Robotic equipment carrying RN detectors: requirements and capabilities for testing

77 pags., 32 figs., 5 tabs.-- ERNCIP Radiological and Nuclear Threats to Critical Infrastructure Thematic Group . -- This publication is a Technical report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) . -- JRC128728 . -- EUR 31044 ENThe research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union as part of the European Reference Network for Critical Infrastructure Protection (ERNCIP) projec

Current Trends in Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Implications for U.S. Special Operations Forces

This paper assesses current trends in small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) technology and its applications to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. Of critical concern to SOF is that commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) sUAS technologies are relatively inexpensive, improving at a dramatic rate, and widely available throughout the world. Insurgents, terrorists, violent extremist organizations (VEOs) and other nefarious actors have used COTS sUAS to conduct offensive attacks as well as to develop battlefield situation awareness; these technological improvements combined with their widespread availability will require enhanced and rapidly adaptive counter-sUAS measures in the future. To understand the most current trends in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology and their applicability to SOF, this paper analyzes the definition and classification of sUAS, their major applications, and characteristics. In the military context, UAS are principally used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), border security, counterinsurgency, attack and strike, target identification and designation, communications relay, electronic attack, remote sensing, and aerial mapping. As technology improves, smaller versions of sUAS will be used by both friendly operators and maligned actors (insurgents, terrorists, VEOs, nation states) as force multipliers for military operations. As armed forces around the world continue to invest in research and development of sUAS technologies, there will be tremendous potential to revolutionize warfare, particularly in context of special operations. Consequently, the use of sUAS technology by SOF is likely to escalate over the next decade, as is the likelihood of sUAS countermeasures due to the availability of the technology within nefarious organizations

DRONE DELIVERY OF CBNRECy – DEW WEAPONS Emerging Threats of Mini-Weapons of Mass Destruction and Disruption (WMDD)

Drone Delivery of CBNRECy – DEW Weapons: Emerging Threats of Mini-Weapons of Mass Destruction and Disruption (WMDD) is our sixth textbook in a series covering the world of UASs and UUVs. Our textbook takes on a whole new purview for UAS / CUAS/ UUV (drones) – how they can be used to deploy Weapons of Mass Destruction and Deception against CBRNE and civilian targets of opportunity. We are concerned with the future use of these inexpensive devices and their availability to maleficent actors. Our work suggests that UASs in air and underwater UUVs will be the future of military and civilian terrorist operations. UAS / UUVs can deliver a huge punch for a low investment and minimize human casualties.https://newprairiepress.org/ebooks/1046/thumbnail.jp

Autonomous Weapon Systems: A Brief Survey of Developmental, Operational, Legal, and Ethical Issues

What does the Department of Defense hope to gain from the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS)? This Letort Paper explores a diverse set of complex issues related to the developmental, operational, legal, and ethical aspects of AWS. It explores the recent history of the development and integration of autonomous and semi-autonomous systems into traditional military operations. It examines anticipated expansion of these roles in the near future as well as outlines international efforts to provide a context for the use of the systems by the United States. As these topics are well-documented in many sources, this Paper serves as a primer for current and future AWS operations to provide senior policymakers, decisionmakers, military leaders, and their respective staffs an overall appreciation of existing capabilities and the challenges, opportunities, and risks associated with the use of AWS across the range of military operations. Emphasis is added to missions and systems that include the use of deadly force.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1303/thumbnail.jp

OPENING THE APERTURE: HOLISTIC MITIGATION OPTIONS IN RESPONSE TO UAS THREATS

A synchronized collection of intelligence and investigative capacities, such as would be required to holistically mitigate the emerging threat from unmanned aircraft systems, does not currently exist within the United States government. Furthermore, the entities that do possess the authority, knowledge, and experience to respond are working within largely independent environments. This thesis seeks to identify the best method to collectivize individual agency strengths, unifying intelligence and investigative capacities into one juggernaut-level response against UAS threats. To address this, working groups, task forces, and single agency designation were chosen as potential options specifically for their historical precedence and likelihood of success. Each was compared according to their ability to embrace two defining characteristics: collaboration and commitment. The outcome of the analysis determined that the task force model was ultimately the most effective means to address UAS threats holistically. It mitigates the challenges associated with current technology and legal restrictions by utilizing intelligence and investigative operational capabilities to properly address each of the six steps within the UAS kill chain, all within an environment of high collaboration and commitment. The conclusions and accompanying recommendations outlined in this thesis provide a definitive direction as well as a rational plan of implementation.Civilian, Federal Bureau of InvestigationApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

2008 Annual Report of the Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology

The Graduate School\u27s Annual Report highlights research focus areas, new academic programs, faculty accomplishments and news, and provides top-level sponsor-funded research data and information

An Evaluation Schema for the Ethical Use of Autonomous Robotic Systems in Security Applications

We propose a multi-step evaluation schema designed to help procurement agencies and others to examine the ethical dimensions of autonomous systems to be applied in the security sector, including autonomous weapons systems

COUNTER-UXS ENERGY AND OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS

At present, there exists a prioritization of identifying novel and innovative approaches to managing the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) threat. The near-future sUAS threat to U.S. forces and infrastructure indicates that current Counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) need to evolve to pace the threat. An alternative approach utilizes a networked squadron of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for sUAS threat interdiction. This approach leverages high performance and Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) conformance to create less expensive, but more capable, C-UAS devices to augment existing capabilities. This capstone report documents efforts to develop C-UAS technologies to reduce energy consumption and collaterally disruptive signal footprint while maintaining operational effectiveness. This project utilized Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) techniques to explore and assess these technologies within a mission context. A Concept of Operations was developed to provide the C-UAS Operational Concept. Operational analysis led to development of operational scenarios to define the System of Systems (SoS) concept, operating conditions, and required system capabilities. Resource architecture was developed to define the functional behaviors and system performance characteristics for C-UAS technologies. Lastly, a modeling and simulation (M&S) tool was developed to evaluate mission scenarios for C-UAS.Outstanding ThesisCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited