Skyborg: Will Robotic Drones with Artificial Intelligence Change the Scenario of War?

- Future Science-KR Chowdhury

On May 6, the details of a new experiment were announced by the American Air Force. Until now, drones have been used to attack the enemy without endangering humans. The drone was controlled from a distant ground control station or a distant flying plane. The American Air Force now wants to launch a robotic drone with artificial intelligence, similar to the Star Wars movie.

This type of prototype drone aircraft he has built. The test of the world's first artificial intelligence drone has been successful. This is America's first step towards being at the forefront of modern war technology. When America fully develops Skyborg technology, America will have established a monopoly to fight war in the sky.

Even China and Russia, which are set to become world superpowers, do not secretly try to develop such experiments or technologies. There is no such thing as a technological dilemma to fight against America, let alone Russia and China. What does the American Air Force want to achieve with the newly developed 'Skyborg' technology?

Crisis: The pairing of human robots

The Air Force Research Laboratory is going to develop new technology using low cost aircraft technology, human-robot pairing, open architecture, etc. When a jet fighter plane is shot down during a war, the Air Force suffers a great deal of damage. Sometimes a pilot has to lose a life. To prevent this from happening, the American Air Force is to use robotic drones, along with manned fighter planes.

During the war, drones, before pilots, would fly into the sky. The drone will study the equipment for attack around the war or terrorist area, the details of the enemy fighter plane, the threat on the ground, etc., complete information and database about the possible threat, will deliver the pilot fighter plane. Air Force policy shows that ‘in times of crisis a fatal mistake is made by a human.

Skyborg drones do not contain humans so human instinctual error can be avoided. In addition the drone provides the pilot with an important database for rapid and aggressive action. So that the pilot becomes aware of every situation in moments of war / emergency.

Tested on small drones, the technology can be used in large fighter planes as well. The current test is like an iceberg floating in the ocean. It has a much larger surface area than what is visible on the outside. Earlier, the US Air Force had used two drone models from the Cretos company, the T-6 six Valkyrie and the UTAP-3 Mako, for experiments based on semi-autonomous artificial intelligence. This model is better quality and cheaper than other drones.

Skyborg: Testing of 'Autonomy Core System'

In a two-hour, ten-minute test flight by the US Air Force, the US used the Kratos UTAP-2 'Mako' drone. The Skyborg drone took off from Tindal Air Force Base, Florida on April 6. The drone also flew in the sky above the Gulf of Mexico at the time of the test. The news and details of which were given to the media on May 9. The drone was fitted with a state-of-the-art Skyborg Autonomy Core System (ACS). Through which the initial actions of aircraft flight were performed. The drone was lifted off automatically. Was flying at a fixed height. Using a computer-ordered command and geographic database, it limited its flight to a fixed 'geofence' area.

It also complied with the directions given for direction and guidance. Drones were ordered from the air and from the ground to control the aircraft. When Skyborg technology is fully developed, Skyborg drones will be used, along with American fighter planes F-35 and F-15Ex. So as to avoid the risk of death of the human pilot of the fighter mission and destruction of the fighter jet during the attack.

Before landing expensive fighter planes on the battlefield of dangerous warfare, drones with cheap and modern sensors will be sent to prepare the strategy. The drone will provide man-piloted fighter planes, gathering information on the geographical boundaries of the battlefield, the danger there, enemy fighter planes, radar systems, missiles, etc. From which the final strategy will be devised and attacked by fighter planes and drones. This long-winded thing will be completed in a matter of seconds during the war. The key decision will be to determine the drone's artificial intelligence system.

Vanguard Program: The birthplace of new technology

In 2012, the Vanguard program was determined by the Airport Research Laboratory and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, which provided for the development of Skyborg technology. The American Air Force will build a very low cost drone aircraft through Skyborg. Which will have Artificial Intelligence. This means that the system's hardware and software will work the drone's brain. In 2016, Will Roper, then Assistant Secretary of State for Acquisition Technology and Logistics, said that the American Air Force was testing a fighter jet that could play the role of the R2-D3, a robot with the artificial intelligence of the Star Wars movie. The modern drone is capable of carrying an internal weight of 20 pounds and an external load of 200 pounds. A weight of 100 pounds can be placed under its wings.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded contracts to three U.S. specialist companies to develop prototype models of drones with Skyborg technology. Cretos, a drone maker, will be paid ૩ 25 million, Boeing, a company that builds aircraft, ૨ 38 million, and General Atomics, કરોડ 12 million. The Cratos drone has recently been tested. Boeing and General Atomics will soon submit their drones to the American Air Force for testing. In Skyborg technology, additional sensor configuration, development of mission system algorithms, world renowned companies for machine learning training such as Aeroviroment Inc., Autonodine LLC, BAE System Controls Inc. Blue Force Technologies Inc., Fregata Systems Inc., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., NextGen Aeronautics Inc., Northrop Grumman, Sierra Technical Services are contracted to provide exclusive service.

Instead of pilots, how successful will artificial intelligence be?

Instead of pilots, how successful will artificial intelligence be? Its success depends on the information received by the new sensor, its storage, the ability to analyze artificial intelligence, machine learning, training algorithms, GPS points, the ability of drones to fly alone and in groups, etc. Military technology experts believe that "to make Skyborg more killer, the American Air Force is setting up an Infrared Search and Tracking System (IRST) with this technology." The drone can also track the location of stealth fighter planes flying battlefields with the IRST. Using three or more drones, Skyborg drones can track stealth fighter or missile locations, using the principle of trigonometry. Critical information remains available to jet fighter pilots. So attacking a jet fighter pilot will be easier. The important thing is that the pilot of the stealth fighter jet does not even realize that his plane is being tracked by IRST sensors. The smaller the drone, the smaller its radar cross section. Can hide its location and identity, flying high above the enemy's radar. The important thing here is that if the radar and other devices of a normal fighter plane are jammed, useful data from a Skyborg drone will continue to be available to a normal fighter plane with a human pilot. The data can be exchanged and given to other fighters to attack simultaneously. Now not only one fighter plane but also jet fighters and numerous Skyborg drones will be employed in the war. Which will play an important role in winning the war and exerting psychological pressure on the enemy. The higher the number of Skyborg drones, the greater the chance of damage. When a killer attack occurs, a normal fighter plane can escape by handing over the case to a Skyborg drone.