"Tarver Engineering" wrote...

The ground operator would have the capability of designating targets and the
ability to change the level of agression of the autonomous vehicle.

Are you talking about the operator of the UAV or someone else?

The narrow field of view of the UAV sensors will make self-designation difficult
unless previously designated or localized by someone else. If accurate Lat/Long
coordinates are available for uplink/downlink, that would work, but the
probability of errors is still the same as in any other such designation. Given
the lack of situational awareness on the part of the UAV ground operator, the
probability of his being able to recognize and correct for a target designation
error is much higher than with a manned airplane.

Also, what comprises a "change [in] the level of aggression of the autonomous
vehicle"?


A 2000 pound bomb dropped accurate does the same job from 15,000 feet as it
does from 200 feet; perhaps even better, as the man on the ground has better
control of the target's coordinates.

Only a guided weapon can be as accurate from 15,000 feet as from 200 feet;
ballistic dispersion is a fact of life for free-fall weapons. In the case of a
guided weapon and a stationary target, CEP from the fixed coordinates will be
the discriminator. However, with a moving target the weapon time of flight is a
significant factor in Pk, unless terminal guidance (e.g., laser, IIR) is
available. For the current JDAM, either a moving-target designation system
(e.g., AMTI -- Airborne Moving Target Indicator -- in the A-6) or a real-time
calculated lead in the designation point will be required to hit a moving target
from high altitude. If such an AMTI system can be automated and incorporated
into the UAV's targeting suite, it might be viable.

In neither case can it be said in general that a man on the ground "has better
control of the target's coordinates." In the case of a stationary target such
as a building, initial designation (e.g., laser spot) by the infantry may be
advantageous, but in traditional CAS a target almost always must be visually
identified before weapon release. Laser spot indicators or slewing of the
airplane's sensor reticle to uplinked Lat/Long coordinates may facilitate target
ID and refinement, but the man on the ground has control over the initial target
coordinates rather than the final coordinates.

In the case of a moving target, the man on the ground has little to no control
over target coordinates.


And, there is nothing inherent about "the
machine"--it is as vulnerable to fratricide mistakes as any other
system.

That depends on how well the operator can see the battle and follow
instructions.

EXACTLY!

A ground-based UAV operator, stationed remotely from the battlefield can never
"see the battle" in real time as clearly as someone on the battlefield.