Key Points : 1. Drone Procurement Challenges: Switzerland ordered six Hermes 900 HFE drones (ADS 15) from Israeli company Elbit in 2015 . Persistent technical issues have delayed the drones’ operational readiness until 2029 , instead of 2019 as initially planned. 2. Collision Avoidance Issues: The drones require reprogramming to avoid collisions with obstacles , such as paragliders . The "detect and avoid" system presents significant risks in technical feasibility , regulatory approval , and cost . 3. Helicopter Escort Concerns: Without proper programming , the drones would need an escort , such as a helicopter or another aircraft, to avoid collisions . Critics argue this defeats the purpose of acquiring drones, as helicopters are noisy, less discreet, and cannot fly as high. 4. Political and Financial Criticism: The parliamentary finance committee expressed doubts about Ruag’s ability to fix the problems. There are concerns about slow development , increased costs, a...
Key points from the article "America's Academic Gulag (w/ MIT Student Activists) | The Chris Hedges Report": 1. MIT’s Role in Military Research: MIT leads in Department of Defense research contracts, focusing on IT, nanotechnology, robotics, and weapons, enhancing military systems' lethality. 2. Collaboration with Israeli Military: MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), led by Daniela Rus, conducts research directly funded by Israel’s Ministry of Defense for AI-based drone and surveillance systems used in Gaza. 3. Coreset Compression Algorithms Project: This research optimizes lightweight AI algorithms for autonomous drones, enabling tracking, facial recognition, and targeting capabilities in densely populated human environments. 4. Human Rights Violations in Gaza: Technologies developed at MIT are linked to drone systems that misidentify and lethally target Palestinian civilians, including children and humanitarian workers. 5. Studen...