The discussion questions whether an expendable uncrewed vehicle communicates the same commitment as a crewed platform. An anecdote describes a proposed hovering drone that would display a remote operator through a customized avatar. The idea was intended to make the encounter more personal while hiding the operator's identity. The response doubts that this changes the underlying expendability of the vehicle. The anecdote is presented as an account of a proposal, without independently documented details of a funded system.
Notable Point · 6:13:11-6:16:07
Can a screen give an uncrewed vehicle a presence mission?
A proposed avatar display tests the difference between remote communication and the commitment signaled by a crewed platform.