25 Autonomous Drones
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Ingvild Bode
Abstract
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have been inspiring ongoing debates about the application of AI-based technologies to increase the level of autonomy in weapon systems, including in aerial drones. In 2021, a United Nations report suggested that a drone was used in a fully autonomous mode - without human supervision after activation - to attack targets in Libya. Drones integrating autonomous technologies have been proliferating for some time and have been used in several armed conflicts. Militaries are increasingly interested in developing and acquiring loitering munitions, swarming technologies, and larger models of autonomous drones. In this chapter we explore developments in each of these areas. We also consider the perceived advantages of autonomy in drones and the challenges associated with practices in relation to weapon systems incorporating autonomous and AI technologies, especially in terms of human-machine interaction and the quality of human control over the use of force in warfare.
Abstract
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have been inspiring ongoing debates about the application of AI-based technologies to increase the level of autonomy in weapon systems, including in aerial drones. In 2021, a United Nations report suggested that a drone was used in a fully autonomous mode - without human supervision after activation - to attack targets in Libya. Drones integrating autonomous technologies have been proliferating for some time and have been used in several armed conflicts. Militaries are increasingly interested in developing and acquiring loitering munitions, swarming technologies, and larger models of autonomous drones. In this chapter we explore developments in each of these areas. We also consider the perceived advantages of autonomy in drones and the challenges associated with practices in relation to weapon systems incorporating autonomous and AI technologies, especially in terms of human-machine interaction and the quality of human control over the use of force in warfare.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction: Why Study Drones? 1
-
Part 1: Approaches to the Study of Drone Warfare
- 2 What Is Drone Warfare? 9
- 3 Defining Drones 25
- 4 Drones and International Law 41
- 5 Drone Imaginaries 57
- 6 A Gendering of Drones 69
- 7 Critiquing Drone Warfare 87
-
Part 2: The First Drone Age
- 8 What Is ‘The First Drone Age’? 107
- 9 Drone Pilots: The Struggles of War by Remote Control 111
- 10 The Post-9/11 Era: Drones and Just War Theory 125
- 11 The CIA Drone Program 141
- 12 Drones and Civilian Harm 159
- 13 Drone Warfare and Public Opinion 177
- 14 Living Under Drones 197
- 15 The Media and Drone Warfare 215
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Part 3: The Second Drone Age
- 16 What is ‘The Second Drone Age’? 237
- 17 The Islamic State Drone Program 243
- 18 The Use of Drones in West Africa and the Sahel 255
- 19 China’s Drone Diplomacy 267
- 20 Russian Military Drones: Established and Emerging Technologies in Ukraine 285
- 21 Europe’s Military Drone Problem 299
- 22 Violent Nonstate Exploitation of Commercial Drones 313
- 23 Game-Changing Drones? The Record from Libya to Ukraine 325
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Part 4: A Third Drone Age? Concerns and Visions for the Future
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Concerns
- 24 Domestic Drones and Domestic Threat: Urban Life in the Drone Age 343
- 25 Autonomous Drones 369
- 26 Swarming Drones 385
- 27 Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems 399
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Visions
- 28 The Diffusion of Drone Warfare – A Ten Year Review 421
- 29 Drones: A Unique Danger to International Law 437
- 30 Drone Proliferation and IR Theory: Visions for the Future 453
- Contributors to this Volume 475
- Index 485
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction: Why Study Drones? 1
-
Part 1: Approaches to the Study of Drone Warfare
- 2 What Is Drone Warfare? 9
- 3 Defining Drones 25
- 4 Drones and International Law 41
- 5 Drone Imaginaries 57
- 6 A Gendering of Drones 69
- 7 Critiquing Drone Warfare 87
-
Part 2: The First Drone Age
- 8 What Is ‘The First Drone Age’? 107
- 9 Drone Pilots: The Struggles of War by Remote Control 111
- 10 The Post-9/11 Era: Drones and Just War Theory 125
- 11 The CIA Drone Program 141
- 12 Drones and Civilian Harm 159
- 13 Drone Warfare and Public Opinion 177
- 14 Living Under Drones 197
- 15 The Media and Drone Warfare 215
-
Part 3: The Second Drone Age
- 16 What is ‘The Second Drone Age’? 237
- 17 The Islamic State Drone Program 243
- 18 The Use of Drones in West Africa and the Sahel 255
- 19 China’s Drone Diplomacy 267
- 20 Russian Military Drones: Established and Emerging Technologies in Ukraine 285
- 21 Europe’s Military Drone Problem 299
- 22 Violent Nonstate Exploitation of Commercial Drones 313
- 23 Game-Changing Drones? The Record from Libya to Ukraine 325
-
Part 4: A Third Drone Age? Concerns and Visions for the Future
-
Concerns
- 24 Domestic Drones and Domestic Threat: Urban Life in the Drone Age 343
- 25 Autonomous Drones 369
- 26 Swarming Drones 385
- 27 Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems 399
-
Visions
- 28 The Diffusion of Drone Warfare – A Ten Year Review 421
- 29 Drones: A Unique Danger to International Law 437
- 30 Drone Proliferation and IR Theory: Visions for the Future 453
- Contributors to this Volume 475
- Index 485