Air Force scientists are looking for robotic bombs that look — and act — like swarms of bugs and birds. In a recent presentation,
Colonel Kirk Kloeppel, head of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s
munitions directorate, announced the Lab’s interest in "bio-inspired munitions."
Colonel Kirk Kloeppel, head of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s
munitions directorate, announced the Lab’s interest in "bio-inspired munitions."
These, "small, autonomous" machines would "provide close-in[surveillance] information, in addition to killing intended targets,"
the Colonel noted. And they’d not only take out foes in urban canyons
– the self-guided munitions would "operat[e] within buildings," too.
Perhaps, like birds and bees, these tiny machines could maneuver by sensing "air flow." Maybe they could be led to targets by smell, sound, or " electrosensing." For sure, they would flap their wings in order to stay aloft. And, naturally, they’d all have "morphing airframes."
The military has all kinds of research efforts underway to try to bring the animal and robot worlds together — everything from slithering snake-bots to mechanical pack mules to dragonfly drones. But Col. Kloeppel’s ideas are some of the most radical I’ve seen, so far. Other long, long-term goals he and the Lab have in mind include "psycho-cultural situational awareness," "ubiquitous swarming sensors & shooters," and "dominant offensive cyber engagement."