying and the Sheriff's in Colorado are saying NO, our GUNS will not be taken away by the Federal Government.

So I would suspect there are mixed sentiments about surveillance and having guns. The mountains and the plains of Colorado are quite wild and critters have been known to break into houses, cabins, cars.. Same with Texas.. Guns in a city, highly urban environment the Sheriff's are for strict control, in the other areas, it's don't take away one's ability to defend..

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?66131-World-says-MORE-DRONES-are-the-solution&p=767577&viewfull=1#post767577

the sheriff's feel this is better use of their resources and is cost effective.

http://chanlo.com/images/drone2.jpg


http://chanlo.com/images/drone3.jpg

http://chanlo.com/images/drone1.jpg - this last one, Montgomery county Texas, one can see how enthused the Sheriff's department is to have their drone.

These guys want the government use of drones, they don't want hobbyist use of drones.. interesting.

Had folks read the post above about the group who was hacking (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?66131-World-says-MORE-DRONES-are-the-solution&p=770745&viewfull=1#post770745) into the control system of drones?

[Jeffrey]

Check out these military funded projects as well ...

Cross-posting from: http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?55117-The-Technological-Revolution-Artificial-Intelligence-and-the-Invisible-Plague/page25

-----------

TerraSwarm

The TerraSwarm Research Center: The Center will focus on the challenge of developing technologies that provide innovative, city-scale capabilities via the deployment of distributed applications on shared swarm platforms. Two scenarios are of interest: a city during normal operation and a city during natural or man-made disasters (such as accidents, failures, hurricanes, earthquakes or terrorist attacks). Terraswarm is hosted at the University of California-Berkeley with collaborators from California Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, University of California-San Diego, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas-Dallas, and the University of Washington.

CoABS

The Control of Agent Based System (CoABS) Grid is an advanced service-oriented architecture (SOA) that supports distributed object management; mobile computing and surrogate processing for constrained devices; multi-modal, adaptive user interfaces; collaborative computing; intelligent software; and intelligent heterogeneous data access. It supports protocol-independent communications and provides rapid, evolutionary development of user-centered information systems that can be easily integrated into legacy systems. CoABS has been developed with military applications in mind and provides a general-purpose, lightweight integration framework for a wide variety of applications. The CoABS grid is based on JINI and RMI.

The CoABS Grid is designed to integrate large-scale distributed applications from small independently developed components to meet the needs of rapidly evolving, geographically dispersed organizations. The technology's goal is to strike a practical balance between recent innovations in distributed agent technology, emerging from advanced research, and the practical demands of real-world applications.

TERN

Effective 21st-century warfare requires the ability to conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike mobile targets anywhere, around the clock. Current technologies, however, have their limitations. Helicopters are relatively limited in the distance and flight time. Fixed-wing manned and unmanned aircraft can fly farther and longer but require either aircraft carriers or large, fixed land bases with runways often longer than a mile. Moreover, establishing these bases or deploying carriers requires substantial financial, diplomatic and security commitments that are incompatible with rapid response.

To help overcome these challenges and expand DoD options, DARPA has launched the Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) program. Seeking to combine the strengths of both land- and sea-based approaches to supporting airborne assets, TERN envisions using smaller ships as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) fixed-wing unmanned aircraft (UAVs). Named after the family of seabirds known for flight endurance – many species migrate thousands of miles each year – TERN aims to make it much easier, quicker and less expensive for DoD to deploy ISR and strike capabilities almost anywhere in the world.

[...]

"We're trying to rethink how the ship, UAV and launch and recovery domains – which have traditionally worked in parallel – can synergistically collaborate to help achieve the vision of base-independent operations for maritime or overland missions," Pat said.

SeeMe

While UAVs have joined spy satellites as an indispensable part of America's military operations—especially in delivering timely, accurate intel to troops on the ground—they are not the end-all-be-all perfect solution, even in coordination. That's why DARPA plans to supplement these unmanned intelligence gathering platforms with jet-deployed constellations of micro-satellites. Soon, every grunt will have access to a real-time battlefield mini-map just in like video games.

[...]

DARPA’s SeeMe program aims to give mobile individual US warfighters access to on-demand, space-based tactical information in remote and beyond- line-of-sight conditions. If successful, SeeMe will provide small squads and individual teams the ability to receive timely imagery of their specific overseas location directly from a small satellite with the press of a button — something that’s currently not possible from military or commercial satellites.

