Research and development to increase the use of unmanned systems in the military has paved the way for the unmanned aerial vehicles and is on the verge of providing for the use of self-driving vehicles in the battlefield. Autonomous vehicles are controlled using computers and utilize sensors to obtain information about the environment and move without collisions (Marchant et al., 2015). Autonomous vehicles come with lots of advantages in military operations that include protection of personnel, speed, precision, cost-saving, lower collateral damage, and sustainability.
Provide the possibility of protecting soldiers from harm’s way. According to Denevan’s (2014), the use of roadside bombs, or IEDs has become a popular means of attacking military convoys. IEDs are difficult to detect and require use of sophisticated equipment and mine proof vehicles which are expensive and often unavailable to all member of the military. “Expedient leader-follower” (ExLF) used in the AV technology requires one manned vehicle to lead a convoy of self-driven vehicles. Such an operation only requires the protection of the leading driver, which is far much easier than protecting numerous soldiers in convoy. According to the Pentagon, more than 60% of the US army causalities in 2013 emanated from planned attacks against the resupply convoys. In 2016, a US-UK Coalition demonstration involved a leading truck and two follower trucks that utilized robotics to make speed and steering decisions. The aim of the operations is to fast track the replacement of more than 40% of frontline soldiers with autonomous vehicles. (Udeanu, G., Dobrescu, A., & Oltean, 2016). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have also played a significant role in protecting pilots and personnel who would otherwise be involved in resupply.
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Lower transport cost in military operations. Unmanned vehicles come with the benefits of efficiency. According to Marchant et al., (2015), autonomous vehicles can move at high speed and without the danger of accidents or bumping into each other when in a fleet. According to the NRC (2010), AV’s increase in fuel efficiency in the range between 4% and 10%. Denevan’s (2014), compared flight operation budgets and personal exposure risks incurred in the use of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles used to transport troops over different distances. Although Denevan’s (2014) established that certain UAVs had costs advantage over others, all the UAVs proved to be more cost effective as compared to traditional aircraft. Enhancing speed provided an opportunity to reduce costs further. (Denevan’s, 2014) According to the (High-Level Group on the Development of the EU Road Haulage Market, 2012), labor costs account for more than 30% of the transport costs. Autonomous vehicles also provide a means of reducing the number of military operators required and hence the costs of military operations.
Increase efficiency in intelligence gathering, combat, and supply delivery. Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) organized a three-day MRAS demonstration at Fort Benning to showcase the capabilities of armored autonomous vehicles. The demonstration displayed high-level technology that included autonomous target tracking systems assisted by tethered unmanned aircraft carriers to enhance precision and actuators to control steering, accelerator pedal and gear change lever (Marchant et al., 2015). Fitted with camera system the autonomous ground vehicles can transmit location details and live videos capturing the vicinity. There are different types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are significantly useful in intelligence gathering, combat, and supply delivery. UAVs are especially important when the targets are located deep in the battlefield. Use of UAVs in battlefields such as Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan has proved to be effective due to high precision and low collateral damage. For example, increased use of UAVs in US targeted attacks against Taliban terrorists in Pakistan reduced the number of civilian causalities from 20% to 5% between 2010 and 2015. (Udeanu, Dobrescu & Oltean, 2016).
Provide more capabilities to cope with evolving battlefield technology. As the risks in the battle filed increase with the innovation of deadly weapons, fewer people are likely to be attracted to the military profession (Glade, 2000). Consistent efforts must, therefore, be made to ensure that the military remains attractive to best talents. Making the battlefield safer through the use of unmanned vehicles is, therefore significantly important. Autonomous vehicle overcomes human limitations such as fatigue and tolerance to acceleration and force (Udeanu, Dobrescu & Oltean, 2016). For example, an autonomous aerial or ground vehicles can be used to target biological, nuclear, and chemical targets without risk on humans. Increased speed, enhanced maneuvers, and the ability to operate in highly protected areas are essential improvements that cope with the changing battle battlefield. (Marchant et al., 2015).
Despite the advantages of autonomous vehicles in military operations, they come without the benefit of the human brain mainly referred to as “situational awareness.” According to Udeanu, Dobrescu & Oltean, (2016), situational awareness is the ability to observe new information and make appropriate decisions, especially when the prevailing conditions are ambiguous for unmanned devices. U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board accepts that they have not been able to completely replace the need for human’s special cognitive abilities to make decisions in situations that are confusing to machines. Risks of cybercrime also reduce the reliability of autonomous devices.
In conclusion, autonomous aerial and ground vehicles come with numerous battle filed advantages that include; protection of personnel, precision, speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. It is an effective response against sophisticated chemical, biological, and nuclear war. The role of autonomous vehicles in intelligence gathering, combat, and supply delivery help in the protection of military personnel hence making the military profession attractive.
References
Glade, D. (2000). Unmanned aerial vehicles: Implications for military operations. Air Univ Press Maxwell Afb Al.
Marchant, G. E., Allenby, B., Arkin, R. C., Borenstein, J., Gaudet, L. M., Kittrie, O., ... & Silberman, J. (2015). International governance of autonomous military robots. Handbook of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, 2879-2910.
NRC N.R.C. (2010) Hidden costs of energy: unpriced consequences of energy production and use. National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12794.
Udeanu, G., Dobrescu, A., & Oltean, M. (2016). Unmanned aerial vehicle in military operations. Sci. Res. Educ. Air Force, 1, 199-205.
