Saturday, April 16, 2011

robotic warfare draws closer

Built by Northrop Grumman, the X-47B is the Navy’s newest UAV, and the first true robotic fighter in existence. Unlike the Predator and Reaper drones currently in operation in the skies of Iraq and Afghanistan that are controlled by pilots on the ground, the X-47B is fully automated–it flies itself. From takeoff, to making turns, to landing, no human is involved–the entire flight is completely handled by the aircraft autonomously.

When the X-47B joins the ranks of U.S. military combat operations it will be joining a mechanized army of 7,000+ UAVs and 2,000+ ground robots already on the battlefield.

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