The program seeks to develop a constellation of small “disposable” satellites, at a fraction of the cost of airborne systems, enabling deployed warfighters overseas to hit ‘see me’ on existing handheld devices to receive a satellite image of their precise location within 90 minutes. DARPA plans SeeMe to be an adjunct to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, which provides local and regional very-high resolution coverage but cannot cover extended areas without frequent refueling. SeeMe aims to support warfighters in multiple deployed overseas locations simultaneously with no logistics or maintenance costs beyond the warfighters’ handheld devices.

-----------

The sources are in the link if you're interested.

See also: GHO ISR UAV - IARPA contract awarded to D-STAR Engineering (http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2012/07/dstar-iarpa.html)

ADD: Ahhh, browsing your current threads I see you have explored SeeMe.

[Bob]

Yup Jeffrey - I have a thread that goes in depth for the See Me series of Satellites (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?64995-SeeMe-See-you-new-spies-in-the-skies&p=751639&viewfull=1#post751639) that have linkup with drone and ground control. (SeeMe See you - new spies in the skies
Mission: See Everything)

This thread we are on now has a lot of the existing systems..

I find the purely and totally robotic drones for instance, the MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) aircraft (these are the Hunter-Killer robotic drones), "set and forget" quite challenging to deal with - that a pre-programmed robot is going to determine if shoot-to-kill is the proper action. One author at Brookings was "joking" (at least I hope so), that a special militarized version of windows was being developed to look at the person and vehicle tracking. I think though he was referring to the Northrup Grumman VADAR system described in a post or two above.

I have been aware of the man-pack radar systems used in Viet Nam during the later 60's and early 70's based on a doppler radar (doppler is similar to the radio wave cop speed guns systems that are ideal for picking up motion).. A very short wavelength microwave doppler on these systems would be pretty impossible to hide from..

[Jeffrey]

Excerpts from, The Role of Autonomy in DoD Systems:

The air domain has received the greatest concentration of visibility as DoD has embraced unmanned technologies. Table A-1 (below) shows that Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) investments will continue to consume a large share of the overall DoD investment in unmanned systems. Over the next 10 years, the Department of Defense plans to purchase 730 new medium size and large unmanned aircraft systems based on designs currently in operation, while improving the unmanned aircraft already in service. This investment represents an inventory increase of 35%; today the Department of Defense has more than 8,000 unmanned systems. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that completing the unmanned systems investments for which there are detailed plans will required approximately $36.9 billion through 2020. Worldwide, more than sixty countries are manufacturing unmanned systems. Fifty countries are designing unmanned systems and there are over 600 different models of unmanned systems worldwide.

[...]

The Strategy for the future Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) enterprise of the United States has a single, ambitious goal: to achieve information dominance across the spectrum of conflict through cross-domain integration of ISR from air, land and maritime operations. Wide area sensors carried on airborne unmanned systems to include Full Motion Video (FMV), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Ground Moving Target Indicators (GMTIs) have created an unprecedented amount of “big” data and integration challenges that can be addressed by the application of autonomous technologies.

[...]

Unmanned aircraft systems have long held great promise for military operations, but technology has only recently matured enough to exploit that potential. DoD’s 2012 plan calls for purchasing more of the existing unmanned aircraft systems for current operations, improving the systems already in service and designing more capable unmanned aircraft systems for the future. No weapon system has had a more profound impact on the United States’ ability to provide persistence on the battlefield than the UAVs. From a low of 54 deployed unmanned systems in 2001 to nearly 8,000 systems in 2011, this unprecedented growth can be attributed to a dual commitment by government and industry to ensure our deployed forces had unquestioned decision dominance on the battle space, as evidenced during the last 10 years of continuous combat operations.

[...]

Unmanned aircraft clearly have a critical role in the future. Admittedly, the development of unmanned systems is still in the formative stage with more focus being given to sensors, weapons, and manned/unmanned operations than in the past. As DoD offices continue to develop and employ an increasingly sophisticated force of unmanned systems over the next 25 years, technologists, acquisition officials, and operational planners must prioritize their investments to focus on the greatest needs of the warfighter. A critical need cited by many of the presenters who briefed the Task Force was to promote integration of UAVs into the National Air Space. Due to Sense and Avoid technologies, redundant flight controls, experience, and revised procedures, the accident rate for most unmanned systems now mirrors manned aircraft. In addition, new missions for aerial unmanned systems are being seriously considered.

