Autonomous UAS: A Partial Solution to America's Future Airpower Needs

Abstract

This research paper examines the role autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will play in the US Air Force (USAF), along with the obstacles the USAF will face in their use and proliferation. To some, the idea of fully autonomous weapon systems making their own targeting and weapons employment decisions conjures up troubling images from movies like Terminator and I, Robot. The US military already uses some semi- and fully autonomous technology (in both UAS and manned systems) and, as UAS technology matures, will look to increase these systems autonomy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2010
Accession Number
AD1018416

Entities

People

  • Adam A. Palmer

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Anti-Radiation Missiles
  • Autonomous Weapons
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Flight Training
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Joint Military Activities
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Treaties
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Computer Vision.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
  • Autonomy