Elbit Systems, an Israeli company that develops military technologies, has just unveiled a lethal autonomous kamikaze drone called Lanius.
It is an agile quadcopter with AI-based exploration, mapping and target classification capabilities. And above all with the ability to explode "upon encounter" with the target, or when required.
A Horseman of the Apocalypse in modern warfare
Il conflict in Ukraine has consecrated drones as a weapon, and it's easy to understand why: they are cheap, easy to use and increasingly intelligent. They are now used for everything: they "see" and map dangerous areas without any risk to the pilot, often acting completely unnoticed, and they kill with incredible precision.
Nothing nice, really. And the Lanius takes all these features to the extreme.
The autonomous kamikaze drone flies in groups of three on the back of a “mother drone” until it goes on a suicide mission. It weighs very little at takeoff: just 1,25 kg (2,76 pounds), including a lethal or non-lethal payload of up to 150 grams (5,3 ounces). A small lithium battery gives it a maximum flight time of around seven minutes. They are enough and more.
Killer swarm
The characteristics of this terrible killing machine are optimized to inflict as much damage as possible, without waste. Only the essentials for killing. In addition to a simple boxy-looking carbon fiber racing drone frame, the Lanius is equipped with numerous sensors and cameras, as well as an Nvidia Jetson AI system-on-module designed specifically for rapidly interpreting low-energy data streams. energy consumption. Connects to Elbit's Legion-X combat swarm management software for autonomous multi-drone missions.
Behind the technicalities, the substance: this kamikaze drone facilitates scientific extermination
Alone or in a swarm, Lanius can do everything himself: patrol, avoid collisions, detect and recognize a target (classifying it, alone, as friendly or hostile, combatant or not, armed or not) even enters buildings and ends the his flight as a kamikaze drone, blowing himself up. The only "human" factor at the moment, he says the manufacturing company, is a final "ok" that the operator gives to the machine, which completes the "work" on its own.
In “ambush” mode, the drone detects a particular area, such as a closed door that may have hostile threats on the other side. Land and guard the door. If the door opens and it sees something it classifies as an armed threat, it will alert a remote operator and “ask” for permission to act.
Given the speed at which quadcopter drones and deep learning have developed over the past decade, these machines will advance rapidly in the coming years. And behind other technicalities the complete delegation of a murder will also be justified: no way, Asimov.
