War Matrix: New System Enables Drones and Robots to Work TogetherNicholas West In September 2011, selfnews Post reported on a project called MUSIC a fusion of aerial and ground robotics with other manned systems that could extend across the different branches of the military Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy. Most troubling is that MUSIC was intended to be directed either by a single operator, or the final goal of being fully autonomous. It is part and parcel of the concept that originally embodied Future Combat Systems. For a perfect look as what full-spectrum dominance really means, here are their words: This program was canceled, due in part to energy challenges for keeping the aerial components of the system aloft for long periods of time, but has since morphed into other programs for theoretical continuance. Newer research aims to explore ideas such as using laser energy and solar drones. Another new concept focuses on the aspects of drone-to-robot communications between their different spheres. A team at Yonsei University, Korea summarizes the core challenges: Researchers cite advances in the structure of imaging technology that could provide a non-GPS, non-sensor solution for integrating drones and robots into one overall sphere of communication. Readers interested in full details can access the full press release link below. Naturally, as with nearly all of these types of academic press releases, they cite potential benefits while downplaying or ignoring greater negative impacts. In this case, researchers cite applications in RoboFarming for better crop data collection and analysis. Then, a small note about the obvious military applications. The team concludes with projections for a more cooperative future including intelligent robots, IoT (Internet of Things Ed.) devices, and media art applications. Given what we know about the concerns voiced over the potential for killer robots and the arrival of a Superintelligence, the future could be anything but cooperative, at least for humans its likely to be more about dominance. The bottom line is that the pieces continue to be built and assembled into place that could usher in the arrival of a full Skynet-type system. Any development that enables that reality must be condemned and met with full-spectrum resistance. Source: The Institution of Engineering and Technology Recently by Nicholas West: 