Pi in the sky: The cheapest drone

The launch of the Raspberry Pi Zero is a powerful sign of just how cheap computing power is becoming. Priced at just $5, and about two inches by one inch, this is a genuine programmable computer. It manages to include a 1GHz ARM11 core processor and 512MB of SDRAM. ...

Active Camouflage Makes Small Drones Invisible

Big drones like the Reaper are conspicuous because of their engine noise; the Predator is described as making a noise like a lawnmower. Smaller tactical drones like the Raven, Desert Hawk and Maveric with electric propellers are inaudible above a few hundred feet, and...

The age of the personalised drone strike

BBC news reported today that a US drone strike had specifically targeted the individual known as ‘Jihadi John’ — a British citizen who joined ISIS and carried out a series of brutal executions which were shown in propaganda videos. This type of...

$564m for a bomber…$2,000 for a drone

It’s not just fighters that are getting ever more expensive according to Augustine’s Law as described in Chapter 4 of Swarm Troopers — bombers are also incredibly costly. The Air Force’s next-generation Long Range Strike Bombers should cost...