An unnamed Ukrainian tech startup has reportedly developed a new artificial intelligence (AI)- enabled drone that can recognize and engage targets based on visual triggers, like a specific uniform. The drones can work as a swarm and can communicate with one another.
The startup claims this enables the drones to make rapid decisions autonomously. However, to prevent accidents (like potential friendly fire), the drones can only engage with the authorization of a human-in-the-loop.
Besides taking potentially lethal action, the new drones can also be used for more traditional roles like reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. All of these actions can be performed, it is claimed, “faster than a human” ever could.
The new drones are anticipated to offer Ukraine a significant advantage on the battlefield in countering Russian forces.
Killer Ukrainian Drone Swarms
Serhii Kuprienko, the startup’s founder, compared it to the revolutionary impact of introducing the steam engine to factories.
“It’s the equivalent of bringing the steam engine into the factory all those years ago,” said Kuprienko. “Our core mission is to get robots to do the fighting, not humans.”
This philosophy underscores Ukraine’s increased investment in autonomous platforms, which it hopes will give it the upper hand against Moscow while avoiding more military casualties. A recent report by The Times revealed that before the invasion in February 2022, Kyiv had only about 20 military technology companies.
There are currently over 200 organizations concentrating on defense technology, particularly autonomous systems.
“They [Russians] fight, they die, they send more people — they don’t care. But that’s not how we see war,”
Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Alex Bornyakov said.
Bornyakov mentioned that Ukraine is currently testing swarm technology with at least one company other than Krupiienko’s. He explained that although the drones can operate autonomously, human verification is necessary for targeting to ensure compliance with ethical and safety standards.
“Technically, they [the drones] could do it by themselves,” he added. Kuprienko stated that his drones could be programmed to recognize and shoot based on uniforms.
However, he emphasized, “We don’t allow it ethically and for safety purposes.”
American drone expert called “Singer” suggests that Ukraine may have already utilized AI to eliminate targets autonomously. He added that a sophisticated American drone system also exists that can identify enemy vehicles, even if camouflaged, and coordinate automatic strikes.
A Point of No Return?
He also told The Times that he remembered politicians assuring him they would never cross this line. However, he added that it has now been crossed with little controversy.
The ethical debate over autonomous weapons continues among military experts, lawyers, and ethicists. It is a longstanding one that divides opinion. However, Kuprienko reiterates that a human commander must approve each attack.
He acknowledges that some commanders might prefer full autonomy to maximize the swarm’s effectiveness, adding, “
We’re fighting a war here, and we want to win.”
Like Bornyakov, he envisions a “kill box” containing only enemy targets where a swarm could operate independently.
As Ukraine advances its military technology, the world is aware of its potential to reshape modern warfare. For example, earlier this year, Ukraine became the first country in the world to establish a separate military branch dedicated solely to drone warfare.
Photo: Ukrainian Vampire hexacoptor
Source: Interesting Engineering