-----------

Still perusing the report ... Here's the link: http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/dsb/autonomy.pdf

http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/dsb/autonomy.pdf

[Bob]

Drone Wars - NRUNS started with showing how serial hacker Samy Kamkar has released all the hardware and software specifications that hobbyists need to build an aerial drone that seeks out other drones in the air, hacks them, and turns them into a conscripted army of unmanned vehicles under the attacker's control..

Hugo Teso, a researcher at security consultancy N.Runs showed how an airplane's computer could be taken over from onboard or ground relays.

In this link, http://privat.bahnhof.se/wb907234/killuav.htm the author talks about UAV communication systems saying that they have two alternative systems for communication.

Line of sight radio :
In the military C-Band 500 - 1000 MHz that can be jammed with simple spark-gap wide band emitter (connected to a directed array antenna of some kind, dish, etc.)

Satellite communication :
In the Ku-Band between 10.95 - 14.5 GHz, and the satellite can be jammed.
The Uplink-Band to the satellite is 13.75 - 14.5 GHz
The Downlink-Band from the satellite is 10.95 - 12.75 GHz

The author says that directing said jammer at the Satellite would jam that satellite.

Just a point of notice here - (besides it being highly illegal to actually do such), during an all out war-time event, no doubt people are going to want to try to find ways to deal with such technology. Jamming satellites will incur the wrath of all the agencies, and tptb, no question.

No spark-gap system is going to be able to destroy the front-end receivers of such satellites, however the EMP generation systems that may be on some hunter killer drones might be able to be used in reverse to not only jam the drones electronics but possibly destroy the front end of satellites, similar to a massive Solar Event (a CME).


http://privat.bahnhof.se/wb907234/pics/uavcom.jpg
is what the author posted from that website, their idea of how the system works.

DARPA has been designing jam-proof radios based on spread spectrum, wideband receivers and transmitters which only stay on one unique frequency for a short period of time, dividing up the information across the radio spectrum to attempt to defeat wide-band jammers.. It is quite cat and mouse technologically.

We could literally as a planet be seeing drones hunting drones, hunting both airborne and ground based transmission stations as these "wars" escalate in the immediate future.

From The Register, UK - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/23/us_deploys_sat_jamming_squads/
"The US has created electronic-warfare squads capable of jamming enemy satellite transmissions. Fearful of losing its advantage of superior technology resources over its potential enemies, the US has established mobile teams equipped with electronic jamming gear capable of disrupting attempts to interfere with its satellite resources, The Washington Times reports.

"You can't go to war and win without space," Gen. Lance Lord, the four-star general in charge of the Colorado-based Air Force Space Command, told the paper. Air Force Space Command is tasked with both protecting Us satellites from attack or disruption.."

From ABC Australia - http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/space/SpaceRepublish_120537.htm
"This week's New Scientist reports that instructions on how to build satellite jammers, using cheap equipment from home improvement stores and electronics fairs, are to be found on the internet.

"The US Air Force team, dubbed the Space Aggressor Squadron (http://www.926gp.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=13144), was set up to look for weak spots in satellite communications and navigation systems by playing the part of a potential enemy."


http://www.926gp.afrc.af.mil/shared/media/ggallery/webgraphic/AFG-080929-020.jpg

[Bob]

On Monday, a predator drone used by US Customs and Border Patrol crashed off the coast of San Diego California. The crash was deliberate, and a decision by the operators based in Arizona.


http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/1/28/1390929780160/2eb7cfd9-f5a9-44e9-b3e4-9fb4d07b26b9-460x276.jpeg

The $12m surveillance drone was part of a fleet of 10 the Department of Homeland Security uses to patrol the border.

It was just one of two maritime Predator B drones equipped with radar specifically designed to be used over the ocean. It was flying offshore when mechanical problems developed.

Offshore flights are used to monitor for illegal entry via the sea into US territorial waters or onto the US shores.

