Author Topic: X45 test (Read 514 times)

Krusher · « **on:** August 11, 2005, 03:07:18 PM »

This is some cool stuff.

test fight

For test flights 63 and 64, the X-45As departed from the base, climbed to altitude, and autonomously used their on-board decision-making software to determine the best route of flight within the "area of action" or AOA.

The pilot on the ground approved the plan and the two unmanned vehicles entered the AOA, a 30 by 60 mile area within the test range, ready to perform a simulated Preemptive Destruction-Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission.

The mission involved identifying, attacking and destroying pre-identified ground-based radars and associated missile launchers before they could be used to launch surface-to-air missiles.

During the test flight, the X-45A unmanned aircraft faced a simulated "pop-up" threat, used evasive maneuvers to avoid it, and autonomously determined which vehicle held the optimum position, weapons and fuel to attack the higher priority simulated target.

Once the pilot authorized the attack, the unmanned aircraft simulated dropping weapons on the target. After engaging and destroying a second simulated target, the two X-45As completed their mission and safely returned to Edwards.

FiLtH · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2005, 03:19:15 PM »

Sarah Conner?

Chairboy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2005, 03:19:27 PM »

Very cool. On the way to work a year or so ago, I was behind a semi that was carrying one of these up the 405. Wish I had had a camera.

ASTAC · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2005, 07:26:15 PM »

I REALLY don't like the idea of machines that "think" for themselves. Besides, aircraft are too expensive to send over enemy territory when they don't have any self preservation insticts. Need to keep pilots in the cockpits.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2005, 07:28:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by ASTAC
I REALLY don't like the idea of machines that "think" for themselves. Besides, aircraft are too expensive to send over enemy territory when they don't have any self preservation insticts. Need to keep pilots in the cockpits.

beleive it or not it costs a hellova lot more money to put a human in the cockpit of a plane than a computer. You have to figure in all the life support systems and the cockpit itself.

A drone can also be designed to pull an insane amount of G's that was never before possible. A pilot would pass out were the drone would keep on going.

as long as they don't run them all from a computer system called skynet and have plenty of fail safes I'm cool with it.

bustr · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2005, 07:41:50 PM »

Until we evolve beyond needing wars, removing ourselves from the awful process of fighting and deing in wars is handing over to an elite few the power of our life and deaths. We are handing over the knowlege of how to protect our freedom and what that real price is.

We are admitting that we would rather be well fed narcisistic slaves to the rule of a few, than face the indescribable Joys and Terrors of being responsible for our own destinies.

"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those that did not. And each meekly inherit only an earthin plot............"

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2005, 07:56:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by bustr
Until we evolve beyond needing wars, removing ourselves from the awful process of fighting and deing in wars is handing over to an elite few the power of our life and deaths.

So you're saying... unstead of pilotless fighters.... affix bayonets, we go over the top in 1 minute?

Gunslinger · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2005, 08:24:33 PM »

It doesnt matter what new technology you invent you will never replace real boots on the ground.

Even with UCAVs you will still need foot soldiers. Make no doubt about it.

Swager · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2005, 09:31:58 PM »

I thought the X45 was a joystick??

SOB · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2005, 10:05:02 PM »

Just pray it never gets struck by lightning, or it'll end up doing fire donuts in the sky, and then we're all doomed!

LePaul · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2005, 12:25:36 AM »

LOL

And then they'll be SkyNet...and then... yada yada

Hangtime · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2005, 07:39:18 AM »

War is not about dying for your country. It's about making the other guys die for theirs. As quickly and efficiently as inhumanly possible.

Flick a switch, some inhuman machine snuffs the bad guys. Bad for their morale, great for ours.

Carry on.

bustr · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2005, 12:48:11 PM »

If war distills down to flicking a switch on a remote robot and vaporising the other guy without getting yer arse out of your armchair, we as a species will never give up war, or find another path to resolve differences.

We will just build bigger and faster robots along with better robot arms to pat ourselves on the back for being clever enough to make the physical reality the robot and dead guy's problem. War will become one big internet BBS chat room where it will be your advasaries own derned fault if he wasen't clever enough to get a robot.

War will become old cowards sitting in protected bunkers wiping out other old cowards children with the press of a button. Narcasistic, self serving, and a very poor species survival strategy. By nature humans are nasty littel children who don't generaly want to take responsibilty for their actions and want to win all of their fights by any means possible. Reduce it to a button with no blood in your face, you won't grow up the human race.

Skydancer · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2005, 01:01:00 PM »

"War will become old cowards sitting in protected bunkers wiping out other old cowards children with the press of a button. Narcasistic, self serving, and a very poor species survival strategy. By nature humans are nasty littel children who don't generaly want to take responsibilty for their actions and want to win all of their fights by any means possible. Reduce it to a button with no blood in your face, you won't grow up the human race."

Yep thats what I spent the cold war being afraid of! MAD!

Hangtime · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2005, 01:13:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by bustr
If war distills down to flicking a switch on a remote robot and vaporising the other guy without getting yer arse out of your armchair, we as a species will never give up war, or find another path to resolve differences.

We will just build bigger and faster robots along with better robot arms to pat ourselves on the back for being clever enough to make the physical reality the robot and dead guy's problem. War will become one big internet BBS chat room where it will be your advasaries own derned fault if he wasen't clever enough to get a robot.

War will become old cowards sitting in protected bunkers wiping out other old cowards children with the press of a button. Narcasistic, self serving, and a very poor species survival strategy. By nature humans are nasty littel children who don't generaly want to take responsibilty for their actions and want to win all of their fights by any means possible. Reduce it to a button with no blood in your face, you won't grow up the human race.

There is no 'honor' in war. Just death.

If we do not develop and refine the machines, the other side will. The moment the machine gun entered the battlefield the path was clear. The X-35 is just another step down the path.. we either take that step, or we become the 'cannon fodder' in the next war.