Development of a drone with AI on bare enthusiasm)?

Question

Programming

Actually, the question is in the title, is it real?) First of all, we are interested in the development (and not only UAVs) for use in the military sphere. Are there people who are not indifferent to this topic? And is there a possibility of such a path - can a group of enthusiasts do something significant in this area? Guided by common sense, the question seems comical, but something tells you that everything depends on the level of this very "enthusiasm" and positive work is possible, if not in the whole project, then in certain key positions.

Answer 1

There is and is being done. But naked enthusiasm will not help, because the development of a drone is not a cheap thing. Lots of spare parts. Lots of iron. a few thousand bucks will have to chip in just for the minimum purchase.

Answer 2

Are there people who are not indifferent to this topic?

People are.
The rest are asked not to worry ;-)
Everything you need has already been done for you.
By the way: do you have a special higher education, completed in the specialty "aircraft control"? ;-) ... for "key positions" ...

Answer 3

I'll put in my five cents.
1. The main thing is to decide on the goals - and understand why you need it, and whether anyone else needs it.
2. You will compete (in a good way) with DARPA and other government agencies.
3. The UAV must solve some problem - and your UAV must solve it better than what is already there.
4. It is difficult to make NOT a toy. Those. do not repeat what has already been done before you a hundred times at a bad level and that has no practical application due to some fundamental limitations. There is a certain psychological trap here - many engineers are fond of development because it is interesting, and as a result we have a working result created by our own hands (cool!) But - which is divorced from tasks and from competitors. As the experience of creating the same quadrics shows - people write as a result - "it would be easier to buy." And the experience gained is not at all the fact that it can be used.
5. Regarding the UAV from its Chaikov position. As I understand it, there are no particular problems with the "glider", but there is a problem with batteries and control. Where should AI be located - on a computer on the ground and via a radio channel to exchange data with some delays, or will a computer with AI fly on the UAV itself?
The development of AI has very little to do with the development of the UAV construct itself.
If the emphasis is on AI, it is optimal to make AI visible, and then add it to the finished UAV. The creation of AI is primarily mathematics, not physics and programming. Since AI is not strong in the topic, I keep quiet.

Answer 4

You in order to then skim all the cream or what?

Answer 5

Get a job at a company that already does it.
List of UAVs

Answer 6

>can a group of enthusiasts do something significant in this area
No

Answer 7

Have you already made at least a simple quadcopter?