The whole fleet is said to be grounded while the search for the cause of the mechanical failure is researched.

ref: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/28/us-border-patrol-drone-crashes-california-mexico The Guardian, UK

[Conchis]

everyone's house will have a set of tiny blimps tethered to the chimney to keep the surveillance drones at bay.....Ah, what a bright and cheery future they are creating for us.

[Calz]

Short snippet of a long and detailed article regarding the soon to arrive next generation of drones. Many images.

Perhaps ... with luck ... the financial situation will change enough soon to mitigate this from coming to fruition???

_____________________


New drone technology "equivalent to the capabilities of 100 Predator drones"


Police State USA
Sat, 08 Feb 2014 19:39 CST


To understand the extent to which the federal government has the ability to spy on us, we must attempt to understand the technologies it has at its disposal. Through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Defense Department has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on one particular project alone. Known as ARGUS, it is a surveillance platform with the capability to maintain continuous 24/7 surveillance, day or night; able to track multiple moving targets miles apart in high definition without refocusing the camera; and with a resolution so astounding that it can detect objects as small as a cellular phone from several miles in the sky. It quite literally provides ubiquitous surveillance over a whole city from one drone.

"This is the next generation of surveillance," said Yiannis Antonaides, an engineer for BAE Systems who led the design of the project. "It is important for the public to know that some of these capabilities exist."

The Government's All-Seeing Eye

ARGUS stands for Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance. Its alternative designation is Wide Area Persistent Stare (WAPS). The project integrates many sophisticated technologies into a formidable surveillance system, combining images from 368 independent into a single mosaic image. The result is a video with a combined resolution of reportedly 1.8 gigapixels.

The massive collection of data is equivalent to having 100 Predator Drones hover over a medium-sized city at once.


http://www.sott.net/article/273546-New-drone-technology-equivalent-to-the-capabilities-of-100-Predator-drones

[Becky]

I was at a wedding last night and spoke with a man who used to make drones before he retired. He said they are quite inaccurate at 'hitting their targets' as there is a 30 second delay between the operator in the UK and the response from the drone, so by the time a target is lined up and the order to shoot is given, the designated target may well have moved out the way and some other poor person stepped into the line of fire. I would liked to have asked more, but it wasn't appropriate at the time, it being a wedding.

[Bob]

I wouldn't be surprised if the rabble-rousers, those upset about things, insurgents, don't start using remotely piloted vehicles (another name for "drones"), RPV's against things like the power grid.

RPV's used against other "drones" (the drone wars) where low cost commercial vehicles become hunter-seekers no doubt is on the future horizon. Need begets solutions has been the way of the world for thousands of years, both in biological and physical issues.

There are so many potential vulnerabilities, in so many perceived "immune" infrastructures, even the "toys" such as the:
"Parrot-AR-Drone-2-0-Remote-Control-Quadricopter" - controlled by the iPhone or iPad, with camera, and a potential payload is a significant concern.


rqkklVI7WBo

http://www.corecomputers.com.au/ebay/Parrot/ParrotARDroneV2a.jpg

For instance, when the Iraqi wars were conducted, part of the attacks were to take out the electric power grid. Forces dropped carbon conductive fibre all over the power lines, transformer substations.. Such created an intense short circuit to the high voltage, and of course created a massive manpower intensive situation to clean up such to restore the power grid. Similarly, any exposed phone lines which could be shorted out to the high voltage lines, would be affected..

With modern commercial remotely piloted "smart" vehicles in the hands of those who are rabble rousers or for that matter, armies looking at cost savings, for a few hundred pounds sterling totally, to outfit micro-over-the-counter RPV with for instance, a conductive carbon liquid would create formidable systems, rivaling the carbon fibre strand deployment systems used in the Iraqi wars. Each of the softbombs are in the range of several hundred thousand dollars (dumb bombs that release carbon fibre into the air which arbitrarily float and without intelligence guidance can hit power-wires or transformers, evoking a short).


ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BLU-114/B_%22Soft-Bomb%22 - carbon fibre soft bomb took out 85% of Iraqi power grid

ref: http://www.lion.co.jp/en/chem/product/industry/i03.htm - electro conductive carbon black liquid

[Limor Wolf]

Since there is little or no nature surroundings in my area, I go once in a while to a field near an orchard not too far from where I live and lie down on the ground or meditate. Today, as a month ago, I was having drones fly above my head without even hiding. Last month it was two white drones Humming over in the sky, passing back and forth across the place where I lay, I followed it with my gaze to make sure that it was not some gilders enthusiasts. Today, I heard the humming again despite having an MP3 in my ears, (not sure how long it was there) by noticing it, I started broadcasting through my mind a vision of my intention to intercept the UAV, it then continued with the round and went away.

