THE SPECTRE OF AUTONOMY

摘要

Operation Iraqi Freedom, in 2003, marked the first time an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) was used in combat. A Remote Environmental Measurement Units (REMUS) vehicle was deployed around the port of Umm Qasr to assist the U.S. Navy's Special Clearance Team (NSCT)-1.Members of NSCT-1 were impressed by the versatility of these autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) as they searched through hazards and the sediment-heavy waters for mines. A human diver takes 21 days to clear mines in one square mile, whereas the REMUS can complete the task in only 16 hours.In an era of increasing automation, many wonder if naval drones will replace manned platforms.