Drones-the Essay

Drones- The Development of Artificial Warfare

by Aleksandr D. Corn

Introduction

In the domain of what is known as information technology, a relative newcomer to the field of cyber-security and cyber-warfare is the controversial and oft-maligned drone. Known also as a UAV, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, these newcomers have made a huge impact on the globe in the last few years since they have gained fame. In this essay, regarding the development and impact of drones on the world at large, the ethical, legal, and social concerns of their usage and background will be covered, as well as the benefits they provide and what is to come in the future. But firstly, a look into the origins of this technology is needed, so as to better understand them.

Background

In what would undoubtedly surprise many of those more inclined to imagine the stealthy, sleek predators of the modern era, the first UAV was in all actuality used by the Austrian military during the siege of Venice in 1849. Balloons, loaded with explosives and set adrift towards the city, were used to drop bombs onto Venice. While the end result was a disaster for the Austrian military, it still showcased the ability to use an unmanned craft to accomplish a specific mission (Naughton, 2003). Development of UAV’s continued to evolve throughout the years, up until the first recorded use of a predator drone by the U.S. Government in 2002. This marked the beginning of a new era in combat and unmanned warfare, which continues to this day (Sifton, 2012). However, just as the drone has evolved, so has the variety of tasks it can accomplish, and the benefits it can provide the world.

Potential Benefits

Whilst the news today focuses on the negative impact and uses of the UAV, there are is a vast range of benefits they provide that is largely ignored. One of the most prominent pro-UAV arguments circulating the globe is the fact that by using unmanned vehicles, safety for the pilots and operators is increased drastically. By using these drones to carry out reconnaissance missions or to take out terrorists, the chance of an accident akin to the Cold War disaster of 1960, when pilot Gary Powers was shot down and captured by Russian military forces, is totally negated (May-July 1960: The U-2 Airplane Incident, 1960). Admittedly, while intelligence and footage can still be recovered from the downed craft, the pilot’s life is never in danger. Furthermore, the drone has an ability to operate in any environment on earth that other aircraft can operate in, allowing it to perform a huge variety of tasks and operations that could be potentially dangerous for any pilot. Not only does the drone protect human life in this way, but it can also be used to watch over borders, search for suspects during police operations, conduct research and archaeological surveillance, and even perform geographic mapping (Henriques, 2014). What’s more, the uses of the drone could easily expand to even more roles as time passes. Soon, news helicopters may be replaced by drones to provide traffic updates without having to fund a helicopter, pilot, and video equipment, and films may be shot using footage gathered through a drone’s camera lenses.

Legal and Ethical Issues

However, while the UAV can provide huge benefits to the modern world by easing costs and allaying safety concerns, they also have a reputation for being used to kill or destroy targets, primarily during military operations. The question is asked, time and again, about whether it is ethical or not to take a human life with an unmanned vehicle. Questions concerning the legality of drone warfare plague the development of these systems. Furthermore, many critics remain unconvinced that civilian and police versions are both legal and safe to use. Chad Brock, a member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, echoes many critics’ concerns when he points out that police versions could be used to illegally spy on U.S. Citizens and infringe upon their right to privacy (Chirico, 2013). While nominally this would be impossible, experiences with the invasion of these rights by the NSA have led many to side with this view, and oppose the use of Drones domestically.

Security Concerns

Another question posed towards pro-UAV groups is the question of drones being used by other military groups and possibly terrorists. According to Bergen and Schneider (2014), “…Hezbollah, the militant Shiite group that is headquartered in Lebanon, reportedly used drones to bomb a building…”, which indicates the ability for a terrorist organization to attack targets, and access technologies roughly equivalent to those of the United States. Beyond the implications of the possibility of terrorist attacks utilizing drones, thought must also be spared towards the possibility of those that are unstable/deranged acquiring such a device and using it to commit mass acts of destruction. It would be foolish to argue that it is possible to keep track of every military, civilian, and police drone in existence at any given point, and even were it possible, who is to say hackers and viruses won’t cause malfunctions or major damage? Considerations and questions such as these play a major role in the utilization of the UAV.

Social Issues

Beyond the issues posed in the legality and security fields, social opinion will challenge the use of these relative newcomers to the field. Drones have long been associated with the deaths of innocent civilians, most famously in the bombing of 30 plus civilians in Yemen (Ross, 2014). Attacks such as these lead to justifiable fear amongst the civilian population. What if, some may ask, the same were to happen domestically, in the case of Police utilizing UAV’s? With that said, they do provide the aforementioned benefits, such as the safety of soldiers and operators, and the adaptability to a large variety of roles.

Further Research

In order to fully understand the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, one must also take into account the new developments in technology and research that will undoubtedly come as time passes. New systems are being developed as drones are deployed, and software and system upgrades will continue to make these drones safer and smarter. Programs will become harder to decrypt and hack, Routines will be established to minimize the potential for accidents to occur, and accessibility will undoubtedly be restricted to according organizations. Already, new drones are being developed to replace those in use and augment the repertoire of tasks it can accomplish. For example, A “Parcelcopter” is in development for use by DHL to deliver medicine and goods to the German island of Juist (Zolfagharifard, 2014). This would be the first example of a commercial delivery by drone, and shows the usefulness and adaptability of these machines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the drone, or UAV, is a new technology being developed and used for the 21^st century. While infamous for its use in warfare, these drones, with the right research, could change the world for the better. In order to, many hurdles of the social, legal, and ethical aspects must be overcome, along with concerns over security. But so long as the new developments that will undoubtedly come in the future are aimed to make smarter and safer drones, they could be a real force for good, both economically and militarily.

Works Cited

Bergen, P., & Schneider, E. (2014, Sepetmber 22). Hezbollah Armed Drone? Militants' New Weapon. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from CNN Opinion: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/22/opinion/bergen-schneider-armed-drone-hezbollah/

Chirico, J. (2013, May 6). Are Police Drones Invading Your Privacy? Retrieved September 27, 2014, from cbs46.com: http://www.cbs46.com/story/22175057/are-police-drones-invading-your-privacy

Henriques, J. (2014, March 21). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV): Drones for Military and Civilian Use. Retrieved September 27, 2014, from Global Research: http://www.globalresearch.ca/unmanned-aerial-vehicles-uav-drones-for-military-and-civilian-use/5374666

History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2014, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_unmanned_aerial_vehicles

Naughton, R. (2003, February 2). Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicles: An Anthology. Retrieved September 27, 2014, from Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicles: http://www.ctie.monash.edu/hargrave/rpav_home.html#Beginnings

Ross, A. (2014, April 21). Civilians Die in Yemen Drone Strike as Weekend of Attacks Kills at Least 35. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from The Bureau of Investigative Journalism: http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2014/04/21/civilians-die-in-yemen-drone-strike-as-weekend-of-attacks-kills-at-least-35/

Sifton, J. (2012, February 7). A Brief History of Drones. Retrieved September 27, 2014, from The Nation: http://www.thenation.com/article/166124/brief-history-drones#

U.S. Department of State. (1960). May-July 1960: The U-2 Airplane Incident. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/u2.htm

Zolfagharifard, E. (2014, September 24). Send in the Drone Doctors! 'Parcelcopter' Will Fly Medicine and Urgent Goods to a Remote German Island. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from Mail Online: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2768128/Send-DRONE-doctors-Parcelcopter-fly-medicine-urgent-goods-remote-German-island.html