First come proliferation, then the drone arms race, then anti-drone drones, drone-to-drone combat, and finally: Drone Wars! “When will they ever learn? When will they eeeever learn?”
Only significant difference I can think of is – no person/pilot aboard…armed or not. The drones can likely stay aloft ‘observing’ longer and less expensive, less observable than, or may even be Helos. It’s the use to which the technology is put…the ethics of the operator…that puts purpose to the essentially amoral machine. Like neuclear energy, which can level a city or light it…the vehicle – hi or low-tech – is at the beck of its controller…the one to be respected / feared.
ReasonsVentriloquist: Ever since a guy flying a camera-equipped model airplane discovered a slaughter house turning a creek bloody red in violation of the law, the corporate newspapers and TV have referred to radio-controlled sports models as drones. Research by the long extinct Mesquite Mad Modelers (for possible movie special effects, never built) showed that models could be made to carry small bombs creating realistic explosions (which is more than diesel-fueled movie explosions do). Songbird-sized recon drones have been used to compile dossiers on peaceful protesters for at least two years.
pam Miner over 10 years ago
That has crossed my mind too.
Doughfoot over 10 years ago
First come proliferation, then the drone arms race, then anti-drone drones, drone-to-drone combat, and finally: Drone Wars! “When will they ever learn? When will they eeeever learn?”
magicwalnut Premium Member over 10 years ago
Duck!
d_legendary1 over 10 years ago
In other words money makes the drones go around.
Motivemagus over 10 years ago
Who knew that flying Terminators were coming so soon?
danketaz Premium Member over 10 years ago
Good excuse to plant some flowers though.
hippogriff over 10 years ago
Adrian Snare: See Walt Kelly’s most famous quote: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Justice22 over 10 years ago
A lot of the above statements could be applied to IEDs and suicide bombers.
Rymlianin over 10 years ago
Various federal agencies (DEA, Immigration ) are already using them . They just haven’t armed them… yet.
Robert C. Premium Member over 10 years ago
Only significant difference I can think of is – no person/pilot aboard…armed or not. The drones can likely stay aloft ‘observing’ longer and less expensive, less observable than, or may even be Helos. It’s the use to which the technology is put…the ethics of the operator…that puts purpose to the essentially amoral machine. Like neuclear energy, which can level a city or light it…the vehicle – hi or low-tech – is at the beck of its controller…the one to be respected / feared.
hippogriff over 10 years ago
ReasonsVentriloquist: Ever since a guy flying a camera-equipped model airplane discovered a slaughter house turning a creek bloody red in violation of the law, the corporate newspapers and TV have referred to radio-controlled sports models as drones. Research by the long extinct Mesquite Mad Modelers (for possible movie special effects, never built) showed that models could be made to carry small bombs creating realistic explosions (which is more than diesel-fueled movie explosions do). Songbird-sized recon drones have been used to compile dossiers on peaceful protesters for at least two years.