[Shezbeth]

I would love to see a video of a drone dogfight,... this could get interesting!

Picture it, 2 drones going at it (with whatever attachments would allow them to engage one another) while another drone w/ a camera records it,... :p

... before long spectator drones would start lining up,... perhaps a reporter drone would commentate in front of the camera drone,....

[Bill Ryan]

-------

Light relief: :)

The Drone Spotting App — by JOYCAMP (highly recommended!)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fst7j_VjPds

:focus:

[Hervé]

[...]
RPV's used against other "drones" (the drone wars) where low cost commercial vehicles become hunter-seekers no doubt is on the future horizon. [...]

Too late:


Flying hacker contraption hunts other drones, turns them into zombies (http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/12/flying-hacker-contraption-hunts-other-drones-turns-them-into-zombies/)

Ever wanted your own botnet of flying drones? SkyJack can help.
by Dan Goodin (http://arstechnica.com/author/dan-goodin/) - Dec 3 2013, 11:49pm RST



http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/parrot-drone-640x394.jpg
Neerav Bhatt (https://secure.flickr.com/photos/neeravbhatt/6885425000/)


Serial hacker Samy Kamkar has released all the hardware and software specifications that hobbyists need to build an aerial drone that seeks out other drones in the air, hacks them, and turns them into a conscripted army of unmanned vehicles under the attacker's control.

Dubbed SkyJack, the contraption uses a radio-controlled Parrot AR.Drone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot_AR.Drone) quadcopter carrying a Raspberry Pi circuit board, a small battery, and two wireless transmitters. The devices run a combination of custom software and off-the-shelf applications that seek out wireless signals of nearby Parrot drones, hijack the wireless connections used to control them, and commandeer the victims' flight-control and camera systems. SkyJack will also run on land-based Linux devices and hack drones within radio range. At least 500,000 Parrot drones have been sold since the model was introduced (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/03/esa-launches-drone-app-to-crowdsource-flight-data/) in 2010.

Kamkar is the creator of the infamous Samy worm (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/17/web20_worm_knocks_out_myspaces/), a complex piece of JavaScript that knocked MySpace out of commission in 2005 when the exploit added more than one million MySpace friends to Kamkar's account. Kamkar was later convicted for the stunt. He has since devoted his skills to legal hacks, including development of the "evercookie," a highly persistent browser cookie (http://arstechnica.com/security/2010/10/it-is-possible-to-kill-the-evercookie/) with troubling privacy implications. He has also researched location data stored by Android devices (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2011/04/android-phones-keep-location-cache-too-but-its-harder-to-access/).

SkyJack made its debut the same week that Amazon unveiled plans to use drones to deliver packages to customers' homes or businesses (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/12/forget-amazons-two-day-shipping-soon-you-can-select-drone-delivery/).

"How fun would it be to take over drones, carrying Amazon packages... or take over any other drones and make them my little zombie drones," Kamkar asked rhetorically in a blog post published Monday (http://samy.pl/skyjack/). "Awesome."

SkyJack: autonomous drone hacking.

SkyJack works by monitoring the media access control (MAC) addresses of all Wi-Fi devices within radio range. When it finds a MAC address belonging to a block of addresses used by Parrot AR.Drone vehicles, SkyJack uses the open-source Aircrack-ng app for Wi-Fi hacking (http://aircrack-ng.org/) to issue a command that disconnects the vehicle from the iOS or Android device currently being used to control and monitor it. Operators of the flying hacker drone are then able to use their own smart device to control the altitude, speed, and direction of the hijacked drone and to view its live video feeds.

At the moment, SkyJack is engineered to target a small range of drones. That's because it's programmed to take over drones only if their MACs fall inside an address block reserved by Parrot AR.Drone vehicles. If the MAC falls outside that range, SkyJack takes no action at all. But the software is built in a way to easily target other types of drones that have communication systems that are similar to Parrot. That means a much broader range of devices may be susceptible to radio-controlled hijacking if they fail to adequately secure their connections.

