THE FUTURE IS ALMOST HERE AeroVironment Switchblade The Switchblade — sometimes

THE FUTURE IS ALMOST HERE

AeroVironment Switchblade

The Switchblade — sometimes called the kamikaze drone — isn’t new. More missile than robot, it can conduct low-level intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance with a tiny camera.

It’s the sort of drone that could soon make a leap in capability. Back in April, the Office of Naval Research announced a program called the Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology, or LOCUST.

The goal is to launch 30 synchronized, foldable drones that conduct a series of maneuvers with almost no guidance. The Navy selected a foldable drone called the Coyote, manufactured by Raytheon subsidiary Sensintel and so immediately popular that the Army bought 75 in 2012 and quickly put out an “emergency needs statement” for more.

And there’s no reason why its maneuver and autonomy software couldn’t be applied to the smaller Switchblade.

The Navy’s research program could make so-called lethal miniature aerial munitions systems like the Switchblade a lot smarter in the coming years.

A very high velocity explosive, and frangible aluminum payload and you have a