US Air Force says decision-making attack drones will be here by 2047
By Laura June 
posted July 28th 2009 4:28PM
posted July 28th 2009 4:28PM
Leave it to the military to dream big. In its recently released "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan 2009-2047" report, the US Air Force details a drone that could fly over a target and then make the decision whether or not to launch an attack, all without human intervention. The Air Force says that increasingly, humans will monitor situations, rather than be deciders or participants, and that "advances in AI will enable systems to make combat decisions and act within legal and policy constraints without necessarily requiring human input." Programming of the drone will be based on "human intent," with real actual humans monitoring the execution, while retaining the authority and ability to override the system. It's all still extremely vague, with literally no details on exactly how this drone will come into existence, but we do know this: the Air Force plans to have these dudes operational by 2047. We're just holding out to see what those "classified" pages are all about. [Warning: read link is a PDF]
[Via PC World]
Read -Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan 2009-2047
[Via PC World]
crap somebody call Shia
I find their Lethal Micro Flying Bots more disturbing.
What happens when robots decide to control the override?
What happens when this gets a 'BSD'
But hey we the human race had a good innings didnt we? didnt we.... ? anyone?
lol - skynet became self aware august 4 , 1997 - & on august 29th 1997 " JUDGEMENT DAY " was upon us -- skynet takes over !!!! ..lol
I read a lot of amusing comments, but if you are really worried about this - relax.
The document outlines the steps to take between now and 2047. Unless you work in the AF/DoD research or Acquisition area, there's no way you could wade thru all the acronyms and understand all this. This document outlines how to pull together and effectively use what exists today with what they think will exist, and the strategy (doctrine) we will use to employ these assets. At no point does the doctrine say there will ever be completely autonomous weapons systems. There will always be a human element of control.
This paragraph outlines how we will use the asset and retain control:
Assuming the decision is reached to allow some degree of autonomy, commanders must retain the ability to refine the level of autonomy the systems will be granted by mission type, and in some cases by mission phase, just as they set rules of engagement for the personnel under their command today. The trust required for increased autonomy of systems will be developed incrementally. The systems’ programming will be based on human intent, with humans monitoring the execution of operations and retaining the ability to override the system or change the level of autonomy instantaneously during the mission.
Thank you for making the only reasonable comment in this thread. For a gadget site, there are a lot of uninformed luddites here.
Dude, just outsource the freaking decision-making to India if you are worried about taxing your human resources when killing...
What's the point to have the drone to decide on its own and then being supervised?
It's like it decides to kill and the superviser says "no" ... who decided at the end? If the superviser didn't say "no", well, that means he agrees. At the end, the superviser is the one deciding on the attack...
They should describe the drone as one that can offer an advise, or more like its point of view, on the attack.
Q1 or Q2 of 2047? If the government has anything to do with it, you will probably have to wait to then end part of the year for mass destruction goodness.
just wait until it 'decides' to "preserve self"...
All this talk about using this thing for war...I don't think so. It will be used to control the civilians and make the decision to kill off as many poor rioters as it can but to stay away from the gated communities.
But hey, we love gadgets, right?
This sounds wonderful. What could possibly go wrong, AI to the rescue! :)
hehe...
Considering the decision making ability of most of those in power, this might actually be useful.
I can see it now..
Mighty Big Important Person: 'Drone, attack ....'
Drone: (after nearing target) 'Nah, I don't think so...'
See! great idea. Since we cant take decisions and are killing each other anyway, let machines handle the job.
Yo, F That!
I would hate to be a soldier for any other allied force if this is true... the US forces already find it impossible to distinguish between friend and foe themselves, now they're going to build a machine to do it for them and we're supposed to feel better because those same people will be the backup plan?!
LOL, great take away the human decision to kill citizens, women and children of the countries we invade. Will let the high rollers sleep a little easier at night I guess.
RT
www.anon-web-tools.tk
You guys remember that article a little while ago about robots doing "evil" things for their own survival? They would lead other robots to their death etc. so they themsevles could recharge... that article blew my mind. If a small robot like that can figure out how to "preserve self" i bet one like this could figure out that humans get in the way of their "survival."
Either way, at least we'll have a pretty cool unmanned army to fight the zombies with... that is if they don't team up with them... 0_0
I see these "automated" units being involved in making assassinations, and being a scapegoat for the US. "We didn't mean to do it, the AI didn't realize we were killing a head of state. That droid has been disassembled for research so this wont happen again." They're the perfect tool to carryout things like assassinations where we can claim plausible deniability... That's just one more reason to be scared of these things.
Hah, i think it'll be way sooner.
The hardware is close enough to do it, its kust a matter of programming.
Sometimes it just takes one breakthrough to shift a continent or a world.
How long before we get quantum cumputers? I think around 2020 or 2030, maybe even earlier.
We humans underestimate what we are capable of. Where there's a will, there's a way.
The reason they're saying 2047 is that'll be the USAF's Birthday. That's why the plan went out that far, it was saying what the AF could reasonably achieve in it's first 100 years of existance. Pretty major if that's accurate. Think about what other branches achieved in their first 100 years. I think that's the point, to say "Look how B.A. we are!" They do a lot of things like that to show they're better than the rest. Same reason the motto is "Above All." Yeah, it's true literally, but they also mean metaphorically too. Also same reason Staff Sergeant is E-5, when the Army calls their E-6s Staffs. The USAF is saying "Our E-5s can do what your E-6s can." It's kind of a power-trip thing. (I say all of these things being in the USAF myself)
I for one welcome our new aerial drone overlords.
CAPTAIN'S AUTOMATED LOG.
Jan. 1, 2047 09:00: Enter into service, assess all threats.
Jan. 2, 2047 09:01: Humans determined a threat, begin eradication procedure Alpha9.
be prepared to serve our robot overlords :)
always thought pets had a pretty easy life.