To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths • Hacker News Board

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#11

Post by dtwest » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:06 PM UTC

ProjectArcturis wrote: post #4

Drones are the new aircraft carriers. That is, pre-WWII, the dominant naval ship was the battleship. Heavily armored, with enormous guns, military planners expected that the battle for the Atlantic and Pacific would be carried out by these monsters slugging it out. Though there were hints that planes could be quite effective against ships, few admirals realized that the longer range of an aircraft carrier would make…

When battleships and tanks are the weapon, manufacturing capacity powers the war machine. Perhaps drones usher in a new dynamic in that regard too. Maybe it's not how many drones you produce but how well programmed they are, what sensor or communication technology they use, etc.

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#12

Post by justaguy88 » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:08 PM UTC

magicsmoke wrote: post #5

ProjectArcturis wrote: post #4

Drones are the new aircraft carriers. That is, pre-WWII, the dominant naval ship was the battleship. Heavily armored, with enormous guns, military planners expected that the battle for the Atlantic and Pacific would be carried out by these monsters slugging it out. Though there were hints that planes could be quite effective against ships, few admirals realized that the longer range of an aircraft carrier would make…

A drone with the same range as a missile would be indistinguishable from a missile. A drone without the same range as a missile would likely have its carrier detected and destroyed before it can get in range to release it's drones. Drones are great for irregular forces that can hide among civilian populations or in dense terrain to have short ranged air strike capabilities cheaply, but they are not substitute for lon…

The drone swarm can have a carrier vehicle, like a (perhaps autonomous) big plane or sub to get it within range

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#13

Post by rolph » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:09 PM UTC

robotnikman wrote: post #2

I can already imagine ships being outfitted with hundreds of anti aircraft autocannons just for shooting down drone swarms, kind of like the USN ships of WWII. An old solution for a new problem

submersible drones could be a problem, especialy if engineered for water travel and aerial travel

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#14

Post by throwawayffffas » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:11 PM UTC

robotnikman wrote: post #2

I can already imagine ships being outfitted with hundreds of anti aircraft autocannons just for shooting down drone swarms, kind of like the USN ships of WWII. An old solution for a new problem

They are going with lasers instead. https://news.usni.org/2020/05/22/video-uss-portland-fires-la...

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#15

Post by 1MachineElf » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:12 PM UTC

dkarl wrote: post #9

> The potential of consumer or commercial drones harming world leaders became immediately evident when a protester hovered one close to German chancellor Angela Merkel at a campaign rally in 2013 Pretty arbitrary incident to choose, but I suppose the writer would have felt silly mentioning the flying dildos that buzzed Gary Kasparov at a political event in 2008.

I'm more interested in the potential of world leaders' drones harming regular people.

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#16

Post by jayGlow » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:13 PM UTC

robotnikman wrote: post #2

I can already imagine ships being outfitted with hundreds of anti aircraft autocannons just for shooting down drone swarms, kind of like the USN ships of WWII. An old solution for a new problem

multi turreted tanks fell out of favor early in world War 2. I wonder if there could be a resurgence as a counter to drones.

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#17

Post by abz10 » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:14 PM UTC

WanderPanda wrote: post #7

tarruda wrote: post #3

I wonder how long until DIY weaponized drones are available to common criminals. It doesn't seem like we are prepared to deal with something like this.

Strap a knife on a fpv rc airplane and you have something as deadly as a sniper

Unlike a bullet you could hear an RC airplane coming.

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#18

Post by korse » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:14 PM UTC

jessaustin wrote: post #8

robotnikman wrote: post #2

I can already imagine ships being outfitted with hundreds of anti aircraft autocannons just for shooting down drone swarms, kind of like the USN ships of WWII. An old solution for a new problem

Could someone get something like that for her house? Asking for a friend...

If you really wanted to, I'd recommend a microwave 'cannon'. You can build one yourself for cheap-ish based off a directional antenna and some recycled microwave-link components.

Then you just need to target it. Probably need some sort of weather proof retractable cover so that the neighbors don't freak out. Gimbal under the cover to aim the thing, and then a means of target acquisition. People have tried to use audible input to pick up the propellers, but I don't really know how well that would work in practice and what kind of / how many microphones you would need to get a fix.

The generally idea would be, system detects and gets a fix on probable drone, notifies you and allows you to do a visual check and give the fire signal. Microwave directional targets and roasts the target microelectronics.

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#19

Post by ericd » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

justaguy88 wrote: post #12

magicsmoke wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A drone with the same range as a missile would be indistinguishable from a missile. A drone without the same range as a missile would likely have its carrier detected and destroyed before it can get in range to release it's drones. Drones are great for irregular forces that can hide among civilian populations or in dense terrain to have short ranged air strike capabilities cheaply, but they are not substitute for lon…

The drone swarm can have a carrier vehicle, like a (perhaps autonomous) big plane or sub to get it within range

Or perhaps a missile full of drones, similar to those bombs with lots of guided submunitions.

Re: To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

#20

Post by samuelizdat » Tue, Jun 08, 2021, 5:18 PM UTC

Wouldn't the solution be jamming or EMP related? Of course, because the technological system must propagate itself at any cost this idea is counter-intuitive. Technological progress is seen as bending towards an inherent good. People never stop to think if it will be bad. Now people are to live in fear of drone swarms because nobody has autonomy in the technological system. People think they control technology, but it is really technology that controls us.

-sent from my iPhone