Keith W wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...


Hint: Look up the accuracy specifications of GPS.

In 7-10 years it will be Galileo. The specifications are a little bit
eklastic as they depend on integration time. If you are talking about
RELATIVE separation this will in fact be only a few centimers, the
accuracy of DGPS.


The accuracy of the GPS systems isnt the issue anyway. Its
handling the problem of separattion of large numbers of drones.

If they have to communicate with each other that introduces
extra weight, a considerable processing issue and a vulnerability
to jamming and/or spoofing.

Frankly you'd probably be better off accepting a certain percentage
of losses due to mid air collisions

Keith



----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

The issue of transmission is the ability of a controller to take
action. Also you need some degree of defense in depth. If an enemy
swarm approached you, you would need the ability to direct resources to
that are. One UAV with a LMG is not going to stop a swarm. If however
it had communication technoilogy it might.

Acceptance of losses due to mid air collisions - OK there will be heavy
losses from a variety of causes. This is, of course, acceptable in a
cheap unmanned system.

To me the amazing thing is the sophistication of COTS. You talk about
weight and cost, but I can put a mobile in my shirt pocket which can do
the most amazing things. Spoofing - all converstaions are routinely
encrypted. Jamming - yes OK but if you are the US you simply put the
jammers out of action.

In point of fact use of an error correcting code, such as Reed Soloman,
will go a long way to soving the problem of jamming. You transmit in
bursts, the jammers have be on all the time.

If you were to have a swarm of UAVs with slightly modified mobile
phones with some aircraft being base stations and commumicating via
satellite you would have gone a fair way to building your system
without too much reaearch.

To do peer-peer communication is something which has been considered, a
lot of development would be needed.

What I think is amazing is the pace of COTS development. It provides a
very good arument against secret projects. What in fact I had in mind
was the provisions of contracts to the perveyors of COTS to advance
their act in military directions. The military could make the new
generation of Internet appear faster. The experts talk about

1) Specificicity. This will involve linguistic research. If you put in
"lock" it will know whether you mean "eclusia" or "cerradura".

2) This is relevant here. The ability of a mobile phone to read a
nearby screen. This is the whole concept of connectivity.

Why not provide funds to get this done? No secrecy required. Tell Al
Qaeda about the strength and breaking strain of the rope.