Taipei: Autonomous platforms and electronic warfare capabilities will be crucial to the development of effective unmanned systems, Taiwanese technology executives said Tuesday. At a seminar organized by the Taipei Computer Association, Lin Hong-pei, general manager of YUAN High-Tech Development Co., emphasized the complexity of unmanned vehicles, which require the integration of sensors, artificial intelligence, navigation, communications, and control technologies.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lin highlighted the importance of platforms that allow unmanned systems to perceive and interpret their surroundings, make decisions, carry out tasks, manage operations, and continue evolving. "Real strength lies in the autonomous system platform," Lin stated, explaining that these platforms must integrate data from cameras, radar, lidar, and audio sensors. This integration enables coordination among various types of unmanned vehicles regarding their routes and tasks.
AI agents are expected to increasingly manage these functions, reducing the need for human intervention as unmanned systems grow more complex, Lin added. Meanwhile, Tung Yu-wei, CEO of K-Best Technology Inc., pointed out the challenges posed by electronic warfare, which involves jamming and counter-jamming of communications, positioning, navigation, and radar systems.
Tung argued that Taiwan needs long-range jamming capabilities and systems capable of maintaining communications and positioning despite interference. He noted that no single approach can counter all forms of jamming, advocating for resilient communications using multiple frequencies, bandwidths, and time slots, alongside techniques like frequency hopping and spread spectrum.
Gene Su, general manager of Thunder Tiger Group, presented the company's collaboration with U.S. drone software company Auterion as an example of platform integration. The partnership has developed technology that integrates flight-control modules with software and hardware to enhance autonomous capabilities and flight stability. Thunder Tiger has completed swarm flight testing and real-world aircraft verification using this technology.
Su also emphasized the importance of scaling up production of low-cost unmanned vehicles, suggesting that recent conflicts have demonstrated their ability to overwhelm expensive air defense systems through sheer numbers. Additionally, the company is working on developing fiber-optic drones, which are less susceptible to radio-frequency interference, with a current range of 20 km and a target range of 50 km.