And:


Slowly dripping into the public domain...

Tiny Helicopter Piloted By Human Thoughts (http://www.livescience.com/37160-tiny-helicopter-piloted-by-human-thoughts.html)
Elizabeth Palermo, TechNewsDaily Contributor
Date: 04 June 2013 Time: 07:03 PM ET


http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/053/483/original/mind-quadcopter.png?1370387298
CREDIT: University of Minnesota


You may have had remote controlled airplanes growing up, but they probably weren't as cool as the quadcopter. This tiny helicopter looks a lot like a toy, but it's really a high-tech robot controlled exclusively by human thought.

Developed by a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota, the four-blade helicopter, or quadcopter, can be quickly and accurately controlled for a sustained amount of time using the electrical impulses associated with a subject's thoughts.

The team used a noninvasive technique known as electroencephalography (http://www.technewsdaily.com/15966-mental-screening-predict-murder.html) (EEG) to record the electrical brain activity of five different subjects. Each subject was fitted with a cap equipped with 64 electrodes, which sent signals to the quadcopter over a WiFi network.


6LWz4qa2XQA

The subjects were positioned in front of a screen that relayed images of the quadcopter's flight through an on-board camera, allowing them to see the course the way a pilot would. The plane, which was driven with a pre-set forward moving velocity, was then controlled by the subject's thoughts.

By imagining that they were using their right hand, left hand and both hands together, subjects controlled the flight path of the plane. If they imagined raising their left hand, for example, the plane turned left. If they imagined raising their hands together, the plane lifted higher in the air.

Once they got the hang of it, subjects were able to fly the quadcopter through foam rings scattered around the indoor course.

"Our study shows that for the first time, humans are able to control the flight of flying robots using just their thoughts, sensed from noninvasive brain waves," said Bin He, lead scientist behind the study and a professor with the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering.

He and his fellow researchers plan on using the study to further their understanding of how a brain-computer interface (http://www.technewsdaily.com/5266-wheres-my-future-brain-computer-interface.html) (BCI) can help assist, augment or repair cognitive or sensory-motor functions in those suffering from paralysis or other disabilities.

"Our next goal is to control robotic arms using noninvasive brain wave signals," said He. "With the eventual goal of developing brain-computer interfaces that aid patients with disabilities or neurodegenerative disorders."

The University of Minnesota team isn't the only group of researchers making breakthroughs in the field of brain-controlled avionics. Scientists at the University of Essex in the U.K. are also working with researchers at NASA to create a BCI that can be used aboard a spacecraft simulator (http://www.technewsdaily.com/17244-look-nasa-no-hands-astronauts-fly-on-brainpower-alone.html). The team hopes to one day use the interface to assist fatigued astronauts during space travel.

And last year, researchers at Zhejiang University in China were able to control a hovering drone (http://www.technewsdaily.com/6154-mind-control-flying-drone.html) using a commercial EEG headset, setting the stage for more advanced uses of this noninvasive brain technology in the future.

This story was provided by TechNewsDaily (http://TechNewsDaily.com), a sister site to LiveScience. Email asklizzyp@gmail.com or follow her @techEpalermo (https://twitter.com/techEpalermo). Follow us @TechNewsDaily (https://twitter.com/TechNewsDaily), on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TechNewsDaily) or on Google+ (https://plus.google.com/100300602874158393473/posts).

[Bob]

Well, private licenses now are going to be required.

After a period of time, where private drones were able to fly around, some of them got into airspace with other larger commercial aircraft..

The FAA said, WELL.... LICENSE TIME.. no more freedom to fly what you want..

(Source (http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/16/us-drone-registration-report/))


http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/9139636fb29d8fbe52afb6b9fc8b83b/201070876/ehang-ghost-fullbleed.jpg


If you get a new drone this holiday season, you might have to register it with the US government.

According to a report from NBC News, the US is ready to announce new requirements for consumers purchasing drones, the most notable of which is that you'll need to register it with the department of transportation.

It's part of a plan to make sure that drones don't end up colliding with aircraft flying in and out of airports, something that has the government rightly concerned.

The plan is expected to be announced as soon as Monday, and the DOT wants it in place by Christmas.