Swarm Weapons: Demonstrating a Swarm Intelligent Algorithm for Parallel Attack
Abstract
Rapid advances in drone technology have shifted swarm robotics from the realm of science fiction to reality. Today, academic and military institutions are researching how to develop existing drone technology into a swarm. The question is, what is technologically feasible over the next decade and how could commanders use that technology on the battlefield? By integrating existing drone technology, it becomes possible to develop a swarm weapon with hundreds of drones that integrate their actions using emergent behavior. By exploiting the swarms ability to rapidly concentrate through maneuver, it becomes possible to mass effect at hundreds of points simultaneously. The advantage this provides is the ability to conduct what Colonel John Warden defines as a parallel attack, but at an unprecedented scale. To argue this point, this paper will first analyze what is technologically feasible over the next decade by reviewing existing research and literature. Next, this research effort will develop a concept for the employment of swarm weapons using a parallel attack concept. This paper will then demonstrate the swarm intelligent algorithm designed for this research effort in a computer-simulation. What this paper will show is that within the next decade it is feasible to develop a swarm weapon that can conduct parallel warfare. By adding swarm intelligence to otherwise identical weapons, swarm algorithms make these weapons more efficient and lethal. The results of this research effort could lay the foundation for multiple new concepts of employment for swarm weapons including a swarm breach, swarm area defense, swarm parallel attack, and swarm wide area reconnaissance in a contested environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 24, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1071535
Entities
People
- Sean M. Williams
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies